Puppy Research: why doing your homework is the key to finding the best pet for you
Our more home-based lifestyle has led to many people deciding to get a puppy and, with Christmas coming, those numbers are sure to rise even higher. However, also on the rise, sadly, are the adverts to rehome unwanted dogs and shelters are starting to fill up.
Getting a puppy should be exciting and they can make a fantastic addition to your family. But, to avoid the heartache of getting it wrong, you really do need to do your research first.
How we can help
Did you know that, here at Potter Paws, we offer a service to help you understand the important things to consider before getting a puppy? Called
‘So, you’re getting a puppy’, it’s currently available as a 90-minute webinar which you can watch from the comfort of your own home, with all the family there. We can also provide you with a 1-2-1 pre-puppy consultation, tailored exactly to your needs if you have already chosen your puppy and would like something more specific.
What to consider
The initial decisions to make are:
- Puppy or rescue dog?
- What should you look for in a breeder?
- How to prepare to welcome a puppy
- What lifestyle do we have (busy, outdoorsy, kids, well-travelled, routine or unpredictable?)
- Which breeds are best?
All these decisions will be very personal to you, your family and the way you live your life. It’s important to remember, for example, that we aren’t currently living the usual way. Many more of us are at home for longer hours. This is great news for puppies and dogs (who are all living their best life, quite frankly) but could lead to difficulties if we go back to office-based work.
Whether or not you have children, and their ages, will be important when deciding which breed to choose. Kids are generally excitable around animals so, if they are young, you need to make sure they understand how to interact with your pet. There are some breeds that will tolerate children more than others but dogs are animals and should never be left alone with young children.
If you’re creatures of habit, chances are a dog will fit right in, depending on which habits you have! If you’re out walking daily, that’s the perfect dog’s life but if you like everything predictable and just-so, you might struggle with the relative chaos a small puppy can bring.
Fail to plan, plan to fail
It’s a well known saying but we are constantly amazed by the amount of people who contact us to ask for advice on their puppy, AFTER they’ve bought one. By then, it’s too late and they have to learn to love with what they have. Of course, training will help you and your dog learn to interact and establish some commands to help behaviour but if you have a breed that chases everything that moves or rolls in fox poop every time you go out, that’s in their genes and can’t be trained.
That is why it is so important to do your homework before you commit. Both family members and their furry friends will be unhappy if they find themselves with the wrong pairing. So, save yourself the heartache,
book on to our webinar and get yourself ready for the wonder and joy that is owning a dog.
Potter Paws is a Dog Trainer in Buckinghamshire. Discover more about our '
New Puppy Package' and how we can help you give your new puppy the best start to family life.