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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Where to Get Your Puppy
There are four main ways to get a puppy: adopt from a shelter, adopt from a rescue group, buy from a breeder, or buy from a pet store.
How to Adopt a Puppy from a Shelter
Most cities and towns have an animal shelter, also known as a humane society or a pound. These organizations take in unwanted, lost, or abandoned pets, restore them to good health, and then offer them to the public for reasonable fees. Many people intent on adopting a specific breed of puppy bypass shelters based on two misconceptions:
- They think shelters don’t offer puppies: Since a litter typically contains 5–7 puppies, there are usually plenty of them available at shelters, especially during the peak birthing season (spring and summer). Many shelters also have waiting lists—you can sign up as a prospective puppy owner and be notified whenever new puppies arrive.
- They think shelters don’t offer purebreds: It is in fact possible to adopt a purebred puppy from a shelter, and often for a fraction of the price that breeders charge. According to the Humane Society of the United States, one in every four dogs in American shelters is purebred.
Is It “Safe” to Adopt a Shelter Puppy?
The main risk in adopting from a shelter is that you most likely won’t know important details about the puppy’s previous upbringing, such as whether he was separated from his mother shortly after birth or suffered abuse or neglect. Because issues such as these can lead to behavioral problems later in a dog’s life, if you’re intent on adopting a puppy, buying from a breeder is the safest approach. That said, by adopting from a shelter, you’re saving a dog from the prospect of euthanasia, which makes many prospective owners feel that it’s worth the risk.
How to Adopt a Puppy from a Rescue Group
Rescue groups are like shelters for specific breeds. A golden retriever rescue group, for instance, takes in lost or unwanted golden retrievers only, and then offers them for adoption. Rescue groups are a great option for prospective puppy owners who want a specific breed but would also like to “rescue” a puppy rather than buy from a breeder. Rescue groups typically charge a bit more than shelters, but they can usually provide you with more specific information about the puppy’s history than shelters. Rescue groups can also sometimes put you in contact with the person who surrendered the puppy.
Where to Find a Rescue Group for Your Breed
Many rescue groups maintain websites that can connect you with local groups in your area. To find them, search the Web for “[breed] rescue group.” You can also access a nationwide listing of breed-specific rescue groups on the breed rescue group page of the AKC’s website: www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm.
How to Buy a Puppy from a Breeder
Buying a puppy directly from a breeder is the most expensive option, but if the breeder is reputable, it’s likely that you’ll get a healthy and well-socialized puppy. A reputable breeder should have:
- Focus: Breeds only one specific breed
- Experience: Has been breeding for at least 3–5 years
- Knowledge: Knows breed standards and temperaments, and responds to questions thoroughly
- Paperwork about the puppy: Provides proof of AKC registration for the puppy, the dam (mother), and the sire (father)
- Paperwork for you to sign: Provides a written contract and health guarantee, and requires you to complete an application and provide references
- Professional facilities and care habits: Keeps clean, well-maintained kennel areas in which puppies appear healthy and happy
- Records: Provides records of veterinary care and shots, references from other cus-tomers, and a complete pedigree chart that details your puppy’s breeding history
- Spay/neuter policy: You should be expected to commit in writing to spaying or neutering your puppy, unless you’ve made arrangements to show or breed the dog; be wary of breeders who don’t require you to spay or neuter a dog you intend to keep solely as a pet
- Mandatory return policy: Requires you to return the puppy to the breeder if you decide not to keep him
Where to Find a Reputable Puppy Breeder
You can find breeders in breed-specific magazines, at dog shows, or in the phone book, though it’s often best to get a personal recommendation from friends or a vet. If you can’t get a personal recommendation, or if you’re having trouble finding breeders in your area, consult the breeder listings on the American Kennel Club’s website. The AKC doesn’t officially endorse any specific breeder, but it maintains a web page with links to breeding organizations nationwide at www.akc.org/breederinfo/breeder_search.cfm. It also maintains a list of breeder classifieds where you can search for breeders in your area who have puppies for sale. Visit www.akc.org/classified.
Should You Buy a Puppy from a Pet Store?
Most puppies at pet stores come from mass breeding facilities known as puppy mills or from backyard breeders, who have little idea of what they’re doing but hope to make a profit. Such breeders often produce puppies with health or behavioral problems due to lack of sufficient care and socialization. Though it might seem like the most convenient option, it’s best to avoid buying a puppy from a pet store.
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