Thinking of buying a puppy or rescuing a dog? Not sure which way to go? Here are some tips and advice!
1. Have you considered how much time you will need to spend with your dog?
Puppies at 8 weeks old shouldn’t really be left for longer than 2 hours for the first few weeks and even months of their life. Is this something you can manage?
A rescue will also need time to settle in. Depending on the individual, they may be able to be left for longer than a puppy, but they will still take time to get used to your home. Could you take a week off work?
2. What training experience do you have?
All dogs need training, of course, but what sort of experience do you have, and if it's not the right kind of experience, are you willing to get someone on board to help?
Puppies will need training, and lots of it! Have you trained a puppy before, and do you know what a handful they can be? Are you willing to put the time, effort, and money into a good positive reinforcement trainer?
Rescues will need training too! Of course, their training will depend on the individual, but you can always ask shelter staff for advice. Some dogs from rescues will need a lot of work and training, however some will slot into your life just right! Have a chat with the shelter staff to find the perfect dog for you!
3. Do you have young children?
Puppies can be a handful anyway, but they can be even harder when you have kids. This is because kids tend to wind puppies up, which starts nipping, jumping, and biting behaviours. This then winds up the children!
Typically, an adult dog is calmer, but make sure you talk to the rescue staff to find a dog that is suitable to go to a home with children. It is crucial that you know that the dog is good with children for you kid's safety.
4. Consider the benefits of rescuing!
People overlook rescue dogs as they are intimidated by their past. People assume rescues are full of abused dogs with behaviour problems. While those dogs are there, in reality, there's a huge amount of reasons a dog may end up in a shelter – abandoned puppies, sick or elderly owners no longer can care for them, retired racing greyhounds go to shelters to prevent them being put to sleep. A large proportion of rescue dogs are there because of very-trainable behaviour problems. My first ever dog (a Labrador cross retriever, above) was a rescue, and staff said that he was only abandoned because he pulled on lead. This was an easy fix, and even if you don't know how to help, sometimes just one or two sessions with a behaviourist will do the job!
Shelter staff will be more than willing to help you find the right dog for you. They know the personalities of their dogs and can advise you about any training needed.
Another benefit of a rescue is that you know their personality. Puppies, just like with children, change as they grow, so you can't guarantee that your puppy will enjoy cuddles as an adult, or long walks, etc.
5. Consider breeders
If you are going to get a puppy, make sure they are from a good source. GO directly to a breeder, and watch the breeder interact with the mum and puppies. A good breeder will only sell a puppy to someone he or she thinks will look after them, so if they ask you more questions than you ask them – that’s great! They should also give you advice on training, diet, exercise, and they may even want to see your home!
Many people will see a dog and fall in love, because - lets be honest - puppies are adorable! But, if you have any doubt, don't do it. Perhaps you aren't sure on the breed, or maybe you don't like the breeder. Take your time to find the right puppy for you.
RSPCA have some fantastic advice for finding a responsible breeder: Finding The Right Puppy Breeder | RSPCA
And once you've chosen, check out this blog post to see whether you'd prefer private training or group classes: Private Training VS Group Classes (muckypups-dogtraining.com)
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