With small puppies, come big responsibilities...Do your homework and you’ll be on your way to being the best puppy owner!
@shiro.suki
Welcome to the fun and crazy world of puppy parenthood! You and your family have decided to embark on bringing home a puppy. Yay! There’s no better feeling than going to a shelter or breeder and finding the perfect fuzz ball to call your own. And while that’s all well and wonderful, making sure you do the proper research before you bring home your puppy is vitally important for your family and your future puppy’s well-being.
“How much is that doggie in the window?” We all know that children's song, but it’s one mistake we all make as puppy-loving humans: falling in love with the first puppy we lay our eyes on. One look from those big puppy eyes and we’re hooked! Problem is, we forget to realize that this little puppy won’t be little forever and soon you’ll have a full-grown young dog with specific needs you may not have been prepared for. But if you’re reading this, it means you made the right decision to do your homework before picking a puppy for your family. There are a few key criteria that you will need to keep in mind: Size, Energy Level, Maintenance, Age, and Breed.
“Unless you are planning on doing sport dog work, don’t pick the most excited puppy that’s running around and jumping all over you. A family dog puppy will be sweet and more of a medium energy or snoozing from all of the attention.”
Think About Size! From Puppy to Adult Dog
The perfect puppy is waiting for you! All you have to do is figure out which one he or she is. Start thinking about what you initially want in size for your future adult dog. In general, dogs come in small, medium, and large sizes with a few categories within those such as teacup or giant. Small dogs like Chihuahuas have very different personalities and needs then let's say a big Golden Retriever. Small dogs are more sensitive to being handled, so if you have young children at home who rough house you may need to teach your kids proper ways to play with the puppy or consider going up in size. Small dog breeds also could develop a “Napoleon Complex” having a tougher personality to compensate for their size. Nothing that proper puppy training couldn’t help with but it is something to keep in mind! On the flip side, big dogs need more space to romp around. Think about a big swinging tail crashing into your coffee table. Bothersome for you to continually pick things up but it’s also harmful to your dog. Tail injury is totally avoidable if you know you may not have the appropriate home for a big puppy. Bigger dogs have big expenses too! More dog food, dog supplies, and health considerations depending on the breed. Just like small puppies, big puppies will require puppy training and can greatly benefit from puppy training classes for socialization.
Energy Level: Every Puppy is Different
Puppy personalities start to develop early on. Chances are you are familiar with differences in energy amongst certain breeds but it’s important to observe the puppy you are interested in too. Consider your lifestyle in this situation. Do you like chill weekends at home on the couch or going for long trail runs? Do you work 9-5 and like relaxing at home after or do you have a flexible schedule and can be on the go when you please? Whatever your speed, try to match up with your puppy companion.
@trapmoneypennylane
Puppies begin to show their individual personalities and energy levels as early as 4-6 weeks. Some puppies will be relaxed and chill, while some will wander and explore their surroundings. How do they interact with you and your family? Are they interested in you and your family? Or are they skittish or completely indifferent? Keep these questions in mind and make note of them as they will help you pick the puppy with the energy level that suits your life.
Low Maintenance vs High Maintenance
Just like their human counterparts, our puppies need basic grooming to stay fresh! And some require a little extra TLC when it comes to their maintenance needs. Long coat, short coat, curly coat, pointed ears, floppy ears...all of these unique qualities of your puppy have their own specific care!
@riversgoldendays
Puppies with constant fur growth require consistent grooming to avoid matting. And puppies with long, floppy ears will need special attention to avoid infections. As you research more about a breed you’re interested in, keep in mind whether you will be able to keep up with the proper grooming your puppy needs to be healthy and happy.
If you plan on taking on grooming at home, consider asking for advice from a groomer or puppy trainer! Some institutions like here at The Puppy Academy provide puppy training so you can learn what you need to do at home, and help your puppy become accustomed to being handled and groomed.
Age is Only a Number
Regardless of how old our puppies get, they will always be our puppy! But if you aren’t sure if you’re ready to take the plunge of getting a puppy, consider a young adult dog or even a senior dog! Remember, puppies develop quickly and require the most amount of puppy training in the first 6-8 months of their lives so it will be your main responsibility to provide them the adequate attention.
Getting an older dog can help you get a better understanding of their energy level and maintenance needs but that’s not to say they will be well-trained. You may still need to seek training for an older dog. And senior dogs while they make great companions, they do have their own set of requirements. With age comes health issues, vet visits, and medication that you as the owner will need to care for. Sadly, they have a shorter life span but if you bring home a senior dog it’ll be one of the kindest things that you ever do!
“Spend as much time as possible with the puppy before getting them. You will build more of a connection, or you may discover another pup in the litter that suits you better!”
Pure-Bred or Mutt?
We all have certain dog breeds that either we grew up with, or learned about by following their crazy antics on social media. And we love them because something about their personalities just pulls on your heartstrings! Regardless of the reason you love a specific breed, you need to research about their characteristics, temperament, and health in order to make sure they are the right fit for your family. But if you aren’t attached to one specific breed, than mix-breed puppies are a great choice! Bonus, the combination of two different breeds can give well-balanced physical traits and characters.
And if you already brought your puppy home, don’t despair if you didn’t do your research beforehand! Getting a puppy is a completely life-changing event and almost every new puppy parent has that thought at some point. We recommend getting a trainer asap to help speed up the process of getting to know your puppy! With every puppy be prepared to spend time training them to be members of your family. Puppy training is a great way to learn about your puppy’s individual needs. Puppy training classes help introduce your puppy to boundaries, socialize them with other people and puppies and exert their energy. Plus, including your whole family in puppy training is a great way to educate them on how to properly care for the newest addition!
“Research the breed and possible health or behavioral issues they may have so you are aware of things that may come up. Also knowing what they were bred for will help you get more insight into energy levels, and what they instinctively like to do (ex. Corgis were bred for herding – they will often try to herd kids in a family!)”
Good luck with your new puppy!