For lots of people the idea of a new puppy is one filled with joy, excitement, and all things adorable. With the holiday season approaching, begins the puppy craze. When it comes to thinking about puppies most people spend their time contemplating the color they want, whether they want a boy or girl, all the things they would want to do with their new puppy without contemplating the most crucial parts of being a pet owner, eventually, that puppy will become a fully grown adult that requires continual care for the remainder of its 10-to-20-year life span.
I want to go over the things you need to know and understand before you get a puppy. If you already have the puppy and you’re just reading this now, this information is still good to know for your next puppy or to see what you need to compensate for it did well while looking. First off before that puppy comes home you need to have done your own research on each individual breed of dog you may want to own. Speak to people who have said breed and ask to interact with them. You could offer to babysit or spend some time with their dog to get to know their sociability requirements, health issues, trainability, biddability, sociability, drive, and instincts. If you don’t know anyone with the breed of dog you are looking for, look for upcoming local dog shows and see when is the soonest dog show and what time the breed you like is showing. Go watch a dog competition and see what breeds are competing in what sports, who is more focused on their owners, who is more vocal or focused on other things, etc. Talk to the local breed clubs and see what the owners think of their dogs. Ask them about the pros and cons, and the type of owner the breed would do best with. Watch YouTube documentaries about breeds of dogs or people who own certain breeds and what it’s like living with that breed. Once you know what breed of dog you want then you need to figure out where your puppy is coming from.
It’s critical for anyone that has goals for their dog to know where their puppy is coming from. If you just want to adopt a puppy and you have lots of experience with different health issues, breeds temperaments, training requirements and are capable of being whatever it needs from you then go ahead and pick with your heart at your local shelter or adoption program. If you have very specific goals for your puppy and need your puppy to fit into your lifestyle, then more research is needed! For example, if you want a super athletic dog to run miles with you but you go to the shelter and fall in love with a mastiff puppy with bowed hips and cherry eyes then your goals of raising a running partner need to die there or you need to reconsider if this is the pup for you. That doesn’t mean adoption isn’t the way to go if that’s what you want to do. You just need to know what to look for and what types of questions to ask. I will write a list of questions to ask shelter personnel or foster program at the bottom. If you are thinking about getting a puppy that has a certain temperament or sociability you need to make sure the person you are considering is familiar with the Volhard puppy aptitude test or does puppy culture. If you are looking for a service dog prospect then you need to be even more diligent in your research because I have seen too many clients get a dog online with the best intentions and fall apart after working so hard for a year or two just for the puppy to have to be washed out for a health problem or behavioral issue that could have been predetermined if the breeder and puppies were properly vetted before purchasing or adopting. This may sound mean, however, as a service dog trainer, it is devastating to watch and work with clients that have to give up their dog or grieve the relationship they worked so hard for and have to start all over. All because they were unlucky with the puppy gamble in getting a dog that came from the shelter or a backyard breeder and cannot financially afford to get a new prospect or support a pet and an sd, or their dog has behavioral issues and they cannot risk it affecting their next dog. Deciding where you get your next puppy is the most important choice you will have to make in your dog’s life aside from end-of-life care.
Things to consider when looking for a puppy. If you are looking for a pet dog, someone who will go for walks with you maybe some fun outdoor activities but will be a family dog with basic training you may not have to be as diligent as someone looking for a working breed for a specific lifestyle or job. Did someone’s dog accidentally have puppies and they have no idea what they’re doing they just need to find them a home? If you would just like a companion and know that breed is right for you and don’t need a dog to have impeccable health or a sound mind for a specific job environment, you might be ok with getting an accident puppy with little to no issue. Please stay away from someone who sells puppies with no intention or understanding of health checks, health guarantees, socializing, training, or breed understanding. Quality breeders are out there and breeding sound dogs that fit the breed standard while looking for the best quality pet or working lines of their chosen breed.
When looking for a breeder I love asking questions. Here is a list of great questions to ask a potential breeder. If they do not answer these questions or have their own questions for you, it may be a red flag that they are a backyard breeder, and you want to stay clear.
Questions to ask a Breeder:
- Are you AKC registered?
This shows the breeder knows the dog’s lineage, where you can go online and find the dog’s parents, grandparents, cousins, and so on. You can see if they have done any health testing and get the results. However, if you have someone that has their dog registered which means it’s a purebred dog but they don’t do any health testing and they don’t seem to have the other answers to the following questions that don’t mean they’re not red flags. I have met many backyard breeders that have AKC-registered dogs but without the health testing, the titles, temperament testing, and the long lines of pedigrees in their tree you are gambling on your dog’s mental and physical health.
- Why did you choose to breed this specific breed? what do you love and hate about the breed?
This shows the breeder’s commitment level to the dogs. If they’ve been breeding for years, are in clubs, and are working towards a specific goal that’s a green flag! If they love the breed and colors and are good money, that is a red flag. It’s very rare for good quality breeders to make a profit from puppies, even ones that have been breeding for generations, have quality pedigrees, and are well-known puppies. Breeding for quality is very expensive. Very exams, socialization equipment or parties, health testing, temperament testing, dog shows, quality dog food, etc.
- Do you use or know about puppy culture? If not, what experiences did you give the puppies to socialize them?
With puppy culture being on the rise puppy breeding has been improving even for hard-to-handle breeds! However, the puppy culture program can be pricey for a new or small breeding program but that doesn’t mean the good breeder is doing their best to properly socialize their puppies before they go home around 8 weeks old. Puppies who are socialized and taught about manding teens to do better overall than puppies that go to experienced homes because their nervous system and confidence are stronger than just a good owner working them through issues that arise. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
- What food are the puppies on?
Making sure the puppies and mom are on high-quality dog food ensures they care about the nutrients going into the growing puppies and want to make sure they get the best quality.
- What age can the puppy go to their new home?
Anything younger than 8 weeks is not ideal. Puppies need to stay with their siblings and mom until 8 weeks and there are some breeders who want their puppies to stay with them until 12 to 16 weeks up to ensure proper socialization before they begin their first fear period.
- Do you use contracts or co-own?
For those that don’t understand, quality breeders may want their puppies to be co-owned for liability issues in case a puppy needs to be returned the breeder week always be there for them. Some want to ensure their puppies are spayed or neutered at a certain age if they aren’t given breeding rights. While others want some puppies to be bred if successful in their aspirations and health testing comes back great.
- Can I meet the puppies before buying?
If anyone asks you to pay money, not including a deposit, that is an immediate red flag. Most breeders want a deposit when making a list but the deposit goes towards the price of the puppy and if there isn’t a puppy for you in this litter your deposit can go towards the next litter or can be returned.
- Do you choose the puppy for me, or do I get to choose?
Depending if you are looking for a pet breeder or working breed some breeders prefer To help choose the right puppy for the potential buyers, Especially if it’s a first-time puppy owner or they’re looking for a specific type of puppy maybe to fulfill a specific job or lifestyle requirements. This insures the puppy is successful in its potential new home while some people let owners choose their puppy if they’re experienced and know exactly what they’re looking for.
- Do you provide health guarantees and paperwork?
Health guarantees are like car warranties it would be a part of your contract but it would ensure that if something happened to the puppy or you found out the puppy had a genetic defect you can either return the puppy to the breeder or the breeder would help pay that bills in some cases it depends on what is going on with the puppy.
- Do you take back your puppies or help rehome them if something happens?
A good breeder will love their puppies and want to know how their lives are going long after they’ve been bought. Staying in touch with a breeder is a good sign. For the breeders that have the space in their puppies if something happened is a green flag but those that don’t have the property may still want to be involved with their puppies and could help find the puppy a new home or training to fix an issue. A seller that doesn’t want to help rehome their puppy or take it back is definitely a red flag.
As far as questions to ask a rescue or a foster parent:
- What history or background can you tell me about this puppy?
- How social is this puppy with new and familiar people?
- What does the puppy do if you walk away from it?
- How does this puppy interact with other animals and dogs?
- Is the puppy toy or food motivated? Would they bring the toy back or run away with it?
- How does the puppy handle being moved and carried?
- How does the puppy handle loud noise?
- How does the puppy react to a startling sight?
- How does the puppy handle you being in its personal space?
- How is this puppy’s health? Does the vet have any concerns for when it’s older?
Asking these questions will help you get off on the right foot in your puppy journey.
The final thing you need to do is understand how you want this puppy to fit in your lifestyle when it’s a full-grown adult dog and if this breed of dog fits your lifestyle now. I’m not trying to say that if your dog doesn’t fit your lifestyle then you need to start over or get a new dog. You just need to understand management changes and you need to understand the responsibility that comes with this puppy growing up. I know several people who are very successful living in apartments or having busy life schedules with high-maintenance dogs successfully. Now your dog may not be high maintenance or your dog may fit your lifestyle but you still need to know what you’re getting because hair color, breed instincts, and drive make the difference between a laid-back dog that’s part of the family and a dog that’s kept in a kennel when not being worked because they are not adjusted to family life. Once you’ve seriously evaluated your choices and created a plan to pick the right puppy you will be set to start this journey!