How To Choose A Puppy: 5 Steps to Take Into Account

How To Choose A Puppy: 5 Steps to Take Into Account

Image by kim_hester from Pixabay

Picking the perfect puppy isn’t just about going to the pet store and picking one out of the bunch. There are a number of things you will need to think about first and foremost so that you don’t end up with a dog that doesn’t suit your household. In this blog post, we will take you through exactly what you need to consider before bringing home a new puppy. Puppies can be quite a big commitment, as well as an expensive one, so it’s important to make sure you’re taking all factors into account when making this decision. Below we list 5 steps that will help you choose your perfect pup.

Know the Differences Between Breeds

The first thing you need to do is determine what breed of dog you would like to have. Certain breeds will suit certain households better than others, as well as some, are more common in certain areas. The best way to go about this is to do some research on different breeds so that you have a better idea of the type of dog that would best fit your lifestyle. There are many online resources that can help you to do this, such as the American Kennel Club, which has a handy breed selector tool. This will allow you to input your lifestyle, as well as your living conditions, and it will then give you a list of suggested breeds.

Research The Puppy’s Parents

While this step isn’t necessary in all cases, it can be helpful if you’re looking for a specific breed, or a specific type of dog, such as a service dog. You will want to find out which breeds the puppy’s parents were. This way, you can get an idea of what type of dog the puppy is likely to grow up to be. You can usually find this information out from the breeder, or from a website like the American Kennel Club, which also has a section dedicated to parents of existing puppies. Once you know the parents, you can then research what type of dog (both parent breeds) they would suggest the puppy will grow up to be. This will help you to narrow down your search, and pick out a puppy that is likely to turn out the way you want it to.

Assess Your Living Conditions

Before you buy a puppy, you need to make sure that your living conditions are appropriate for a dog, and vice versa. If you live in an apartment and have no outdoor space, it would not be appropriate to get a puppy that needs to go to the bathroom outside. Likewise, if you have a lot of family members living with you, and children running around, a small dog that can be easily knocked over may not be the best choice. Before you commit to buying a puppy, you’ll want to make sure that you can provide it with everything it needs, as well as make sure it’s not too loud, or too messy for your situation.

Image by Aleš Háva from Pixabay

Find Out Where to Get a Healthy Puppy

While many people get their puppies from a pet store, there are a number of reasons why this is not the best choice. First and foremost, getting a puppy from a pet store will most likely lead to purchasing an animal from a puppy mill that has been treated poorly, and possibly has health issues as a result. Instead, you should look for a reputable breeder, as they have found ways to breed puppies responsibly, and can also help you to find the right puppy, based on the information you have provided. Breeders will have things like vaccinations, and health checks done on their puppies, and will also have the puppies spayed or neutered before they are brought home, to make sure they have a healthy, low-maintenance companion.

Conclusion

Picking out a puppy can be a tricky decision, especially when there are so many factors to take into account. Luckily, if you follow the steps we have outlined above, you will be very well-equipped to find your perfect pup. Let us know in the comments if you have any tips for picking out a puppy, or if you have any questions about the process!