Are you sure you want a puppy?

Did you recently decide it is time to add a puppy to your home? Are you really sure you want to do that? There is a lot to consider before bringing a puppy home. Time Do you have the time to devote to the puppy? A puppy take a lot of time. You will be up throughout the night taking the puppy out to go potty. The puppy needs visits to the vet, training classes, and socialization. He will also need exercise and mental stimulation. When you are home with the puppy it needs full supervision until completely housebroken and no long chewing items he shouldn't. When you get home from a long day at work you will be looking at taking the puppy out, feeding him, possibly cleaning up a mess made while you were at work, playing with him, and putting in some training time. All of that on top of whatever else you would typically do. Financial Puppies cost money. Not only the initial purchase cost of the puppy but then toys, treats, food, supplies, vet, and trainer. Depending on the age and at point your puppy is at you are looking at the potential cost of spay/neuter, several sets of vaccines, fecals, dewormers, and always flea and heartworm prevention. Before you get a puppy you should look into these costs at local vets and trainers. Find out what you may be expecting. All of that cost is assuming the puppy is healthy. If your puppy gets sick or injured those costs will be additional. Make sure you have some sort of extra money set aside just in case. Patience You will be woken up in the middle of the night and early in the morning by the puppy whining, barking, howling, etc. There is a good chance the puppy will chew up something they aren't supposed to. They might make a mess on your carpet. Be prepared for all of this. Remember that if the puppy had the chance to tear up something they shouldn't they were not being watched or confined appropriately. That is more your fault than their's. Living Situation If you don't live alone then you should always make sure everyone in the house is ok adding a puppy to the mix. They are going to have to deal with some parts of life with a puppy as well. It's best if everyone is on the same page about adding in a new family member. The same thought goes for other pets in your house. If you have another dog who dislikes other dogs it may not be the best idea to add in a puppy. Sometimes it goes well but not always. What will you do if your older dog does not accept the new addition? Remember that dog was there first and is already part of your family. Do you have a very old arthritic dog? The puppy will want to play with her and she may be painful and tired. How hard is it going to be on her? Do you live in an apartment? Is there enough space for your puppy? Are you prepared to take the puppy out to walk in the cold? Heat? Rain? Snow? What happens if the puppy barks while you are gone? Can your neighbors hear him? Maybe an Adult? Puppies are cute but they are a lot of work. If any of the above is a potential issue for you then you might consider getting an adult dog. Many are already house broken, they have a lot of vet care already done, their temperaments are known, and they may have outgrown that puppy energy. Still ready to add in a new dog? The next step will be finding the right dog. It is extremely important to find a dog that will fit your life. Future posts will go in to figuring out what you want and need in a dog and where to go to get that dog.