How To Choose A Puppy And Keep A Happy Home

Hi, Sweet  Friends, 

It is that time of year again when people buy puppies. Puppies are purchased at Christmas more than any other time of the year. Singles buy puppies for companionship, while couples buy puppies to bridge the gap before having children.


When parents buy a puppy for their children for Christmas. The children are all excited and willing to promise anything to keep the puppy. 

All is great for a few days, then the newness wears off. The puppy, who was lots of fun, is now a chore to take care of. The feeding, cleaning, and time spent on the puppy have become a dreadful task and arguments ensue. And the end result is either a sad & neglected life for the dog or the pound that could mean death if the puppy is not adopted.

Now, that scenario isn't always the case. Sometimes the puppy fits right into the family. All the care & cleaning is divided and the puppy becomes a part of the family. The puppy grows old in a loving home.

Here are questions you should ask before getting a dog.

• When is a good time to buy a dog or puppy?

 "The short answer to your question is that there is not the best time of year to get a new dog – it depends on your own situation." ~ The Dog Clinic

• Where should you go to purchase a new puppy or dog?

 "We purchased Rurik from a breeder on Puppyfind.com. RU is going to be a full-time Service Animal so we could not get a pup from the pound that could have many personality issues. I also needed a specific hight for my stability issues and a very non-aggressive breed. This is not a dog for protection." ~ CJD.Sign

"With a rescue dog, from the pound, get as much information as you can and pay attention to the breed or breeds the dog is, that can help you determine personality too." ~ I Heart Dogs

 " You can also find a puppy on the AKC Website by breed, size, gender, and the State you life in." https://marketplace.akc.org/

• How do you know if the puppy or dog will fit your family?

 “Research dog breeds (and mixed breeds) to learn some of their characteristics, personality traits, and energy levels to find some that are similar to yours,” Diane says. “It’s impossible to guarantee that your puppy will always possess all the characteristics and energy levels you might be looking for, so also keep an open mind about adopting an adult or senior dog.” ~ Dogster

Dogster also has a puppy checklist for the other questions below.

• Does this dog or puppy have a good temper and come from a good home?

Ask about the puppy before you jump into purchasing a puppy that isn't right for the family. Watch the puppy/dog with the family on a "play date" to get to know the animal. At the same time, you can check out the home, people who are raising it, or the humane society's location. 

• How is the breed with other dogs? with cats?

If you know ahead of time, do some research on the internet for answers to these two questions. The AKC has great information on all breeds. If it is a mixed breed dog, check out the breeds and see if they answer these questions. This important when other animals are involved in your life.

• Does the breed fit your home,  yard, auto, and lifestyle? 

When choosing a dog or puppy, it is important to have enough room for the animal to grow, be safe, travel, and maintain a lifestyle fitting for you. A large lumbering dog, when fully grown, isn't a good fit for an apartment unless there is a dog park that can be used daily for exercise. 

 

A yippy dog may bark and cause problems with close neighbors and could cost you fines. Some places have pet regulations and rules, you may want to check into this as well.

 

When traveling, will you bring your pet? Do you have a large enough vehicle, are the restraints adequate, can a crate fit in the back? This is important to think about. 

Do you work all day, eat out, and the dog/puppy will be left alone all this time? It could develop a case of separation anxiety (an independent cat may be better).

• Are you ready for the small puppy to grow up into a large dog that eats a lot?

 Friends of ours recently adopted a dog from a good home, loving family, but they weren't quite ready for such a large dog. Our friends have a large fenced in yard, kids to keep it active, and a large home for it to grow into.

• Are you really ready to make that lifelong commitment? 

Good for you, if you are! And if not, then take a bit more time to weigh out the choices, ask questions, and do your research

These are all good questions that should be addressed before you make the lifelong commitment to the dog.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has a month to month guide for puppy care.  
This guide has great information on all things the puppy will be doing during that stage of life. 

Pet Med has a great slideshow for puppy training. The topics are right in line with training and behaviors.

Puppy Find has detailed listings of dog information for each species so that you can make the wisest and best choice for you and your new dog.

I hope you are ready to investigate further!
Enjoy!

All photos are by CJD.Sign. If you want to use my photo, please give me credit. Thank you.

The fine print: Please link with love! As with all of our posts, DIY projects featured on Styling With CJD.Sign may not be copied, distributed or reproduced without express written permission.
 
Love and links are always appreciated!

 If you’d like to share this post, please link to this post directly for the DIY tutorial and do not include the instructions in your own post. All photos on this post are by CJD.Sign. Please give credit. Thanks so much!  oxo CJ

It's The Holiday Season and if you want that special gemstone for that special someone, you might want to order it now!

http://CustomGemCutter.com