How to Pick The Right Puppy

“Can I keep it--pleeeease?” Before you say “yes” to those puppy dog eyes—and I’m referring to the ones asking the question, you might want to consider doing a few things first to ensure the breed and demeanor of the puppy will be right for your family.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Paws for a look.

   "Paws" for a look.
   If the mom and dad are big dogs and that’s the last thing you want, then don’t say yes. If you’re not sure what the parents look like and the breed is mixed, check the paws. If the paws are big for a puppy he’s going to grow up to be a big dog. If the paws have skin between the toes, it has what they call “webbed feet,” and much like a duck, it will enjoy going for a swim. So if you have a pool and you don’t want the dog in it you might want a different breed.

2. 
    
   Q & A's

   Ask Questions.
   How old is the puppy and is it eating puppy food? Sometimes a breeder will want to make a sell and will try to force the weaning of the puppy. If your puppy doesn’t eat dry puppy food well, you can buy supplies from a pet store and bottle feed it for a couple more weeks. Is the puppy current with its shots? The veterinarian will need to know this when you come in to get the next set of shots. Shots for heart worms and diseases are needed for a pet to live a healthy life. If you wait too long blood work must be done.

3. 
    
   Behavior.

   Behavior.
   Hold the puppy in one hand and flip it over slowly onto its back. If the puppy really squirms or even growls it will not have a good demeanor as a dog. This is very important if you have children. Children not only will test your limits but they will test the limits of the family dog as well. A dog that has a good demeanor can take a lot and will only move away from the children rather than growl or bite them.

4. 
    
   Surroundings.

   Surroundings.
   Will the puppy be inside or out? If you rent and dogs aren’t allowed inside don’t get a tiny little dog that can’t stand cold weather or extreme hot temperatures. If you want the dog inside keep in mind that large dogs need a great amount of exercise. If you can’t devote enough time to exercise your dog, whether it’s inside or out on a leash, get a different breed.

5. 
    
   Allergies.

   Allergies.
   Children are more susceptible to having allergies to indoor pets that you may not be aware of. If your child is suddenly sneezing while holding the puppy, chances are he’ll have allergies to it. It’s easier to say no to that breed of puppy now rather than having to get rid of it later. Short hair dogs are generally better for allergies such as Poodles or a Bichon Friese.

6. 
    
   Literature.

   Literature.
   If getting a puppy is a planned adventure take the time to read about the breed you would like to have. Getting a puppy is a great and fun way for your children to learn responsibility; however the type of breed must be one that will fit your lifestyle and environment. A Great Pyrenees is a wonderful hardy pet if you live up north in the mountains. It loves the cold and is big enough to protect your family should a bear come wondering up.

[sgfgirl]

on 2/21/2009 Good info, I want a puppy!!!

[FrazzledNanny]

on 2/1/2009 Great pictures and well written. Thanks for all of the great information. 5*

[Knowpher]

on 1/12/2009 Great posting! If you're looking for a breed that is good with kids check out Golden Retrievers! We have one and we love it! Thanks for the article!

[jkmom2007]

on 1/3/2009 Great advice!! We have a Bichon Frise because of allergies and he's great with the kids.

[brantsbabe]

on 1/3/2009 We have outdoor cats and that so works for us. They are so independent and require little effort. I love puppies, but 4 kids are enough for me right now. Thanks for the tips.