Think you are ready to adopt?
It sounds so attractive, getting a new puppy for the family!
Pupznpals recommends that before you start your search for a new fur-baby that you do your research. It's so easy to fall in love with that picture of a cute little puppy you found on line, but is a puppy really for you? Have you taken into consideration what raising a puppy really entails? It's a lot of work! There are so many things youy need to think about before you adopt a puppy, after all, they are all so cute, but an adult dog just might be a better choice for you and your family.
Adopting an Adult Dog
Although puppies are a barrel of fun and cute as the dickens, remember the wise old saying, "Age before beauty." Just because an adult dog is no longer young doesn't mean he doesn't have a world of things to offer you. Folks sometimes have the mistaken notion that if you don't raise a dog from scratch, you'll only have trouble. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, it may be easier in some ways for a tiny pup to bond with you, but there are definite advantages to the older dog. For one thing, they've settled down from puppy hood and might even have had some training already. If you've never had a puppy, you might not realize just how much energy he has. Keeping up with a puppy can be exhausting -- and you can't turn him off or send him to his room to play if you've had a hard day.Look for the same clues for health problems as with a puppy. Far more so than with a puppy, an adult dog is a "what you see is what you get" proposition. Most all pups are cute, cuddly, and passive, but some will grow up and stay that way, and others will grow up to be the canine equivalent of Jesse James. An adult dog's personality is pretty much set, giving you a better handle on how well he'll fit into your household and whether or not he'll get along with any other pets. Since he's got all his adult teeth and is past the energetic phase of frantic puppy activity, a full-grown dog is less likely to do wholesale destruction and his longer attention span makes him easier to train.If you have your heart set on a purebred, opting for an older dog may be easier than you think. There are a large number of breed rescue clubs that specialize in placing dogs of their particular breed who have been found as strays, taken from unsafe situations, or simply retired from the showing or the racetrack. Adopting a rescued stray, a retired show dog, or racing Greyhound will give you all the joys and benefits of dog ownership...and do a great favor for the dog, too. One last thought about the "secondhand" dog: A dog of any age can be trained and will adapt to -- and be a loving, loyal companion for -- a new family. You really can teach an old dog new tricks!When you have made up your mind between a puppy and an adult dog, you then need to decide whether you prefer a mixed-breed or purebred.
Sometimes an adult dog is just a better choice. There are so many great adult dogs out there needing homes and some of them will already be house trained, know basic commands and are past the chewing stage!
Adopting a Puppy
Now, most people think starting off with a puppy is the best choice, but that isn't necessarily so. Raising a puppy is a labor-intensive undertaking, and it may take as long as three years for him to fully mature. Do you have young children or a full-time job? You might discover an adult dog is a better idea. You see, the best way to make sure you and your dog get off to the right start is to match up the pooch and his needs to you and your lifestyle.
When is a Puppy Ready for an Owner?Puppies are born helpless. Their eyes and ears are closed, and their entire daily schedule consists of nursing and sleeping. By the age of about 14 days, their eyes and ears open, and they begin processing the world of light and sound. At three to four weeks of age, pups start to learn the serious business of play. They're mobile now, and familiar signs of canine communication like tail wags, yips, and yelps accompany their interactions with mom, the world, and each other. From this point until around 14 weeks is called the critical behavior period; this is when dogs form most of the foundation for their lifelong behavior. Contact with litter mates, mom, and -- in small doses -- humans is crucial during the critical period to ensure proper socialization. No two puppies are exactly alike. Oh, some purebred litter mates may look as identical as peas in a pod, but rest assured they'll have their own individual personalities. Even if a particular breed is known for a certain kind of temperament, that's just a general trait. Each puppy will develop according to his own personality, which will also be affected by how the pup is raised and what the parents are like. In other words, you can't judge a book by its cover...and you can't judge a puppy solely by its breed or looks. If this were the case, you could get the perfect dog by mail order. Instead, you've got to take your time and use your head -- and your heart -- to make sure the dog you bring into your home is a good match. Training a puppy is no picnic, and you should take all the precautions you can.It's probably a good idea to start looking at puppies a few weeks before you're ready to take one home. Remember, this is a long-term relationship (lifelong, for the dog). If you find the perfect puppy on the first try, that's great, but most people have to kiss a few canine frogs before they find their four-legged Prince or Princess Charming. Don't let sudden infatuation make the decision for you: Take a good look at him or her for signs of physical problems. A clean bill of health at this early age is the good start you want to make sure your new friend stays with you for a good long time. Pupznpals recommends doing a well puppy check within 72 hours of adoption, regardless of where you adopt your puppy from!
Evaluating a pup's personality is mostly a common sense call. There's a very good chance that a bright, friendly puppy will grow up to be a bright, friendly dog, and the timid pup cowering in the corner will continue to be shy, but this is not always the case. Remember, most rescued dogs and puppies may not have gotten a good start. Quite often puppies will come into rescue under socialized, this does not mean that the puppy was abused or mistreated, it simply means that he needs more socialization and being in a home with lots of love and affection can quite often turn a shy puppy into the bell of the ball! The right amount of handling, exposure to a variety of sounds and scents, and the experience of life with humans, go a long way in setting your little pooch on the road to being a friendly, well-adjusted animal companion.This means your best bet on a pup is the one who grows up in a foster home, smack in the middle of everything -- kids, vacuum cleaners, doorbells, and pots and pans clattering in the kitchen. The key is to look for the puppy who's interested in you, as well as the one you're interested in, but don't pass on the one who seems shy, remember, puppies in rescue have gone through a lot in their short little lives and can blossom into wonderful dogs once they have the stability of their very own home!
Once you have decided on what age to get, you need to decide the breed or mix that best suits you and your family. A great site to generate a list of breeds that are well suited for you and your life style is http://www.iams.com/iams/breed-information.jsp?gclid=CKiI5oyciaECFRJYbQodgxCRPg
We at pupznpalz highly recommend visiting this site and determining the correct breed for you and your family before you start your search for a new family member.
It's very sad when a family chooses a breed that is too active or not active enough for them, taking just a few minutes of your time before you start searching pet listings for available dogs can save you a lot of heart ache and frustration. Think about it, you are making a lifetime commitment, is 10 minutes too much time to make sure you select the right breed for you?
We at Pupznpals rescue strive to help you, the adopter make a good choice. If you have questions just ask! In the opinion of Pupznpalz rescue, there is no such thing as a bad puppy, however we do concede that some puppies may take a little more time in getting used to their new homes and may take a little more time before they are ready to roll with you on the floor. We call it "Intensive Love Therapy", a little love, nurturing and positive reinforcement can go a long way in changing that "shy" puppy into an active, loving member of the family!
Please keep checking back, Pupznpals will be adding new links and information and several topics from training to working with behavioral issues as well as updates on some of the wonderful fur-babies adopted from pupznpalz and even posting some dogs in dire need for new homes from other groups and shelters.
The bottom line here is that pupznpalz rescue wants you to make the right choice and if you adopt from us at pupznpals or chose your local shelter or another rescue, a dog has been saved. Think about it, when you rescue one dog, you are not just saving the dog you rescued, you are saving 2, the dog you rescued and the dog you made room for to come into rescue! This is a win-win situation and if pupznpalz does not have the dog for you, we at pupznpalz are happy to assist you in locating a dog or puppy through another rescue or shelter!
