Contents
Should You Get a Puppy?
How to Choose a Breed of Puppy
The 20 Most Popular Puppy Breeds
Where to Get Your Puppy
How to Choose a Puppy
How to Find a Veterinarian
Puppy Supplies
How to Set Up a Puppy-Proof Area
Your Puppy’s First Days at Home
Your Duties as a New Dog Owner
How to Crate Train Your Puppy
How to Housetrain Your Puppy
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How to Choose a Puppy
After selecting a breed (or breed mix) that suits you and locating a shelter, rescue group, or breeder, it’s time to search for a puppy. Your decision about which particular puppy to take home should be based on four factors (and never on the puppy’s looks alone):
- Age
- Personality
- Physical well-being
- Compatibility
Determine the Puppy’s Age
Puppies mature physically, socially, and psychologically according to a predictable schedule. it’s crucial that they remain with their mothers and littermates for at least seven weeks. Most breeders agree that the best time to bring home a new puppy is when he’s 7–8 weeks old, though some breeders prefer to keep puppies for 10–12 weeks. Before choosing a puppy, ask the breeder or adoption counselor to confirm his age; the trainer should produce a certificate that shows the puppy’s date of birth. Never take home a puppy younger than seven weeks old.
Assess the Puppy’s Personality
Though some personality traits apply to entire breeds, every puppy (and the adult dog he becomes) is different. The only way to assess a puppy’s personality is to meet him in person. If the dog you’re considering is a mutt, meeting him in person is all the more important, since his personality might vary from that of the breed(s) you hope it resembles. To assess a puppy’s personality, follow these steps:
- Do some research first: Before searching for a puppy, know the personality traits that you’d like him to have. Note that a mixed-breed dog will likely exhibit some personality traits from each of his breeds, so be familiar with the main traits of all breeds in your puppy’s pedigree. To research specific breeds, consult The 20 Most Popular Puppy Breeds in this guide, or the more comprehensive Quamut guide to Dog Breeds.
- Isolate the puppy: Separate the puppy from his mother and littermates. This way you can evaluate his unique personality and see how he responds to you.
- Evaluate his behavior: Not every personality trait associated with a given breed will appear in each dog. Be sure the puppy exhibits the traits that you consider most important. The puppy should respond appropriately to petting, handling, and authoritative commands. Avoid puppies that behave aggressively, resist human contact, or seem resistant to authority.
- Ask questions: Ask the adoption counselor or breeder specific questions about the personality of the puppy that interests you.
Evaluate the Puppy’s Physical Well-Being
You don’t need to be a trained veterinarian to evaluate a puppy’s general physical condition prior to bringing him home. Be sure to check the following:
- Coat: Do a thorough hands-on inspection of the puppy’s entire coat. Look for any obvious problems, such as cuts, sores, or hot spots (lesions around which the fur has been licked or torn away). Be especially wary of any pinhead-sized black spots in the fur—these are most likely fleas.
- Ears: Look inside the ears to detect ear mites, which appear as tiny black spots. Even if you don’t see any, a puppy who shakes his head or scratches at his ears might have mites.
- Eyes: Look at both of the puppy’s eyes for unusual or excessive discharge or dis-coloration in or around the eye. Note that some breeds, such as the Maltese, tear naturally and may have normal staining or discoloration around the eyes.
- Mouth: Open the puppy’s mouth gently to inspect his teeth and gums. The gums should be rosy pink, not red, and the teeth should be straight and white or slightly yellow.
- Nose: Look for discharge and listen for clogging. A healthy puppy should breathe easily without wheezing or sniffling.
Confirm Compatibility
There are two main ways to assess a puppy’s compatibility with family members as well as other pets:
- Bring the family to meet the puppy: Before you decide on a puppy, schedule a visit in which all of your family members (and any other dogs you own) can meet him. Assess how the puppy responds to every family member, particularly how he gets along with other dogs. (Adult dogs usually welcome puppies after a brief period of introductory sniffing and exploring.) Bringing everyone along for a visit is also a great way to test allergic reactions to the puppy. However, note that allergic reactions can take hours or even days to manifest, so plan to wait a few days before deciding to bring the puppy home.
- Ask for a trial period: Some breeders and shelters will allow you to “try out” your puppy at home for a few days, with the option of returning him for any reason.
A Note on Cats and Compatibility
Cats tend to accept the presence of a new pet in the home, but only after an extensive period of introduction. Wait until you bring the puppy home to make introductions. Your cat will likely react negatively at first, so don’t let any initial hissing deter you from having or keeping a puppy.
Prepare for Your Puppy’s Arrival
Once you’ve chosen a puppy, you’ll need to take a few steps to prepare for his arrival:
- Find and select a veterinarian
- Buy puppy supplies
- Set up a puppy-proof area in your home
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