Things to Consider Before Getting a New Puppy

Getting a new puppy can be really exciting, but a little bit like adopting a baby. The adorable balls of fur eat, sleep, and pee and poop like a baby—but the difference is that puppies usually don’t go around wearing diapers, and they tend to have a lot more energy. It can be pretty intimidating getting a new puppy—especially if it’s your first one—but this guide will help you get ready.

Are You Ready for a Puppy?

As explained before, puppies are just as much work as having a baby in the house. They need attention, food, potty-training, and especially love. It’s important to be committed to devoting the necessary time, love, and patience to your puppy.

Most puppies will not come house-trained, so you will have to deal with that, and its included messes, yourself. That means patience and responsibility. A puppy that is still being house-trained will end up peeing in the crate or on the carpet from time to time. Yes, it’s upsetting and a pain to clean up, but you have to be willing to accept that they will learn in time. You also need to be willing to take on the responsibility to take them outside when they need to go to the bathroom—including late at night.

You also need to be sure that you will be able to remember to feed the puppy regularly and also make sure it has plenty of water. Most puppies, when they’re younger than a year old, will need to be fed multiple times a day, so be sure to do your research to know how much and how often your specific puppy will need to be fed.

On top of feeding, you need to be ready for all of that energy. Puppies naturally have lots of energy and need a way to get it out of their systems. They shouldn’t be pent up in the house all day unless you have an indoor puppy park, but even then, the fresh air is good for them. A puppy should be taken on walks or taken outside to play at least two to three times a day, and you will have to be sure to have the energy, time, and means to do so.

The last thing to consider as to whether or not you are ready for a puppy are the costs. This includes the base cost of the puppy, the cost of necessary pet supplies (leash, collar, crate, bed, food, bowls, toys, etc.), the cost of vaccinations and spay and neutering, and any emergency veterinarian visits. Do your research and maybe some window shopping to see if you will be able to fit all of these costs into your budget.

If you can check yes to all of these considerations, you can move onto the research side of getting a new puppy.

Which Breed Is Right for You?

It’s very easy to find the cutest puppy when you’re picking out a new puppy to take home, but this may not be the best strategy. Chihuahuas can be pretty cute and are renowned for being low maintenance, but they don’t always do so well around children. This is something worth considering if you have small children at home.

It’s important to consider your home situation and how that specific dog breed would handle it when deciding on which breed to go with. Do you have children or other pets at home, and does that breed have a history for doing well or not so well with children and other pets? Do you have a small apartment with no backyard or a large house? Will you have to leave the puppy alone or with a sitter pretty often, and is it a breed that tends to have separation anxiety?

These are all questions to consider when choosing which breed to go with.

One of the easiest ways to decide which breed is right for you is by making a list of traits that you really want the dog to have and ones that you really do not want the dog to have. What type of personality do you want in your dog: friendly, easygoing, or protective? Do you want a dog that is more active or relatively lazy? Do you want a dog that sheds a lot or not much, and are you ready for the required grooming? Do you want a small dog or a larger dog?

Once you have made your list of traits, all you need to look up different breeds that you might like and see which one(s) fit your list best. Be sure to consider the pros and cons of each breed as well. Each breed does have their ticks and faults.

For example, a Labrador Retriever may have easygoing personalities and lots of energy, but they can develop hip and joint problems as well as susceptibilities to obesity. Whereas, a French Boodle (an adorable mix between a French Bulldog and a Poodle) is friendly, but not very active and can end up having digestive or respiratory issues.

The last thing you want is to get a puppy that will end up being something you won’t be able to handle just because its temperament and personality clash with yours. It’s sad to see a puppy to find a new home only to be returned or even forgotten later, so please be sure to do your research to know that the breed you plan on picking out is the right match for you.

Once you have that figured out, it’s time to figure out where to get your furry friend.

Where to Get Your Puppy

There are plenty of places to choose from to get a new puppy, and they all have their pros and cons. Many people will say to get a puppy from a local pet shelter because they’ve been waiting the longest and deserve a loving home while others will argue that reliable breeders are the only way to get purebreds that haven’t had a difficult background that led them to the shelter.

Getting your puppy from a shelter or rescue group is fine, and there are often added bonuses that the workers at the shelter will usually train them if they’ve been around long enough. You’ll just need to be sure to ask about the puppy’s health and background to see if there might be any difficulties or quirks that it might have.

Getting a puppy from a breeder is also a great way to get a puppy, especially if you want a specific breed or mix of breeds. You’ll just need to make sure that the breeder is experienced and has an excellent reputation. Uptown Puppies is a website that can provide you with information about great and reliable breeders that can ensure you that the puppy has never felt anything other than a loving upbringing.

You could also consider asking local veterinarians or groomers to see if they might have any recommendations on breeders or where you might get a new puppy.

Really, no matter where you plan on getting your puppy, you need to research the background and maybe even some reviews of the place or the breeder as well as the puppy’s background, health, temperament, and other issues or quirks it might have.

Once you have decided on where to get your puppy and maybe even have one picked out already, you need to make sure your house is fully puppy-proofed before taking it home.

Preparing Your Home for Your New Puppy

Of course, you’re going to want to have all of the puppy basics like toys, a crate, a leash, a collar, food, and treats. You could even do some research to figure out what are the best brands for your puppy. The most important thing to do when preparing your home for a puppy, though, is puppy-proofing. This means making sure you don’t have anything left out that the puppy could get into or chew on, anything that could be poisonous or dangerous to your puppy, etc.

The best way to puppy-proof your home and figure out what needs to be hidden or put out of reach is by putting yourself on the same level that your puppy would be seeing everything from. Yes, I mean getting on your hands and knees and seeing what a puppy might see as exciting enough to get into it. Sure, you might feel silly, but at least you won’t end up missing anything.

The most basic things are plugging up the outlets, covering or hiding electrical cords, locking away anything that could be toxic like medicines and cleaning supplies, and keeping anything that a puppy could chew on (shoes, laundry, stuffed animals, etc.) out of reach.

Once you have your home all prepared, you’re ready to bring your new fur baby home.

Just Remember to Love Your Puppy

There are a lot of things to consider and prepare for when getting as new puppy, and it can be overwhelming to think about. Don’t let that scare you from getting a dog. The most important thing you can consider and do is giving that new puppy all of the love and attention it deserves, and it is sure to love you in return.