THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE OWNING A PUPPY

THESE ARE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING A PUPPY...

• WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEARN ALL YOU CAN BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT STEP SO YOU HAVE THE TOOLS NEEDED TO GUIDE YOU IN TRAINING YOUR PUPPY.  PUPPIES ARE ADORABLE, BUT EVEN THE BEST PUPPIES NEED TRAINING, OR THEY CAN DEVELOP BAD HABITS THAT CAN REDUCE BOTH YOU AND YOUR PUPPIES ENJOYMENT OF LIFE. 

• PUPPIES REQUIRE MORE OF YOUR TIME WHEN THEY FIRST COME HOME.  IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE A PLAN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WORK DURING THE DAY, THAT WILL PROVIDE FOR YOUR PUPPY WHEN YOU ARE AWAY, AS THE PUPPY SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ALONE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

• INITIALLY, YOUR PUPPY WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO HANDLE ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF EXCERCISE PER DAY AT 8 WEEKS OF AGE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE 5 MINUTES OF EXCERCISE PER MONTH OF AGE.  THIS IS TO PREVENT PHYSICAL PROBLEMS DURING DEVELOPMENT.  BE PREPARED TO GIVE THEM LOTS OF EXCERCISE WHEN THEY GET OLDER. 

• SOMETIMES, OTHER PETS CAN BECOME JEALOUS OR HAVE A HARD TIME ADAPTING TO A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY.  THINK OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO  MINIMIZE THE STRESS FOR ALL INVOLVED.

• REMEMBER, THIS IS A LONGTERM COMMITTMENT.  TRY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR LIFE MIGHT BE LIKE 10-12 YEARS FROM NOW TO BE SURE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK WELL FOR YOU WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

• GOLDEN RETRIEVERS MAKE GREAT FAMILY DOGS, BUT IT IS STILL BEST TO KEEP CLOSE SUPERVISION ON ANY PET WITH A YOUNG CHILD.

• ARE ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY AGREEABLE TO HAVING A PUPPY?  IT WILL STRONGLY IMPACT ALL MEMBERS.  IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO TALK AS A FAMILY AND AGREE AHEAD OF TIME AS TO HOUSEHOLD RULES, CHORES,  ETC. 

• IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME OWNING A PUPPY, GET PREPARED BY READING, OR WATCHING VIDEOS ABOUT RAISING PUPPIES.

• ARE THERE HOA  RULES/REGULATIONS IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR NEIGHBORHOOD?

• IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH NOISE CONTROL?  HOW WILL YOUR NEIGHBORS RESPOND TO YOUR ANIMAL? 

• WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR DOG IF YOU WANT TO TRAVEL OR BE AWAY?

• ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO OBEDIENCE AND POTTY TRAINING WITH YOUR PUPPY?  

• DO YOU HAVE A HEALTH PLAN FOR YOUR DOG?  IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO EITHER PURCHASE INSURANCE, OR START ADDING THIS TO YOUR BUDGET NOW, SO YOU WILL BE PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY.

• WE USE NUVET WITH OUR DOGS SO THEY GET THE NUTRIENTS TO SUPPORT GOOD HEALTH.  (SEE NUVET PAGE)