Choosing A Puppy 101

Choosing a puppy is a big moment, and so much fun! But.... to give you both the best chance of a happy-ever-after relationship it's important to pick the right pup for YOU. Find out how right here.

I know how hard it is to be patient when you're sooo ready to add that new little furball to your family.

It's tempting to rush out to the local pet store, or check out the classifieds, and dash off to buy the first little pup that chews on your shoelaces.....but that can be a bad idea for lots of reasons!

A puppy isn't going to be little for long, and he's going to be your companion for up to 15 years or more, so it's definitely worth taking just a little time to think about your home, lifestyle, personality - and the plans you have for the two of you - BEFORE you pick out the lucky little guy or girl.

Here's what you can do to give you both the best shot at being buddies for life....

How To Choose The Right Breed

Unless you've owned different breeds of dog before you might think all dogs are just, well.... dogs!

Of course they ARE all the same species and are put together in the same basic way - 4 legs, a wagging tail, a tongue made for licking and the ability to bark, whine, bite, chew and enjoy belly rubs :)

But it's important to remember that each breed has it's own very specific 'look', personality and needs, and so do you and your family members.

When it comes to choosing a puppy, it might take a bit of extra effort to find the exact dog of your dreams but as you are going to be sharing your life with him or her for the next 10 - 12 years don't settle for the first puppy you see, just to save a bit of time and trouble.

Choosing the RIGHT PUPPY should be your ultimate aim...... so it's important to make sure that you pick a pup from a breed that is a good 'fit' for your home, lifestyle and expectations.

If you skip, or rush through, this important step you might be setting all of you up for a whole lot of disappointment and frustration.

Here are the things to think about and consider when you're making a short-list of breeds:

Size of your home
Access to a fenced yard
Family members (especially children and their ages, frail or elderly relatives)
Your activity level
Your families leisure activities
Amount of time you have to spend with your pet
Plans for the pup (working, hunting, agility, obedience, companion etc.)
Breeds that you are especially drawn to

The first 7 points are all practical ones.....

If you live in a tiny apartment in the city, choosing a puppy that is big and boisterous, may not be the best choice - but some big dogs are low energy and could be a good fit. Small or tiny dogs and young children are usually not a match made in heaven.

Working dogs like Border Collies (and most sheep/cattle dogs) will want (no, make that need) to herd things and, unless you just happen to have a flock of sheep in your backyard, he will most likely focus that attention on your children, cat or whatever else he can find.

Big, guardian breeds can be a challenge for a first time owner, most terriers are whirlwinds of activity and can be exhausting... and so on.

The last point in the list might seem to contradict what I've already said, but really it compliments it! Once you've ruled out dog breeds that won't work, take a look at your shortlist... is there a particular breed there that you've always wanted to own?

Are you crazy about Cocker Spaniels or goofy over Great Danes? If so, pay attention to your heart. Hopefully your 'ideal dog' will be one that fits with the realities of your life, those are the best matches.

But if you absolutely MUST have a specific breed but it's not a good match in some areas - at least you'll be aware of that and can work to make sure that there's the minimum of friction!

Here are some pages where you'll find tons more tips and information to help you make the right choice....

And don't forget that purebred dogs aren't the only kind of dogs around! There are lots and lots of mixed breed pups looking for loving homes and they're just as loving, loyal and intelligent.

When it comes to health, a mixed breed puppy is also usually stronger and isn't burdened by the hereditary health problems that many purebreds carry.

There are many ways to find a mixed breed pup who needs a home, but avoid puppy mills and pet shops (who often buy from puppy mills!).

And last, but definitely not least, remember that thousands of dogs of all ages, sizes and breeds are waiting patiently in pounds and rescue societies for their 'forever family' to find them.

Adopting a pup/dog from one of these rescue organizations gives a lonely pooch (who may have a short life-span if not adopted) a chance at a happy life with the love and attention he deserves.

In my experience it's often a very special relationship too - rescued dogs seem to know when they've been given a second chance and reward their new owners with bucket-loads of that unconditional love that dogs are so famous for!

Choosing The Right Puppy From A Litter

Once you've got as far as looking at a litter of puppies, it gets even trickier because it's almost impossible to look at a jumble of chubby, squirming little pups without taking one home with you!

So your most important task now is choosing a puppy who's healthy and who has the personality/temperament that you're looking for.

ALL puppies are adorable and pretty much irresistible so you need to try really hard to be practical and as unemotional as possible at this point... not easy, I know!

Taking home a sick puppy is a recipe for high vet bills and possibly a lot of heartache - and it's not a good idea. Routine vet care is necessary to keep a pup healthy and keep parasites and disease at bay.

Luckily there are some easy-to-spot signs that a puppy isn't well, or that he hasn't been given the health care he needs. I'd recommend taking a look at my Choosing A Healthy Puppy page to learn how to recognize a healthy, well-cared for pup... and get tips on keeping him that way once you get him home.

Picking a pup who hasn't been properly handled or socialized, one who is extremely anxious/scared or one who's at the opposite end of the personality scale and seems intent on bullying his/her littermates - or any other animal or human who comes their way - is also a bad way to start out.

Puppies learn a lot from their momma and littermates and need to stay with their doggie family for at least 8 weeks to get the benefits of this important canine education.

If a breeder tells you that a 5 or 6 week old puppy is 'ready to go because the momma has stopped feeding them' or for any other reason, then the DO NOT have the puppy's best interests at heart.

Dogs start weaning their puppies at somewhere between 3 and 4 weeks of age (it's a normal step in puppy development), and at that point the human 'momma' needs to step in and introduce solid food.

For backyard breeders and puppy mills this means spending money on puppy food and putting in some effort and they prefer to sell the pup at that point. It's not good for the puppy and a sign that you've not chosen a reputable, responsible breeder.

Choosing Your Puppy - Male Or Female?

I've owned many dogs over my lifetime. Dogs of all ages, sizes, breeds and personalities - and of both sexes.

And I can honestly say that I don't think either sex is better/easier/quieter or any other adjective you care to throw out there!

With humans, it isn't whether someone is male or female that's the most important determining factor in terms of influencing their personality, behavior, intelligence etc. It's the same way with dogs.

Personality and temperament are much more products of your puppy's genetics and upbringing than they are his sex.

But there are some practical differences between male and female pups and it pays to think ahead and consider these when you're choosing a puppy. Here are some of the 'biggies'....

Once they've reached sexual maturity female dogs come into season between one and three times per year (depending on the breed as well as the individual dog). This is not a problem for the dog, but it can be for you! Her 'season' will last approximately three weeks, and for at least part of that time she will bleed. If you have nice carpets and furniture, and/or she will be sleeping on your bed, it can be quite a challenge to keep your possessions from being ruined.
There are 'doggy-diapers' that she can wear specifically for this purpose, but she will need to get used to them early on or she's likely to rip them off before you can say 'carpet shampoo'. Then there's the problem of repelling (and protecting her from) all the neighborhood Romeos who will be vying for her attentions. Dogs (of both sexes) can get very creative when it comes to finding ways to satisfy their natural urges - it is not unheard of for females to be impregnated through chain-link fences!
When you're choosing a puppy bear in mind that it's not just the females that have issues. Male dogs come with their own set of problems. One of which is the fact that an un-neutered male will get the urge to visit any fertile female within walking distance (and you'll be surprised how far he can walk when Fifi is sending her pheromones his way!). Intact males are also far more likely to get into dog fights as the attempt to prove to all contenders that they are, indeed, 'the man' (or at least 'the dog').
If you have a mixed breed dog, or if your purebred is not destined for the dog show ring (and perhaps a momma or daddy), I strongly recommend that you spay or neuter your pup.
Another problem is the male dog's habit of 'marking' or 'spraying'. This is when a dog sprays urine on anything he considers to be his property. In the dog world, this is a clear signal to other dog to stay away, and Fido may feel it necessary to spray every tree, rosebush, fence-post and corner of your house in order to make his point.
This is OK outdoors, but can cause problems if he decides to treat your sofa, bedframe, dining table and front door the same way! However if you housetrain him early (spraying doesn't really surface until adolescence or early adulthood) you have a good chance of reducing or eliminating the problem when it arises.
Showing him, both kindly and consistently, that this behavior is not OK with you should get the message across - and confine his macho display to your yard (and the occasional fire hydrant or lamp-post of course).

At the moment I have loud, bossy females (with one notable exception) and teddy-bear males, but on many occasions it's been the exact opposite.

You can get lots more help with making a decision (whether it's breed, sex, size or whatever) on this website - Choosing A Dog Made Easy There's tons of tips and advice to get you started off right!

Once Your Puppy Is In Your Arms.....

So, you finally took the plunge and picked out the perfect puppy - and now you're on your way home with him/her curled up on your lap.

But wait... what do you do now? Do you know what to expect in terms of your puppy's development or behavior? Do you know how to keep him healthy? Or well fed? Or happy?

If not, don't panic :) Everything you need to know is right here on my website. To save time I'd recommend taking a look at my New Puppy Checklist because it will help you start out on the right foot (and paw!).