10 Tips for Choosing a Puppy

Thinking about choosing a dog?

Lucky you! A dog can be a great companion. But choosing a dog that fits your lifestyle can be a long, difficult process. These ten great tips can get you started.

1. The most important stage in getting a dog is spending determining what you want in a dog, and what kind of dog fits in well with your family.
2. Don’t buy from a pet store! A large number of pet stores sell dogs from puppy mills — horrible places where dogs are bred in huge numbers with little regard for their health or socialization. Choosing a puppy from a pet store supports puppy mills.
3. Research any potential breeder carefully! There are a lot of disreputable breeders out there who are in it for the money. Don’t consider choosing a puppy from a breeder who refuses to show you his breeding facility, or who only seems interested in getting your money.
4. Some of the best dogs come from shelters and rescues. It’s a myth that all dogs in shelters and rescues are someone’s problem dog. For the most part, dogs of all ages are surrendered through no fault of their own (allergies, divorce, moving abroad, and, often, an owner who didn’t carefully weigh all the work involved in having a dog). Choosing a dog from a shelter may also save a dog's life.
5. People trying to sell you a puppy will tell you that a puppy with purebred papers is of better quality than a puppy without papers. This isn’t necessarily true. Registration simply means that the puppy’s parents are members of a recognized breed, and that the puppy’s ancestry is of the same breed over many generations. Purebred registration does not mean that a puppy is of breeding quality, healthier than a non-registered puppy, more intelligent than a non-registered puppy, or an example of an excellent temperament.
6. Choosing a puppy that's non-shedding or short-haired does almost nothing to reduce asthmatic or allergic reactions, since all dogs have the proteins in dog skin, saliva, dander, and even dog urine that cause problems. There are some non-allergenic breeds of dogs, however, that produce fewer of these irritating proteins.
7. Extremely popular or trendy breeds or cross breeds, such as Labridoodles, Malti-Poos, and even Dalmatians, tend to attract bad breeders that are only in the business to make money. These disreputable breeders may cut corners on the health and socialization of your puppy, so be especially careful to buy these trendy breeds or cross breeds from a reputable breeder.
8. The best way to determine what a puppy will be like as an adult is to see the puppy’s parents. This is true for both purebreds and mixed breed dogs.
9. You should never give a puppy as a gift! Animal shelters are flooded after Christmas with dogs that were given as gifts. A puppy is an enormous decision that requires a lot of commitment and time. Choosing a puppy is also a very personal process - what's right for you in a dog is not right for someone else.
10. Spay or neuter your dog! It’s a myth that spaying or neutering makes dogs fat and lazy. Most dogs are overweight because they're fed too much, and not exercised enough. Each year in the United States between three and four million animals are euthanized. Spaying or neutering is an important step in reducing the number of unwanted dogs that end up at animal shelters.

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