Thinking of getting a puppy? Read this first!

1.        Are you sure?

If you are thinking about getting a puppy, you must read this series of blog posts before you go any further.  You’ll thank me for it (well, I’m pretty sure you will, anyway!).

I have had several puppies and experience in selecting and training a puppy.  It is not easy to do – especially not if your ultimate aim is to have a well-behaved, calm and happy pup.  Taking some time to go through some basics before you proceed will save you a whole lot of time and misery later on – trust me, I know.

Puppies are gorgeous – even if they grow into something less attractive later on, they are all lovely to start with, which is of course challenge number one.

Anyone who says “Oh we are just visiting the breeder to have a look and get a better idea about the breed” is fooling themselves . . .visit a breeder (more about the “breeder” bit later on) who has pups on the premises and it is highly unlikely you will come out without having signed up for one (or you might even be bringing it home with you right now).  Puppies are tempting little treasures, who look at you with “those eyes” which seem to beg you to take pity on them, love them and take them home immediately.  You will be made of extremely stern stuff if you can resist.  If you are accompanied by one or more children when you view the puppies, it is almost a racing certainty that you will end up committing, without really being aware of what you are letting yourself in for.

Of course, once you get them home, reality kicks in.  The pee-ing and poo-ing (“spending”, to use the technical term) starts and it’s unlikely puppy has been trained to only go outside, and even if they have, they have to get used to where your particular “outside” is and how they can access it.   You also have to learn about how to recognise the signs that puppy needs to spend, and to pre-empt any accidents wherever possible.  Puppies are usually very young (between 2 and 3 months old) when they are weaned and ready to leave their mother so they will need to be encouraged to spend about once an hour, maybe more, maybe less, depending on the puppy.   That in itself is a big time commitment on your part.

Anyone who thinks they can have a puppy and leave it outside unsupervised in the garden for a large part of the day (or alone in the house) should really re-think their reasons for wanting a puppy.  If you are intending to leave your puppy alone for long periods, be prepared for your puppy to get bored.  Bored puppies are like bored children; they will find mischief partly in order to get your attention.  If you are remonstrating with the puppy for chewing your best shoes/the TV remote/the chair leg or whatever it is,  the puppy sees that as something of a result because at least you are paying it some attention, even if it is negative.

OK – so I’ve given you some things to think about here because taking on a puppy is a huge commitment in terms of time, money and patience.  Honestly, it is very much like having a newborn baby in the house – it will even cry in the night sometimes and wake you up.

On the other hand, though, having a puppy can be the most wonderful experience.  They learn to be loving, loyal, and faithful and make great playmates and companions.  Puppies bring joy and add another dimension to our lives, but only if you get the right breed for you and you care for it and train it properly.

How to do all that?  This series of blog posts will give you some hints and tips on:

• What’s the right sort of puppy for you?
• Where to get your puppy (and where to avoid!)
• What are the costs involved in having a puppy?
• How much time does it take?
• When to get a puppy
• Is a puppy the right thing for you?
• Alternatives to having a puppy – other ways of bringing a dog into your life