Purchasing a new puppy can be very exciting and also rather nerve wracking. This is usually more so when it has been several years since owning a dog or is the first time ever owning a dog.  When considering if you want to add a furry friend to your household, there are several things to consider: 

-Do I want a puppy or an adult dog? Puppies are fun to watch grow up and train.  Adults are usually calmer and have more established behaviors.

-Why am I looking for a dog?  Will it be for hunting, guarding, a lap dog, etc.

-What size and breed of dog am I looking for? Both mixed and purebred dogs can have their pros and cons.  Make sure the size you’d like is appropriate for you home or yard size. 

-Where will the dog live primarily? 

-Am I willing to train it?  One of the primary reasons for dogs being abandoned or given up for adoption is lack of training!  Even a few commands such as sit and down can be a great help.

-Can I take care of a pet financially?  All pets will need vaccines and exams yearly, as well as stool checks and de-worming. Food and toys are mandatory costs as well.  Also, don’t forget about unexpected medical expenses.

-Am I willing to have it professionally groomed or do it myself at home?  A lot of breeds need routine grooming every 6-8 weeks. 

-Do I have time to give a dog the love and attention needed?  All dogs need plenty of time with house training, playtime, walks, and behavioral training.  Some dogs need more attention than others.        

Once you know the time is right to make a four-legged addition and have an idea of what size you want, it’s time to look at puppies!  There are several things to consider and some questions to ask the breeder before deciding or choosing a dog. Don’t be afraid to “shop around” before making a final decision. 

-What is the temperament of both parents?  Watch for signs of aggressive or nippy behavior, as well as how the dogs act around you in general. 

-Are there any health issues or genetic defects? Examples would be allergy or skin problems, joint issues, eye, or heart problems.

-If you are considering a hunting breed, were both parents OFA (hip) certified with a rating of good or excellent?  Has either parent had any shoulder, elbow, or hip problems? Both parents should have their hips checked for dysplasia at 2 years old, prior to breeding.

-If a dog is going to be used for herding or tracking, have the puppies eyes been checked for defects?

-Do both parents have a good vaccine history, especially the mother? Since puppies get initial protection from their mother, this is very important. 

-How big are the parents?  While parent size isn’t always how big puppies will get, it will give you a good idea of how big your dog will be as an adult.

-Will they let you see where the parents and puppies are kept? It’s important to see how clean the facility is kept and how the parents are housed.

-How were the parents for training?  If parents were both very difficult to train, chances are the puppies may also be a bit of a challenge.

-How old are the parents?  Large breed females should be 2 years old prior to breeding.  Small breed females should go through one normal heat cycle prior to breeding. 

-Have the parents had previous litters of puppies? If so, have there been any behavior or health issues?

Alright!  Now you’re ready to choose a puppy!  Once a puppy is picked out and purchased, there are several things to do once you are home. 

-Purchase a crate or kennel to keep the puppy in when not being supervised.  A crate is like a bedroom for a puppy and will take time to get use to, but be consistent. A crate should be large enough for a puppy to stand up, lay down, and turn around in. If you are getting a puppy that will be large, its okay to get the size for what the puppy will need as an adult and block the back portion off.  Crate training your puppy will make potty training much easier, as well as give you piece of mind that the puppy isn’t having accidents or chewing up the house.

-Take your puppy in to a veterinarian for an exam, any vaccines that need to be started or boostered, a fecal to check for intestinal parasites, and de-wormer.  Many puppies will have a first vaccine and been de-wormed, but they will need follow up for both.

-Begin training your puppy to walk on a leash, sit, come, and other basic commands. 

-Enroll in a puppy class!  This is one of the best ways to socialize your puppy to new people, pets, and surroundings.  Even though you may be able to teach all commands at home, it’s impossible to conduct proper socialization at home around family members and pets. 

-Purchase a large breed puppy food for any puppy that will be over 50 pounds as an adult.  This prevents them from growing too fast and having joint problems. 

-Make sure to keep up with yearly exams, vaccinations, fecals, and de-worming. Also, make sure to do a heartworm and tick disease test each spring, as well as heartworm, tick, and flea prevention. 

-At the first sign of illness, call your veterinarian and bring your dog in for an exam if needed.  Dogs can’t tell us how they feel, so it is important to make sure you know your dogs signs of not feeling well.  Waiting several days to bring them in can make what is causing them to be sick harder to treat.

-As your pet gets older, do senior pet blood screening to check for any internal problems.  Also, bring them in for dental cleanings when needed. This will prevent mouth pain, organ damage, and keep pets healthier longer.

When looking at purchasing a pet, there are several different sources of adoption to be aware of.

-Shelters or humane societies are a great place to purchase dogs. When looking at shelters, try to get as much information as possible about the dog you are looking at.  Ask the shelter if it was a stray or a surrendered pet.  If it was surrendered, ask them why the previous owner chose to put the pet up for adoption.  Shelter dogs generally tend to come from an unknown background and can make excellent pets.  Pay close attention to how the dog acts when you visit.  Also ask the shelter if they’ve noticed any issues such as being timid, excessive barking, growling, and dog or cage aggression.  Also, take the kids with you to make sure the kids and dog get along. Some dogs have a fear of children. 

-Pet Stores/Puppy Mills are places that you have to be very cautious about buying a puppy from.  Most (not all) pet stores get their puppies from puppy mills (even if they tell you the puppy is from a “breeder”). Puppy mill puppies are mixed breed puppies (Labradoodle, golden doodle, peka-poo, puggle, etc…) that are sold as “purebred” puppies.  These puppies are often sold for high dollar amounts that are usually higher than actual purebred dogs with good bloodlines. There are regulations that must be met before a dog can be considered purebred.  Female dogs at puppy mills are bred every time they come into heat from their first heat cycle until they are unable to conceive.  They are not bred to improve the breed and puppies can have major medical and behavioral issues.  Puppies tend to be poorly socialized, have trouble with house training, and can have bad genetics. 

- A poor breeder is someone who breeds their dog and doesn’t try to improve the breed.  For example, purposely breeding dogs with known health issues.  This will only create unhealthy puppies, which can lead to unhealthy adults.  An example of this would be a breeder who intentionally breeds white German Shepherd dogs or white Boxers.  These are not desirable breed traits and can be genetic flaws.  Also, just because the breeder says that one or both of the parents are “registered” doesn’t mean a dog should be bred.  Many dogs can be registered in numerous organizations, most commonly the AKC.  Make sure the breeder is willing to give references of previous buyers.  They probably won’t do an interview to make sure you are going to be a good pet owner and will give you a puppy no questions asked. 

-Good breeders are those that try to improve the breed and know the breed standards.  They don’t intentionally breed those with known health issues and works to breed out any problems.  They also will generally do an interview to make sure their puppy will be going to a good home, and give you references without being asked. 

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