Before you adopt a puppy, there are many things you need to prepare yourself for in advance.
While it may be hard to resist a puppy’s sweet face, little kisses and pink belly, taking on the responsibility of “dog parent” is like bringing home a human baby.
Where will your puppy sleep? Who’s going to train it?
Do you have everything you need to take care of it? Can you afford to care for a dog now and in the future?
Take a minute to consider these six crucial things before you head to the animal shelter.
1. Puppies Demand Your Time and Patience
Be honest with yourself. Are you ready to welcome a puppy into your home? While they make excellent companions, they’re also incredibly time-consuming.
Puppies typically demand more commitment from you than older dogs.
For example, at four months old, you must feed them three times a day so they can easily digest their food. They’ll also need lots of house training to prevent future accidents.
Expect a puppy to have to go out several times throughout the night or to wake you up when they’re bored or scared.
It’s also important not to leave a puppy alone for more than a few hours at a time.
Puppies will be curious explorers and teeth on whatever they can grab. Training, socialization and exercise should start early to break their bad habits.
Unless you’re able to spend lots of time with them initially, you may want to adopt an older dog instead.
2. Choosing the Right Puppy for You
Once you’ve decided you’re ready for a puppy, you have to choose the right breed for your lifestyle. Making a list of the characteristics and traits you’re looking for in a dog is a good starting point.
Consider the following:
- How large or small do you want your puppy to be when it’s full-grown?
- How much daily exercise will your dog need?
- Do they need to do well with children or other animals?
- What type of coat can you manage, from grooming to hypoallergenic fur?
Do your research and ask others their expert opinion about what breeds make the most sense for you and your family.
3. How to Search for a Puppy
Begin your search for a puppy by visiting your local animal shelter or pet rescue.
There you’ll find beautiful mixed breeds that make fantastic pets.
Some future dog owners have specific requirements, like an ideal size, coat or temperament.
Shop smartly if you know you’re looking for a certain purebred dog.
Avoid buying from pet stores as their dogs often come from puppy mills where breeders have one or more animal welfare violations under investigation.
Additionally, puppies purchased from backyard breeders, flea markets, and ads may have unknown health problems or psychological issues.
For a particular breed, look for a reputable, small breeder who can show you your puppy’s parents and the conditions in which they live and are born.
4. Preparing for Your Puppy
Make sure you puppy-proof your home before your furry friend arrives. You’d be surprised how many things your puppy can get into that can injure it.
Hide electrical cords, store food and medications away, lock up toxic cleaning solutions and other harmful substances, move houseplants off the floor, put a lid on your trash cans and keep your personal belongings out of reach.
You’ll also need all the essential puppy items on hand, including:
- Leash with an adjustable collar and identification tags
- Pet bowls for food and water
- Crate with room for your puppy to grow
- Dog bed and blanket
- Grooming supplies, like brushes, combs or grooming mitt
- Puppy food
- Chew toys
Within the first few days of bringing your puppy home, make sure you schedule an appointment with a veterinarian.
A vet will give your new puppy an exam to look for any health problems and update their necessary vaccines.
5. Raising Your Puppy
Adopting a puppy means you’ll need to invest your time and love into raising it correctly.
For example, establishing a routine for your puppy early on is crucial, as is jumpstarting house training and feeding it a balanced, nutritious diet.
You can begin obedience training at home, but you’ll want to sign up for a puppy training class as they grow.
Socialization is also essential for a fully-vaccinated puppy to safely become acquainted with different sounds, sights, smells, other animals and people.
This will prevent you from facing legal issues related to dog bites in the future.
Approximately 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs annually, of which 800,000 have to seek medical attention. Children make up at least half of dog bite cases.
Perhaps most importantly, let your puppy be a puppy. The best way to raise your puppy is to bond together through lots of play.
You can even begin teaching them fun games like fetch or how to swim.
Adopting a Puppy Requires Careful Consideration
Puppies bring a lot of joy and companionship to our lives.
However, adopting a puppy requires you to think long and hard about whether or not you’re ready to take on the responsibility.
Carefully consider your current lifestyle and if you’re able to devote ample time and effort to raise your furry friend the right way before you bring them home.