Advantages of Getting a New Puppy

Our last blog highlighted some of the advantages of adopting an older dog. Let’s consider two of the most important advantages of getting a new puppy. 

1. A puppy will fill your free time. Raising a puppy is labor intensive, especially the first few months. Time will be required for housetraining, basic training, feedings, exercise, management, etc. So if you don’t work full time and have lots of time to dedicate to raising a puppy you may be up to the task.

2. The book will be written chapter by chapter. Unlike adult dogs, whose personalities and temperaments are already formed, you can help influence a puppy’s developmental stages. This requires you to become knowledgeable about these stages, and how best to socialize your puppy to people, places, and things during the first few months. 

Great free resources for learning about your puppy’s development are Dr. Ian Dunbar’s e-books, “Before You Get Your Puppy” and “After You Get Your Puppy”, available for download from www.dogstardaily.com

Raising puppies requires time and patience. That’s why it really needs to be a discussion with adults and children to decide whether getting a new puppy is right for your family. It will be joyous, challenging, and it will be lots of hard work that is well worth all the effort.