Who doesn't love puppies? Their adorable physical appearance and their silly antics are enough to make just about anyone fall in love. What a lot of people don't know is that Puppies are A LOT of work. A lot. It is, arguably, equivalent to having a young baby. They cry, they can't control their bowels/bladders, they put everything in their mouths, they eat and poop several times a day, they get into things they're not supposed to, and the list goes on. Here are some things to remember and think about before deciding to get a puppy:
| This is my goldador puppy, Midna. Isn't she a doll?? |
#1 COMMITMENT
Puppies are a huge commitment and take up a lot of time and energy to raise. If you are not committed, then you are likely to get rid of the pup before its first birthday because 1.) you didn't care to or have time to train and socialize it or 2.) it lost its novelty once it wasn't cute and fuzzy anymore. It's not fair to the dog and is one of the biggest reason dogs are turned over to shelters that are already overflowing with unwanted pets.
#2 DILIGENCE
Puppies require constant supervision in their first few weeks/months of bringing them home. Many puppies need to go outside every 1-2 hours at first and require redirection of chewing. If you do not continue with training when it gets tough or you are too tired, then puppy may start to develop undesirable behaviors that are harder to fix because they were not prevented. Think about the final outcome and it becomes much easier to keep up with puppy's training no matter how annoying or tedious.
#3 PATIENCE
Puppies are babies, we must all remember this. Often when we teach a puppy a new behavior he seems
| Puppies can be impulsive, be prepared to be patient while teaching your puppy patience! |
#4 EXPERIENCE
Before getting a puppy, you should first know what it is like to work with one, or at least an energetic young dog. If you have a friend or family member who has a puppy or young dog, ask to take their dog on a walk or take care of it for a day. If you are an aspiring dog trainer like me then you have looked for opportunities to work with as many dogs as possible. Having a dog walking or pet sitting business is a good idea (once in my early years of studying and training dogs, I got to watch a 6 week old german shorthaired pointer puppy for a few hours and within that timeframe he peed on my bed and pooped on the floor. Lovely.) You can never have too much experience. If you can't handle someone else's puppy, what makes you think you are prepared to own one?
#5 DISCIPLINE
| It may be hard to resist this face, but don't give in! |
#6 CONSISTENCY
Inconsistency in training is a recipe for disaster. Teach your pup what to expect from an early age. If you discipline him for chewing furniture one time but get frustrated and allow him to do it the next time, puppy will test you and continue to chew up the furniture. He thinks "sometimes I get away with it, so I'm going to take that chance." This is a dangerous lesson to teach a puppy! Be consistent and you will get a MUCH better behaved pup.
#7 TIME AND ENERGY
Puppies require a lot of time and energy from you, much like a small child. If you can't provide that time (and trust me, you will find that you don't have a lot of time for yourself anymore) then you have no business raising a puppy. It is best to have family/friends/roommates who live with you who can give the puppy some attention while you're gone at school or work. Puppies can be alone a few hours every day, but if you are gone 10 hours a day, a dog is probably not the pet for you.
| A create is a valuable tool for puppies. It can aid you when you can't supervise your dog, such as when you leave and can't take him with you. Don't overuse it though and the crate should be a place of relaxation. |
