Introduction

If you are considering adding a dog to your home, stop and take a few minutes to consider whether you really are ready for the responsibility that comes with owning a dog. And if you are considering adding a puppy, you really need to consider whether you, your family, and your current lifestyle can accommodate a new puppy, and whether you are ready to spend the time and money necessary to raise it properly.

Step one: assess your lifestyle

Are you home enough for a puppy? Or is your work close enough to your home that you can come home several times a day and let the puppy out or walk it? If the answer to either is yes, then great. You are a good candidate to have a puppy. Puppies need a consistent schedule with plenty of opportunities to eliminate, wherever you want. Your bladders and intestines are small and cannot “hold” you until you get home.

Chew: Puppies bite like human babies and chew as their new puppy teeth emerge. Clothes, shoes, belts, electrical cords (which are potentially very dangerous to your puppy), and other household items will be full of puppy tooth marks as your new dog breaks new teeth.

Sleep – If you are someone who needs 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night, then a puppy is not for you. Your new puppy will be very demanding. For one thing, he will miss his littermates. Ticking clocks, hot water bottles, and stuffed toys will not be a suitable substitute and you will not be able to make a puppy ball with your new family member. If you have had children, having a new puppy will be a lot like having a newborn human baby.

Exercise: Puppies love to play. If you or other members of your family have the time and energy to play with your new dog, then great, a real treat awaits you. Puppies love to play.

Step 2: What size and type of dog do you want?

Size: The space you have available for a dog will be a main driver in the size of the dog you adopt. If you adopt a puppy, you may not know how big the dog will get. If you have a single-family home with a good-sized yard, the size of the dog will matter less. If you live in an apartment in a high-rise building, the size of the dog will be more important. On the other hand, if you adopt an adult dog, there will be no mystery about what the final size of the dog will be.

Do I need an instant friend? With an older dog, you automatically have a friend who can go anywhere and everything with you right now.

Bond: Rescued dogs will quickly join their new family. Dogs that have been uprooted from their homes or had a difficult start in life are more likely to bond with their new people. Dogs that have lost their families through death, divorce, or another upset go through a terrible grieving process. But once they are attached to a new family, they will be eager to please. They know very well what it’s like to lose a family and they won’t be interested in going through it again. A rescue dog knows what it’s like to be on the loose and without a permanent home. He or she will appreciate you much more. Most rescue dogs will make exceptionally loving and caring pets that will make wonderful companions for life.

Dog and Home Checklist

Take this quick test to determine the type of dog that best suits you and your family’s lifestyle.

1. I have time to walk and train a new puppy several times a day.

_ otherwise.

If so, one point for a puppy. If not, add a point for an older dog.

2. I don’t care too much if a playful puppy chews on my property.

_ otherwise.

If you don’t mind, score a point for a puppy. If you care, score a point for an older dog.

3. A good night’s sleep is not that important to me because I can take a nap or I don’t need to sleep as much as other people.

_ Sleeping is not important _Sleeping at night is important.
If you can get by without sleeping through the night, get a point for a new puppy. If you need to sleep, get a point for an older dog.

4. I have the time and desire to spend time playing with a new dog.

_ yes, I have time _ no, my time is limited.

If your answer is yes, score one point for having a puppy. If you answered no, get a point for an older dog.

5. The final size of the dog does not matter much because I have a lot of space.

_ size doesn’t matter, I have space _ my space is very limited.

If the final size of the dog is not an issue for you, get a point for adopting a puppy. On the other hand, if your space is limited, get a point for the known number of an older dog.

6. Having a good idea of ​​the dog’s personality is important because I need the dog to be a good match for me and my family.

_ If personality is less important, score a point for a puppy.

_ I need to know the temperament of the dog when I adopt, score a point for an older dog.

Rate your results

If you rated any of the questions for an older dog, you should seriously consider adopting just an older dog. While all puppies are adorable, cuteness is not the best reason to adopt a dog. Many people think that the dogs in a shelter are somehow inferior. But it is not uncommon for a very expensive pure bed dog to end up in a shelter because people send their dogs to a shelter for many reasons, most of which have nothing to do with the dog. The original owner may not have had the money or time to properly care for the dog. Divorce, illness, or death are often the reason the dog ends up at the shelter. Good rescue shelters will evaluate both the dog and the prospective owner before pairing them.

conclusion

Choosing a rescue dog over a purchased puppy is a decision that only you and your family can make. The information presented here is designed to help you make an informed decision. Adopting a rescue dog will help give a potentially wonderful pet a second chance at life, so adopting a rescue dog will give you a second chance at life.

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