Choosing A Puppy

Getting a new puppy can bring a whole new lease of life into your family. It is important to include everyone in the family when choosing one. Caring for a puppy can be exhausting and time consuming. Having a dog can affect your social life as they should not be left on their own for long periods of time. As well as the cost of the puppy you will also need food and water bowls, a dog bed, collar and lead, grooming kit, dog food, toys and vaccinations for your puppy. However you will find caring for a puppy rewarding and satisfying to see it grow up into a healthy, loving dog.

Breeds

Terriers: Energetic, playful and loyal. They can be loud but are a good family pet.

Hounds: Most hounds are require a lot of exercise and are ideal for a family with older children.

Toys: They are playful and don’t require a lot of exercise. They aren’t always good with small children. They are a great companion dog.

Gundogs: They are loving, playful and need some exercise. They need plenty of room and generally make good-natured family pets.

Herding: These are intelligent and lively dogs that need lots of exercise. They are ideal for farmers or for anyone interested in training and competing.

Working: Large and make good guard dogs. Are often used by police for search and rescue. They need plenty of food and exercise.

Finding your dog

- Choose what size of dog you want. Remember small dogs live longer than large ones.
- If your house proud avoid long-haired dogs.
- Do you live in an urban or rural area?
- Avoid puppy farms as they tend to breed unhealthy animals.
- Don’t impulse buy.
- Consider your budget and time.

Questions to ask the breeder

- When were they born?
- Are they used to people and other animals?
- Are they vaccinated?
- Can you see mother and father?
- How were they brought up?

Checking puppies

Your puppy should have a wet nose, clear eyes which aren’t runny and not have their bones visibly showing. The coat should be clean, soft and shiny. Check for signs of parasites like lice sticking to the coat. When a puppy wakes up it should be alert. If the puppy is pot-bellied it may have worms in their digestive tract. Check the rear end for stains from diarrhea and their ears and should be clean. Check their paws too for dirt or blood.

Socialization

It is important to introduce your puppy to humans and other animals as soon as possible. Invite family, friends and their pets over to meet your puppy. Get them to feed him treats to relax him. Don’t allow him contact with other dogs until his vaccinations are complete. A cat may ignore your pup or interact. Sometimes a young pup and cat can become the best of friends. Keep smaller animals such as rabbits and hamsters away.

Tips

- Your puppy will grow quickly so take plenty of photos during the first year.
- Puppies need lots of rest. Don’t disturb him while he’s sleeping.
- Carry treats with you to reward your dog for good behavior