You’ve done some research on choosing a puppy, have given it a lot of thought, and have decided that you are finally ready to add a puppy to your family. Before heading over to the shelter or browsing through Pet Finder to buy the first puppy that catches your eye, you should do a little bit more research.
A puppy isn’t something that you can return if it isn’t the right fit. It’s a living being that needs lifelong love and care. A puppy is going to be living with your family for anywhere between 10 and 15 years. That’s a long time and is a serious commitment so you better take your time making this decision.
How can you make sure that you choose the perfect puppy for your family? It’s quite easy as long as you do your research and put in some time and effort planning for the new furball.
You can increase your odds of choosing the most compatible dog for your family by considering your lifestyle, age, health, family members, job, and living quarters.
Table of Contents
How To Choose The Perfect Breed
One of the first decisions you need to make when choosing a puppy is deciding on a breed. While all dogs possess the same qualities – fur, wet nose, four paws, long tongue, and the ability to bark – they are all different depending on the breed. Some breeds are small, energetic, and have short attention spans while other breeds are large, love to sleep, and will bark all night long. Each breed will have a specific look, unique personality, and special needs. When choosing the perfect breed of dog for your family, consider the following:
Size of your house
If you have a smaller home, you might want to choose a smaller breed and, if you are going with a larger breed, not very energetic.
Access to the outdoors
Access to the outdoors is vital. Those who live in an apartment should consider the fact that they will need to walk their dog every day. A less energetic dog would be a good choice. A fenced-in backyard would make an energetic dog very happy.
Family members
Smaller children are likely to push and pull on the dog – at least until you teach them not to – so you should choose a breed that is patient and won’t be likely to bite. If you have an elderly family member who is frail, a breed that doesn’t jump on them would be a good choice.
Activity level
Are you someone who has a ton of energy? Then an energetic breed is the perfect choice.
Leisure activities
If you enjoy jogging or biking, consider getting a dog that would enjoy running alongside you. If you like to spend time curled up on the couch watching TV, a lap dog might make a nice companion.
Amount of free time
Those who work all day long should consider choosing a breed that is independent and doesn’t mind spending long periods alone. If you work from home and will be spending a lot of time with the dog, you can get a more loyal friend.
Also remember that purebred dogs aren’t the only types of dogs out there. Consider adopting a mixed-breed puppy. A healthy mixed-breed puppy will often have better traits than purebreds. They are just as smart, loving, loyal, and intelligent as a purebred. Plus, by adopting a mixed breed puppy, you will be saving a life since thousands of mixed-breed dogs end up in the shelter every day.
Choosing A Sex: Male or Female?
When it comes to choosing a puppy, the sex of the puppy doesn’t make too much of a difference. Both sexes have their pros and cons and no sex is better than the other. The dog’s personality and temperament will depend more on the puppy’s upbringing and genetics than the sex. When choosing the sex of your puppy consider the following:
Female: Pros and Cons
If you get a female puppy and decide not to spay her, you could run into problems when she reaches sexual maturity. Female dogs will go into heat between one and three times per year. It will usually last for three weeks and she will bleed during this time. There is no such thing as doggy tampons so if you don’t want blood all over your furniture or on your carpet, then you will need to put diapers on your dog. Unfortunately, most dogs hate wearing diapers and, if not used to them, will rip them off.
You will also have to consider the fact that stray males will be trying to get into your yard. They will smell your female dog’s pheromones and will want a piece of that a**. They will do just about anything to get to her and your dog will do just about anything to get to them. If you do choose to get a female puppy, strongly consider spaying her otherwise you could end up being the grandparent of a litter of puppies.
Male: Pros and Cons
Male pups have just as many issues as females. Your un-neutered male dog will be able to smell the pheromones of any female dog on the block and will do just about anything to get to her including climbing the fence in the backyard, sneaking out the front door and breaking his leash during your walks. Your male will also be more likely to get into dog fights to prove to the female that he is the best.
Another problem when it comes to males is a habit of ‘marking’ or ‘spraying’ his territory. Females sometimes do this as well although it is not as common. Most males will spray urine on any property they want to claim. Other dogs will know that it is his property by smelling his urine. Be prepared for your male dog to spray every bush, tree, flower, post, and fence in your yard as well as on walks. You will need to train him not to do this indoors unless you want your furniture to smell like urine.
Although neutering might not stop the spraying completely, it will help reduce the chance of your dog running away, and getting into fights. Unless you are planning on breeding your dog or showing him, I highly suggest neutering him.
Where to Get Your Puppy
When choosing a puppy, you want to make sure it is healthy, happy, and well taken care of. There are many places to get a puppy from but some of those places don’t care about the well-being of the animal. Here are three places to get a puppy and three places to avoid.
Shelter
If you aren’t looking for a specific breed, or even if you are, your first stop should be at the local shelter. Every city or county has a local shelter or Humane Society. Some of them will have websites where you can see what dogs are available right now without having to go to the shelter. Many shelters, particularly in the southern United States, will kill the dogs when they get overfilled. By adopting a puppy from a shelter, you are saving two lives – the life of the dog that you are adopting and the dog that will fill the space in the shelter.
Rescue Organizations
Rescue organizations should be the next place that you search for your new puppy. Many rescue organizations are based on breed which makes them perfect if you are looking for a specific breed. There are greyhound rescues, collie rescues, beagle rescues and so forth. You can find a complete list of rescue organizations here.
Breeder
Breeders are also a great place to get a puppy. They are perfect if you are looking for a specific breed that you can’t find in shelters or through a rescue organization. Don’t feel guilty about buying from a breeder. Always do your research before buying from a breeder to make sure they are reputable. Ask to see the puppy’s parents and where the puppies are being raised. A good breeder will have nothing to hide. Also, make sure to get health and vaccination records from the breeder. They will always provide this information along. They may also make you sign an agreement stating that you will get the puppy spayed or neutered. Interview a few different breeders before you decide on the one you want to buy from.
Places to Avoid
Craigslist/Newspaper Ads
Be very cautious about getting a puppy off Craigslist or newspaper ads. Some people will steal dogs and sell them on Craigslist. Others will breed dogs just to make a quick buck by listing them in the newspaper. If someone needs to get rid of their dog, they are better off giving them to a shelter or rescue or finding a friend or family member who can care for it. There are too many horrible people out there using Craigslist to find their next victim.
Pet Store
Most pet stores will get their dogs from puppy mills. In some states, pet stores have been banned from selling dogs and cats. However, some pet stores will have adoption days (often on a Saturday morning) where the local shelter or rescue organizations will bring dogs into the store to be adopted. This is a great way to find your next puppy. Check your local pet store to see if they do this.
Puppy Mills
Be wary of any breeder who refuses to show you where the puppies are raised. They may be a puppy mill disguised as a reputable breeder. Puppy mills will often keep the dogs confined in small cages stacked on top of each other. They live in filthy, horrible conditions. Avoid puppy mills by making sure the breeder you are buying from is reputable and avoiding pet stores.
Choosing A Puppy From a Litter
After you have narrowed down a good breeder, you need to pick a puppy from the litter. No, you cannot take home every puppy no matter how cute they are. Picking just one can be a bit of a challenge. Your job is to choose a puppy that is healthy and has a temperament that will work with you and your family. Try to be unemotional during this process and don’t pick the first puppy that comes running up to you.
Look over all the puppies and make sure they are healthy. Taking home a puppy that has health problems can be costly and can provide a lot of heartache. Look into the puppy’s eyes and make sure they don’t look dull. Feel the puppy’s coat, the fur should be shiny and soft. Look into the puppy’s ears and make sure there is no dirt or mites.
Once you have determined which puppies are healthy (hopefully all of them), the next step is to assess the personality of the dogs. Watch the puppies play and interact with each other. You probably don’t want to choose a puppy that is scared of everything just as you don’t want a puppy that is overly excited about everything. Try to choose a puppy that is energetic, friendly, and not nervous.
After You Choose A Puppy
After choosing a puppy, do not bring it home until he or she is at least 8 weeks old. If the breeder tells you that you can bring home your puppy at 5 or 6 weeks old, DO NOT do it. They are far too young to be taken away from their mother.
Puppies generally start weaning around 3 or 4 weeks of age and it takes another few weeks to introduce solid food. A responsible breeder will keep the puppies until 8 weeks at the earliest. Find more information here: Bringing Home Your New Puppy
Resources for Choosing A Puppy
Weston, MA: Choosing A Dog Breed
City of Albuquerque: Before You Get A Puppy
