The most common question I get asked when buying a puppy is….”How do I choose which puppy I should get?”…so here are my Puppy purchasing tips.
I have broken down my response into the following bullet points, to make the steps simple and straight forward:
Your Lifestyle: How much time do you have to give to your puppy? Having a new puppy can be a quite time consuming venture, the puppy will need lots of love and attention in order for it to grow up stable and happy. What is your family set-up are you single? Do you have kids, if so what ages? Are you a very active person or more laid back? These are all questions I would ask myself before going forward, as it will help with the next step…
The Breed Of Dog: This is probably the topic that comes to the mind of most owners before anything else. We see a breed that amazes us, or have been told by a friend that this particular breed is the best with kids, or that it will protect you best. There are in excess of 160 different breeds of dog in the world, all having their own respective traits and uses. I suggest when looking at your puppy’s breed, reflect on why you want a dog in the first place, how you wish to raise it and then look at your lifestyle. There is no point in obtaining a high energy breed if you love to spend most of your day with Netflix 🙂
Puppy Training: Once you have decided on which breed suits your lifestyle and goals best, I recommend you make friends with a good dog trainer and vet that can support you through your initial challenges. This is even more vital if your puppy is expected to go into any kind of dog sport or protection role. Often accidents happen due to the lack of guidance given during the vital puppy developmental stages.
Good Breeders: Sourcing your puppy is another important and ethical process, NEVER purchase a puppy from a breeder that clearly has no interest in the well-being of the animals in their care. Always request to see previous litters if possible as well as the parents, this will give you a good gauge as to what to expect physically and mentally from your puppy. Often when it comes to breeders, buyers automatically assume that price equates to quality, this is not always the case. I have purchased amazing dogs from great people for prices that are below market average. A good breeder is more than just a point of sale, they will want to know about you and your requirements, they will often become a friend for life as you become an extension of their dog family.
BREED DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY EQUAL FUNCTION
The breed of a dog is a good guide as to what you could expect from that puppy in regards to physical and mental traits, but the reality is that in order for your dog to reach its full potential it will need regular dog training and support.
