Getting a puppy just because the kids want one is not the right reason. This is especially true if neither parent has experience with pets.
Dogs are an incredible responsibility. Especially puppies! Before even considering getting a puppy, adults should be absolutely certain that they are ready to include another living, breathing, eating, defecating, and urinating object with genuine and sometimes very expensive needs into the family.
A puppy is not a stuffed toy. You can’t put it in a closet and forget about it. You have basic needs such as food, water, shelter, training, exercise, medical needs, love and attention. Those that require the obligation of time and money.
Parents should consider the maturity level of their children as well as the time commitment needed for a puppy to grow into a well-rounded, well-rounded adult dog. Children need to be aware that puppies feel pain and respond best to fair, firm, loving, and consistent leadership.
Then there are also the financial responsibilities of food, medical needs, grooming, training, and liability.
With all that in mind, then, the whole family should sit down and discuss what adding a puppy to the family will entail. At this point, you need to figure out who will be responsible for what the puppy needs. The best way to do this is to list the responsibilities associated with a puppy, along with the name of the person best suited for each job.
Basic responsibilities include:
1. Domestic education: puppies need a strict schedule. You have to teach them where to go, so you can learn to read their signals that they have to relieve themselves.
2. Food/Water – Young pups need to eat three times a day. That is then reduced to twice a day. By the time they are one year old, most dogs are fed once a day.
3. Training: Enroll in a non-punishment, local positive reinforcement puppy kindergarten. Your pup will need and thrive on socialization. You will need to learn the proper techniques for obedience training and vital leadership skills.
4. Walking/Exercise: Puppies and dogs should be walked a minimum of three times a day. In addition, they also need structured exercise with their people. Too many people think that simply because the pup has been dumped in the backyard alone, they are getting exercise. Most of the time… they are getting into trouble. If you want your pup to reach his full potential and be less frustrated, encourage breed-specific exercises.
5. Grooming – Some breeds don’t need a groomer, others do. Simple basic grooming, like brushing your pup, can be shared by everyone. If it involves more than bathing and brushing, a groomer may be needed.
6. Poo Patrol – What goes in must come out! Someone will have to be in charge of the backyard cleanup detail. To keep your yard as sanitary as possible, poop patrol should be done immediately, if not every day. It’s not a prestigious job, but it’s important!
7. Medical Care: Puppies get sick, need shots, have accidents, need preventative medication, and most importantly, need to be spayed or neutered when your vet deems the time is right.
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If everyone agrees, and the family is willing to compromise, the next step is to establish a weekly chart, showing daily and weekly needs, and who is responsible for each. This is especially important for parents with little or no puppy/dog experience.
When each task is completed, the person responsible for that specific duty initials the chart. That way, she will know that the pup has been fed on time, walked on time, exercised on time, cleaned up after, and trained daily.
It is vitally important to remember that puppies and dogs do their best when they are on a regular schedule. Change things or forget to do something, and you have just opened the door to trouble. Stick to a schedule! Just doing that, most of the time, everything goes smoothly. That’s not to say accidents don’t happen! Be prepared for them.
Now is the time to decide which puppy/dog is best suited for your family. Active, high-energy families do better with friendly dogs. Look for a puppy that genetically shares his energy level, even when he has matured. Low energy and less active families would be better suited with a pup who, when older, instinctively shares the pace of his lifestyle.
It may be worth your time and a few dollars to consult with an experienced dog trainer or behaviorist. Get their opinions on which breed they think would be the best fit for your family. They have experience working with a variety of breeds and are familiar with temperaments, learning levels, and how well they subconsciously get along with children and other pets.
With that done, ask around; get recommendations from a vet he is comfortable with. Just because there’s one on the street doesn’t mean it’s going to be the best choice for your pup. The relationship between you, your vet and your pet will last a long time… it should be one that you and your pet are happy with.
Another thing novice puppy owners should absolutely consider is enrolling in a positive reinforcement, no punishment puppy kindergarten. The way a puppy is handled during the first 20 weeks of life usually sets the standard for what you can expect from him when he grows up. Rowdy and rude puppies often grow up to be rowdy and rude dogs. The sooner you get your pup on the right track, the better for everyone involved.
Find a local trainer who will encourage the whole family to participate in puppy training. The most important thing you’ll take away from a dog training class, aside from learning how to train your dog correctly, is leadership skills. Puppies and dogs instinctively are willing to follow strong leaders. If they do not perceive strong leadership, most often they develop conduct disorders.
Conclusion: if there is even the slightest doubt, do not buy a puppy! Puppies give a lot of work and responsibility. They consume a lot of time. It can be very frustrating and stressful. You may be better off adopting or rescuing an older dog.
It is not fair to you, your children and especially the puppy, since they will be the ones who suffer the consequences.
On the other hand, if you’ve done your homework, you’re willing to invest the time, energy, and expense; Adding a puppy to your family can be one of the most rewarding experiences everyone will share.
Remember, your local shelters and rescues are overflowing with puppies and dogs just waiting to love your family heart and soul.
