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What You Need to Know When Adopting a Young Puppy

Adopting a Young Puppy - Happy Breath

Adopting a Young Puppy | Bringing home a puppy is one of the most beautiful feelings for a new dog parent. Your home is not only filled with the hustle-bustle that comes with the little canine, but your heart grows to make space for the love you receive. If you have little kids, they get a new best friend and someone to play and make memories with.

However, owning a puppy may be the easy part. The real test is caring for and training the little pooch so it can become your most loyal, well-behaved partner. Therefore, there are some things one should consider before puppy adoption, so there is no trouble later on.

8 Things to Consider Before Puppy Adoption

Picking the right breed

There are countless dog breeds in the market. Each breed is special because of its unique quality. Some dog breeds require more energy, while some of them are extremely laid back and lazy. Therefore, considering your time, energy, and liking, choose a puppy from a breed that you think is the right fit for you and your home.

Usually, people make hasty decisions when adopting a young puppy. This is because they’re more concerned with playing with it but fail to recognize which breed will suit their lifestyle and circumstance. Moreover, consider the type of house and how many family members you have, including little children.

Figure out finances

Think of puppies as babies, which will help you realize that their finances are almost similar. Although all pets are expensive, puppies are particularly costly because of their age factor. They may need frequent vet visits for immunization, or you may have to change/increase their diet depending on their health.

You will also need to account for your puppy’s lifestyle needs, such as buying toys, treats, and collars, among other things. Moreover, a major part of finances is grooming. Since dogs or puppies shed hair, you may need to take them for grooming to ensure their coat remains healthy. Not only this, but they may also have to get their nails trimmed, which may be a bit difficult for a puppy.

Learn how to train

Perhaps the most time-consuming part of puppy adoption is training them. A puppy is like a blank slate that doesn’t know how to behave yet, especially indoors with people around. Therefore, training needs to be thorough with ground rules established from day one. It will take a lot of trial and error before a puppy can learn how to behave or how to eat.

Furthermore, potty training may be one aspect dog parents should consider before adopting a young puppy. Ideally, you should be prepared for your puppy to spoil your carpets and even your backyard. If nothing works out, you may also consider obedience classes for your puppy.

Allot time

Before choosing any puppy, make sure you can take time out for them since most puppies need constant attention and care. If you’re busy with other commitments, your puppy may never bond with you or train well. You may be required to entertain your little friend by taking it for walks, playing with it, or even just interacting with it casually. The idea is that puppies and dogs are social animals who like being around people. They may develop separation anxiety if you leave them alone for hours at a stretch.

Think long term

Pet adoption is never a short-term option. If you’re getting a puppy, then know you’re in for a long ride as they will grow up to be dogs who can live for a maximum of 10-20 years, depending on the breed and health. Therefore, if you want to adopt a puppy to play with it, then know you are depriving another family of the opportunity to love and take care of a puppy. Moreover, think long-term about yourself too. If you think you’ll have to move abroad or change houses, then a puppy may be baggage for some.

Prepare for dog-proofing the house

Puppies can wreak havoc in a home and cause troubles that weren’t there before. To deal with this, you may have to dog-proof the house just as you would when a baby arrives. Naturally, all dogs are curious, but a puppy may be more so because they are experiencing your home for the first time. You may have to hide away common hazards such as lamps, dustbins, and even house décor. Not only this, but you have to put around dog fences, so your puppy is unable to escape from your sight while you are busy. All these require money but also dedication and time.

Cultivate patience

One of the most important aspects before puppy adoption is cultivating patience. When a puppy arrives, you should be ready for health issues, potty training troubles, hair shedding, and unruly behavior. You may fail miserably at training them, even for the simplest of things, but that doesn’t mean a puppy is not meant for you. Think of it as you taking care of a baby for the first time, where you learn things as time progresses.

Get ready for love

Finally, getting a puppy means you should be ready to get spoiled by the love they offer you. Once your puppy is fully trained, they will grow up to become loyal dogs and partners, offering you friendship and support. So, essentially, training a puppy well is an investment that dog parents will reap in the form of unconditional love.

The Bottom Line

Adopting a young puppy may be a decision that you might make after lots of consideration. But even then, puppies need a lot of proactive training, love, care, and attention, just as a baby needs. So, if you have considered the above points before adopting a puppy, you may be ready for it. What’s worse is getting a puppy and then failing to take care of it. Therefore, ask around, research, and consider the options above thoroughly.

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