Tag archives: Buy a Pet Dog

Four things to Consider Before Buying

Whether you are looking to adopt from a breeder or a shelter, it is important to thoroughly think the decision over. While we want pups to be adopted, we also want to ensure the dog is a good match for home & lifestyle

If you are thinking about adding a new addition to your family, here are a few thoughts to consider and questions to ask yourself before adopting a dog.

1. Your Living Space

Do you live in an apartment? Do you have a backyard? Does your home have a lot of stairs? These are all good questions to ask yourself as some dog breeds have different needs when it comes to living spaces. Breeds with long backs and short legs, such as Corgis, can injure themselves by ascending or descending stairs. On the other hand, high energy breeds such as Australian Shepherds, thrive by having a backyard that they can run freely in. By considering these items, you can ensure a successful fit for your home.

2. Other Family Members

Who lives with you? Do you have small children or other animals? Certain dog breeds do better with ...

As discussed in my last blog, before buying a puppy, there are many things that the careful and wise buyer wants to educate themselves about to ensure the best experience possible.  Once you have figured out which breed(s) suits/interests you and have educated yourself about the positives, negatives and potential issues, including health issues, the final step is to find possible breeders of interest and most importantly at long last - your puppy!  Many breeders are doing their due diligence to produce and raise the best puppies possible.   0thers are just giving this lip service, and with all the seemingly "right" answers to questions, it is not always easy to tell the difference.

No one can guarantee a healthy puppy.  Just like human couples that do "everything right" during the  pregnancy will say "we do not care if we have a boy or a girl, as long as the baby is healthy".  Even with the utmost of caution, things can and do go wrong.  Some have perpetuated the notion that a responsible breeder can guarantee a perfect and normal outcome in every way and that anything wrong is the breeder's fault.  Just ...

Before buying a puppy, there are many things that the careful and wise buyer wants to educate themselves about in order to have the best experience with what should be many happy years with their dog.  First questions are about yourself and what type of dog will best suit you.  Then it is important to learn about the breed, what are the positive and negative attributes, and what health and genetic issues the breed, or particular family of dogs, may be at risk for.  Finally, it is then important to find a breeder whose goals and investment coincide with yours.

The first thing to consider in purchasing a puppy is what type of dog do you want?  Or better stated, what are the qualities in a dog that will get along well with your personality and activity level.  Do you want a puppy at all?    Do you want to raise a puppy; socialize it, potty train it, teach it commands, and, in general, how to be a model canine citizen?  This involves living through the stages of puddles and landmines, puppy chewing with the potential destruction of some of your favorite items, adolescence ...