Selecting a Breed
- Can you tell me about the breed?
- How long have you been breeding?
- What requirements do you have for potential owners of your puppies, and how do you match puppies with their new owners?
- Can I meet the dam or sire to get a sense of the temperament?
- Have health tests been performed on the parents?
- How do you socialize your puppies?
- Are the puppies up-to-date on vaccinations/shots?
- When can I take the puppy home?
- Do you provide a health guarantee and a contract?
- How can we contact you after picking up the puppy?
The disadvantage is that training a puppy requires a great deal of time and patience. Busy families should keep in mind that puppies cannot be left alone for more than a few hours at a time. They need plenty of trips outside, frequent meals, and lots of interaction with people, not to mention love.
The advantage of getting a puppy—aside from its irresistible cuteness—is that you can raise it by yourself from the beginning and participate in its training and socialization, every step of the way.
Adult dogs, whether purchased directly from a breeder or adopted from an rescue organization, can be ideal for people who want a dog with fewer needs. Mature dogs tend to be calmer; some are already house-trained and know basic obedience.
Can you integrate the commitment to a puppy into your current parental responsibilities?
Research whether the breed you are interested in does well with children. Some breeds want the spotlight and are needier and will not be happy if attention is given to a child or something other than them. Like children, puppies require a lot of attention, love, and energy. It can be exhausting! Think about a puppy as another child when making this decision.
Yes. Is there enough room in your apartment for your Labrador Retriever? What about your backyard, if you even have one. Is there a good amount of space for your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier to run and burn off all of her energy? These are all things to take into consideration when deciding on a breed.
Deciding what dog breed to get is as important as deciding whether to get a dog in the first place. Every breed has different traits and care needs. Breed research is necessary because you may find that while you think a puppy is absolutely adorable, that breed’s personality may not align with your lifestyle.