RE: Tips for a Choosing a Puppy
Observe the puppy with his littermates. Don't take the most hyper puppy and don't take the one who is off by himself all the time. Look at the pup's eyes, they should be clear and not gunky or runny. Take one puppy at a time away from the litter. Set it down and walk away. See if it follows you or comes when you bend down and call it. Show it a ball or one of your gloves, toss it and see if it will chase. Stand up and toss your keys or a jar full of pennies on the floor to see what the puppy does. It should startle, but then look interested, not hide under the coffee table! Gently place your hands under the pup's chest and belly and lift it off the ground, feet dangling. Turn him over and hold him on his back. He should struggle briefly but then submit to you holding him. Holding him upright, pinch the skin between the toes (not too hard). The pup should object politely but not bite.
Posted on 03/26/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Tips for a Choosing a Puppy
Puppy store dogs come from illegal puppy mills which have atrocious conditions. The dogs are stacked on top of each other & the breeder mother usually ends up dying from being starved & bred to often. It's all on the internet.
Posted on 03/25/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Tips for a Choosing a Puppy
please go to the local animal shelter. i have the best dog from the local spca. PLEASE PLEASE DONT GO TO A PUPPY STORE. THEY WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY GET THE DOGS FROM REPUTABLE BREEDERS. THEY DONT. A REPUTABLE BREEDER WANTS TO GET TO KNOW THE NEW OWNERS.
Posted on 03/24/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Tips for a Choosing a Puppy
Great advice Jo!
One thing to remember is getting a puppy is like having a baby. They will be messy, want to chew on things, want to play and sometimes will cry if they are uncomfortable or don't get their way. Expect that this will last for at least the first 6 months to 2 years. Puppies are very cute but also need a lot of attention to become well adjusted good adult dogs. Make sure you are up for the commitment, have the time and money to spend on your pet and give them the care they need and deserve. Once they pass the really cute baby stage, many people take them to the shelter and way too many dogs are destroyed each year because of bad choices made by people.
Also, consider getting a pet from a rescue group or shelter. Many rescue groups make sure that the dogs are neutered and have all the shots and care that they need before they will adopt them out. There are rescue groups for every breed. There are many wonderful animals there that through no fault of their own ended up homeless. Check out http://www.petfinder.com.
Susan from ThriftyFun
Posted on 03/24/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Tips for a Choosing a Puppy
Do your homework!! Its obvious from some of the questions on Thrifty Fun that new dog owners, while caring and loving of their pups, have no idea what is normal dog behaviour, how puppies react to being separated from their mothers/introduced to a new environment and how and when to start training. All this information is available in books and on the net. So before you get your dog do some research. Know what to expect and how to deal with the little puddles and problems that arise with a new dog! This will prevent unprepared owners from deciding they cannot deal with the realities of dog ownership and leaving dogs ignored and locked in the yard, or the dogs ending up in an animal shelter.
Firstly look at what you have to offer the dog. There is no point in getting a large hound, bred to run, if you live in an inner city apartment and don't like walking. Likewise, the larger breed of guarding or fighting dog may turn out to be the sweetest, gentlest dog you know - but statistically it is more likely to attack visitors and new additions to your family. A dog attack can disfigure a child for life and most owners say their dog had never shown signs of aggression before it turned on a child. Cut the odds of this happening by choosing your breed carefully. If you don't need a guard dog why buy one?
Where will you get your dog? Look for reputable breeders who care about their dogs and are not breeding for show characteristics at the expense of the dogs natural conformation. If the breed of dog is prone to congenital abnormalities be aware of this and have it vet checked before purchase. If you are looking for a companion animal a friendly mut from the local animal shelter may be the ideal way to go.
Be prepared to spend money, even if the puppy is free. Besides food, your dog will need annual immunisations, and veterinary care is expensive, especially as the dog gets older. Unless you are buying a pure bred dog for breeding purposes have your dog neutered early - allowing a dog to have 'just one litter' is not necessary and allowing more unwanted puppies to be brought into the world to fill up more animal shelters/be put to sleep is just irresponsible.
Regards
Jo
Posted on 03/24/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Tips for a Choosing a Puppy
Before choosing any pet....ask yourself if YOU are ready for a 10-15 year commitment...Cute little puppies grow up and are 100% dependant on YOU their owner...they are not throw away toys...
Posted on 03/24/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse
Tips for a Choosing a Puppy
Hi,
Please go to your local animal shelter. They will help you adopt the perfect animal for your family. You will be giving a home to a very needy pet.
Posted on 03/24/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse
Choosing a Puppy
When choosing a puppy see if it will chew on you finger first. If it does be prepared for it to chew on everything in your home.
By Cathy Riemersma
Posted on 03/24/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse
|
