Choosing a New Puppy
Getting a new puppy can be an exhilarating feeling. It’s an adventure of a lifetime! It’s like gaining a new best friend! On the other hand, it can be stressful and feelings of “adopters remorse” can follow if you don’t put thought into your decision. There are some important things to consider before you choose which new pup to take home. We’ll cover some topics in this article that will provide guidance in finding the perfect puppy so that your next adventure will be one that you can cherish freely and forever!
Adopt or Shop
Whether you adopt or shop for your new puppy, remember that you are doing a great
thing! You’re providing a home for a little one where they will be loved and taken care of forever. There is no wrong choice here. However, there are some major differences between shopping for and adopting your new puppy friend.
With adoption comes a few pros and cons. Let’s start with the pros.
Typically you will find that your puppy will be significantly cheaper than using a breeder.
Sometimes adoption facilities will even waive their fees, making the adoption completely free. In
addition, the puppies usually come microchipped to allow you to keep track of them if they were to run away or get lost. This is a cost you would have on your own if you purchased from a breeder.
Overall, there are significant financial pros to adoption, but there are some cons as well.
When you adopt, you typically forfeit any knowledge of their family origin and upbringing.
This could affect your knowledge of potential health and behavioral problems in the future. In
addition, a lot of adopted puppies are not breed guaranteed, meaning that your puppy could turn out to be a different mix or breed than you’re expecting. This is not inherently a bad thing, but if
you’re someone looking for a very specific breed type for any reason, adopting may not be your best choice.
Breed
This is probably the most important decision when it comes to choosing a new puppy.
Breed often determines behavior, size, socialization, appearance, and whether or not they are
allergy-friendly. These are all crucial to consider based on your puppy, personal and environmental needs. There are various online sources where you can search for what kind of breed would be the best fit for you. Here’s a quiz you could take as an example.
If you’re looking for a quick reference guide to a few breeds that may be a good fit for you then check out the comparison below.
Gender
After you’ve chosen the breed, you’ll want to decide whether you want a male or female puppy to bring home with you. There are some stereotypical assumptions about each, but it’s
important to keep in mind that just like every human, every dog is different. However, we’ll still cover the typical differences between a male and a female puppy to provide some guidance.
Males are typically larger in size and more aggressive than other males. They seek to show dominance through scent marking, mounting, and aggression when challenged by other dogs. In
addition, they have a tendency to be more energetic and less well-behaved than females. However, neutering a male dog can help with marking and behavioral issues significantly and is typically highly recommended.
Females are typically smaller, less aggressive, and more independent than males. Females are typically the chosen gender for new puppies because of these assumptions, but really it just depends on your needs as a new puppy owner. Although males are more aggressive with other male dogs, it’s been observed that females are also more aggressive with other female canines. Dogs in general typically get along better with the opposite sex. However, spaying your female puppy, just like neutering your male, is ideal as it will help with overall behavior improvement.
Observe the Litter
Lastly, when you go to pick out your new puppy, observe how they act and move around within their litter. You want to make sure that the puppy you choose isn’t outwardly aggressive with any of its littermates. Observing will help you determine possible behavioral tendencies later down the road. In addition, watch how the puppy walks and moves around. Of course, new puppies will stumble and be somewhat clumsy, but you want to make sure you don’t see any outstanding health issues or mobility issues that could cost you later.
Conclusion
Overall, choosing a new puppy is a blast. It’s a new and fun experience and you’re helping a great cause. You and your new puppy are going to be lathered in love by one another and it’s going to be so rewarding. Don’t worry if some stress follows you after the decision. It’s going to take some time to adjust and to learn how to care for your new friend, but there are plenty of resources to help ease the transition for you. There is no wrong decision here, only what’s best for you!
Check out the following for information to help you in your journey to choosing a new puppy.
RESOURCES:
How Do I Know If My Puppy is Healthy?
