Some Tips For getting a puppy

by Rich Conklin



Raising a pet is no different from raising a child. Your choice to bring a pet into your home is one that shouldn't be made lightly. New pets are new family members and the whole family should be involved in the discussion. All too often, well meaning families purchase or adopt animals to find out that the new pets are not what they expected, they are not compatible with their lifestyles, or require more care than originally thought. In my experience, more new pets are brought home during the holiday season than any other time of year. New pets are not good holiday gifts. Unfortunately, many of the plants we have in our homes during the holidays can be poisonous to pets. We may not think of eating it, but some curious pets may. Christmas trees and their decorations can create hazards for pets. Dogs will often play with glass ornaments as if they were balls and serious oral lacerations can result. Also, dogs are often attracted by the sweet taste of drinks, especially eggnog. So be very aware of your pets and their surroundings. The traditions some of us participate in during the holiday season do pose some risk to your pets. Also the adoption of pets as surprise gifts is something that should be strongly discouraged.

1. Puppies It's important to learn as much as you can about your chosen dog before actually purchasing a puppy. Also, be able to honestly answer this very important question. How much time do you have to devote to your new puppy? Remember that pets need routine and a time to bond with you. New pets are often frightened and will need an adjustment period. It is very important to make your puppy feel secure during this stage. During this time, if your puppy doesn't have something to chew on, he will look for something. So make sure to provide plenty of chew toys. A puppy can entertain himself for hours if he has something to knaw on. The best age to acquire a puppy is between the ages of 7 and 12 weeks. It is suggested that a person should not get a puppy under 7 weeks. Right around the time your puppy is eight to ten weeks old, he will begin a new stage in his life. During this period the puppy will have begun to develop his adult senses. Puppies can get stressed or bored when their owners leave them home alone and sometimes this can result in chewing your favorite pair of shoes, leaving a puddle of piddle, or emptying the contents of your garbage across the floor. So be prepared to be the attention giver and practice a lot of patience. It will pay off in the long run! Puppies also need to be given a vaccine for distemper, parvovirus and leptosprosis. Insurance is a wise idea for all pets and for animals with a history of illness. Take all new pets to your vet within a week for a checkup and to start their shots. It is a good idea to get the puppy its shots and stay on schedule with them. Unfortunately, too many people adopt pets without truly understanding the responsibilities that come with raising an animal. They end up disappointed with the pets behavior, miss their shots due to a lack of time or even have to give their pet away. That's why I will stress this again, think before you leap.

2. Training Training starts the day you bring your pet home and continues through his entire life. Unfortunately, thousands of happy and healthy pets arrive at animal shelters every year, not because of the pet, but because their previous person didn't realize the time, energy and money involved in keeping and training the pet. To train them correctly and get the results you want, it requires as much effort an attention to detail. Liken it to training a human toddler. Potty training a puppy correctly requires sometimes getting up in the middle of the night, several times. Don't underestimate the value of crate-training, for a variety of reasons. There are natural instincts in dogs which make house training a fairly simple process. The main goal of puppy training is to prevent problems before they get started. Puppy training, and exposing the puppy to the right learning environment at the right time can make a huge difference in adult dog behavior. And by all means, don't keep your puppy from socializing. A friendly dog is loved by all.

3. Family

Your choice to bring a pet into your home is one that shouldn't be made lightly. Raising a pet is a lot of responsibility, but also very rewarding. People obtain pets and replace pets more easily than ever before. Sadly, the increased availability of pets, prepackaged pet food, and veterinary care has not been paralleled by an increase in responsible pet care. In fact, many of the animals we see at the shelter are there by no fault of their own, but because of changes at the pet's former home such as divorce, downsizing or because the family didn't realize the expense and energy that went into raising a pet. In exploring possible pets, you need to decide what type of pet will be right for your temperament, location and family. It turns out that science is now demonstrating that pets are good for us, but when we make the wrong choices, it can all go sour fast. Don't be discouraged, just make rational and realistic assessments prior to expanding your family and home with a pet. Pet's do bring a great deal of love, joy and happiness to peoples lives and are well worth the effort. But remember, raising a pet is a commitment that could last up to 20 years and in some cases even longer.

By: Rich Conklin Rich is the owner of Pet Source USA. A pet supply shop with a history of being committed to providing quality and service to people and their pets. They have the things you and your pets want to raise happy and healthy pets. If thinking of things you will need for your new puppy. The folks a Pet Source USA are there to help. One recommendation would be their puppy package. A perfect starter set up for a new puppy! When it comes to pets, Pet Source USA is the answer. It's "what pets want!"