7 Things to Consider Before Purchasing Your First Puppy

Puppies are popular among animal enthusiasts. They're small, cute, lively, and loving little beings that you can carry around with you wherever you go. What's not to love about this? Puppies are certainly difficult to resist. Perhaps this is why so many people buy a puppy before they are ready or know how to prepare for one.

Before you decide to bring home a new puppy, there are a lot of decisions to make and things to consider. Don't give in to impulse and bring a puppy home at the wrong moment. Do your homework beforehand. Find out if you're ready for a puppy and how to obtain one responsibly. Learn how to properly prepare for your new puppy and how to raise that puppy.

1_Are You Prepared to Adopt a Puppy?

Puppies are adorable, but they are also time-consuming. If you've never owned a puppy before, you may be unaware of what you're about to embark on. It's one thing to be prepared to have a dog, particularly an older dog. Raising a puppy necessitates an even greater amount of dedication.

Puppies should be fed three to four times a day when they are young. They must be put outdoors shortly after eating or drinking for them to excrete properly and become house trained. Puppies will have accidents in the house while they are learning to be housebroken. This can result in a significant amount of cleanup.

A puppy may wake you up numerous times throughout the night. It might be because the puppy needs to go outdoors, or it could just be that the puppy is bored.

A puppy should not be left alone for longer than a few hours. When left alone, the puppy should be kept in a crate; this assists with house training and prevents the puppy from chewing up everything in your home. However, after a few hours, a puppy's bladder cannot be held (and sometimes bowels too).

Puppies are capable of causing havoc. They desire to investigate, chew, lick, and maybe even consume items in their surroundings. They have no manners and maybe obnoxious or hyperactive. All puppies must be taught and socialized, as well as given enough exercise. These things take a lot of time.

Are you willing to come home from work in the middle of the day to care for your puppy? Can you tolerate being awakened in the middle of the night? Are you able to devote several hours each week to training and socialization? What about any other animals or humans in your house? Will a puppy be too much of a nuisance?

If you acquire a puppy while it's young, expect to spend a lot of additional time with it, especially in the first few months. If this seems excessive, but you still want a dog, try adopting an older dog.

2_What Breed of Puppy Is Best for You?

So you've considered the benefits and drawbacks of puppy ownership and determined that now is the time to welcome a puppy into your home. Congratulations! It's time to go find your new little friend. But where do you start?

First and foremost, select what type of dog is best for you. Make a list of the characteristics or characteristics you must have, those you like, and those you do not want.

_Do you want your dog to be huge or small? Small dogs generally do better in cramped quarters. Gigantic dogs require extra food, supplies, and medications.
_Do you want a dog that will be as highly energetic as an adult or one that will likely slow down after a year or two? How much physical activity can you provide?

_Consider the sort of hair coat as well. Are you prepared to deal with shedding? Do you prefer a dog that sheds very little? Low-shedding dogs frequently require grooming regularly. Can you afford it?

3_Where to Look for a New Puppy

Once you've decided on the breed of puppy you want, it's time to start looking.

Consider adopting a dog first if at all feasible. Mixed-breed dogs are both lovely and underappreciated. Adorable mixed-breed pups are available at your local animal shelters and pet rescue organizations. Even if you're not sure if a mixed breed dog is right for you, visiting your local shelter or rescue group to see some of the puppies is worthwhile. You may fall in love!

You may have a strong desire for a purebred dog. Many individuals have a favorite breed or want to know what to expect as their dog grows up. In a purebred dog, factors such as size and coat type are fairly predictable. Concerns about one's health, temperament, and energy level are partly predicted but not guaranteed.

If you decide to acquire a purebred dog, you must be responsible. Look for a reputable dog breeder with a lot of expertise. Stay away from backyard breeders. Never buy from a pet store since their canines are frequently from puppy mills. Avoid purchasing a dog from a flea market or classified ad; these dogs have unknown backgrounds and maybe sick.

It will just seem right when you locate the correct dog for you. The majority of dog owners will tell you that their canine friends selected them, not the other way around!

4_Make Your Home Puppy-Proof

You must prepare your house before your tiny companion arrives. Make every effort to puppy-proof your home. Destructive puppy behavior is typical, aggravating, and sometimes harmful to your dog. Your dog will undoubtedly discover all of the small objects that might harm it.

The greatest method to keep your puppy safe is to always keep an eye on it. While you are away, keep your puppy in a kennel (just avoid leaving for more than a few hours when your puppy is still young). A puppy should not have unrestricted access to the house until it is older and well-trained.

5_Purchase Puppy Supplies

Before you bring your new puppy home, you'll need a lot of dog supplies. Begin with the essentials before accumulating a slew of items you don't require, such as toys your puppy will not love or beds your dog will not sleep in. To get started, you'll need a few things:

_Standard four- to six-foot leash
_Collar with ID tags that may be adjusted.
_Metal or ceramic pet dishes for food and water (avoid plastic as it can cause skin irritation1 and is easily chewed up by pups).
_Puppies' food.
_A simple dog bed with room for expansion.
_Dog cage with plenty of room for growth.
_A few simple dog toys (at least one of each: a noisy toy, a plush toy, and a chew toy) A brush, comb, or grooming mitt suitable for your puppy's coat

Other goods, like grooming supplies and preventative treatments, will be required as your puppy develops. Your veterinarian can advise you on which things are most suited to your dog's requirements.

6_Locate a Reputable Veterinarian

Within a few days of being home with you, your new puppy should see a veterinarian for the first time. Even if no vaccinations are required, the puppy should undergo a physical checkup. This is an opportunity to ensure that no health issues were overlooked by the breeder, shelter, or rescue organization.

Bring all of the papers supplied by the breeder or adoption group to your puppy's first visit. Your veterinarian will do the checkup and will go through the puppy immunization plan with you. Beginning at six weeks of age, puppies require a series of basic immunizations. Some vaccinations need a booster dose within a year after the final dose in the original immunization series.

7_Learn How to Raise a Puppy Properly

All pups require extra attention to ensure that they grow up healthy and happy.

_Select a nutritious diet designed particularly for pups.
_Begin house training as soon as your dog arrives home. Understand that this might take several weeks or months.
_Begin obedience training at home but take it slowly at first. Be persistent and patient. Don't be too rigid, though; let your puppy be a puppy!
_Adequately socialize your puppy. Take your puppy to a variety of locations so that it may encounter various sights, noises, people, and pets. However, only allow your puppy to interact with healthy, vaccinated dogs.
_Enroll in puppy training lessons with a reputable trainer. This will not only help your puppy learn, but it will also socialize him.
_Create a regimen that incorporates exercise.
_Keep puppy vet appointments and vaccinations on track.
_Making time for connecting and play is essential. You can even teach your dog some entertaining activities.

Set up the framework ahead of time if there will be more than one person in your home who will interact with the puppy. When and who is responsible for feeding and walking the puppy? Ascertain that all parties agree on ground rules for where the puppy is permitted to go. Collaborate to ensure that the training is consistent. If you have children, make sure they understand how to act around dogs. If you have other pets in the house, make sure they are properly introduced and that they are always well-supervised.