How to Choose a Puppy

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What should you know before deciding on a puppy for your home? What questions do you need to ask? Find out in this article.

When it comes to choosing a puppy, there are several things you need to consider. The six most important things to think about when choosing a puppy are the puppy’s breed, the puppy’s breeder, the personality, your budget, your lifestyle, and your living space.

As you read further, you will gain all the information you will need for each aspect to consider when it comes to choosing a puppy. You will learn about why you should think about your puppy’s breed and their breeder. Next, you’ll read about puppy personalities and which puppy personality may suit you. Then you will find out about the personal aspects such as the costs and your budget, your home, and your lifestyle. Finally, it will wrap up with some final thoughts on how to choose a puppy.

Which Breed Should You Choose?

Since you’re looking for a puppy, you probably already have a shortlist of the breeds you’re considering. Choosing a breed matters because different breeds come with different needs and health issues.

To narrow down your list, the best route to take is to choose a size. Dogs can come in four different sizes: toy, small, medium, and large. Smaller dogs normally have shorter lifespans than larger dogs while larger dogs tend to be higher maintenance than smaller dogs.

There are over a hundred dog breeds and fortunately, there’s a dog breed out there for everyone. The breed can also help you predict your puppy’s personality as they grow up and how much exercise they’ll need every day. Once you’ve chosen a breed, you must do extensive research on that breed and see if that puppy will suit you.

The Breeder and Their Background

The next step in choosing a puppy is researching breeders. The first thing to know is to never purchase a puppy from a pet store. This is because puppies that come from pet stores are usually bred in puppy mills that force dogs to live under inhumane conditions. Pet store puppies are also usually aggressive due to being weaned too early.

When looking for a breeder, you should only consider reputable breeders. You can identify a reputable breeder by checking if there are any positive reviews about their business. Throughout your transaction, a reputable breeder will be welcoming, open, and transparent about how they breed their puppies.

If a breeder refuses to show you the puppy’s mother or where they keep their dogs, then they’re probably not a trustworthy or reputable breeder. They should also only agree to give you your puppy when it’s at least 8 weeks old and has its first round of shots.

Avoid breeders that will offer to ship you the puppy with no questions asked or ask to meet up. You should always be allowed to pick up the puppy from the breeder’s home.

A reputable breeder will also provide you with medical certificates for your puppy and your puppy’s parents. If the breeder doesn’t have either of these, that counts as a red flag. A good breeder will also show a lot of knowledge of the breed you have in mind and be honest about what health issues your puppy may face in the future.

Choosing a reputable breeder also means choosing a puppy that has the highest chance of living a full and healthy life. With a responsible breeder, your puppy will be coming from a good home before coming with you and joining your loving home.

The Puppy’s Personality

Next is deciding on what type of puppy personality you’re looking for. Puppies can be easygoing and cuddly or energetic and playful, or even intelligent and in need of mental stimulation. Some puppies need more attention than others that may prefer some alone time.

You can normally develop an idea of what personality your puppy will have based on its breed. Keep in mind that a puppy’s personality can and will change depending on how you raise and socialize it.

A puppy’s personality is simply a case of nature vs. nurture. You might choose a Cavalier King Charles because of its famously easygoing lapdog personality but come home disappointed if your puppy turns out to be playful and energetic.

Choosing a puppy based on its breed’s nature will certainly help you find the puppy personality that you’re looking for but how your puppy grows up is entirely up to you.

What are the Costs of Having a Puppy?

The primary cost of getting a puppy is of course purchasing it. If you’re keen on having a puppy, buying one will depend on the breed. Purebred puppies cost anywhere between $800 to $1500 while designer puppies cost around $400 to $2000. There is also the cheaper route of adopting a puppy from a shelter for $50 to $350 but this won’t guarantee that you’ll have a purebred or designer puppy.

Then there are of course secondary costs that are made up of what you need to take care of your puppy. Puppies don’t stay puppies forever and will spend their entire lives with you. As they grow they will need food every day, toys, leashes, collars, regular checkups, and possibly even maintenance medicine.

Normally you’ll be spending up to $1000 a year to keep your puppy healthy. This includes funding for food and trips to the vet. Having a puppy requires a lot of your time and money

Your Home and Lifestyle

The next step is to consider your home and whether or not it’s the best environment for your puppy. This doesn’t only concern the amount of space but also the people living in your home.

The first thing to look think about is space. If you’re living in a small space such as an apartment or flat, you should be looking at smaller dog breeds. If you live in a big house with lots of space and a yard, then you can think about getting a larger puppy. You can get away with living in a small space and having a large dog if you intend to take your dog out often for walks and trips to a dog part.

Your lifestyle is also important when choosing a puppy because having a puppy in your life is sure to affect your lifestyle. Having a puppy means you won’t get to live your life the same way you did before you had a puppy.

For example, if you lead an active lifestyle, you might want to consider a puppy with high energy that can join you for your exercise routines. On the other hand, if you’re a couch potato, you will probably have a better match up with a lax and lazy dog.

It’s better to choose a puppy that can easily adjust to your lifestyle because otherwise, it can prove to be a challenge for both you and your puppy.

You will need enough time every day to spend with your dog regardless of your lifestyle. What matters is that the time you spend with your puppy is a good time for both of you.

You also have to ask yourself, do you have children? Do you often have people over? Who will be spending the most time with your puppy? These are all important questions to consider while you’re choosing your puppy because some puppies are more sociable and receptive to people and children than others.

Final Thoughts

Although many hopeful pet owners think that choosing a puppy is as easy as seeing a puppy and taking it home, making the decision is a lot of work. You should always be well-informed and responsible in choosing a puppy.

As you can see, you must think of both yourself and your puppy when you make this decision. The goal in choosing a puppy is to make sure that you have all the information you need and that you are ready for it.

Making sure that you’re ready to have a puppy is also making sure that your puppy will spend a long and happy life in your home. Choose wisely not just for your sake, but for your puppy’s sake too!