Deciding to buy a puppy should be a careful, well-thought out decision. A dog can be the most rewarding of pets, but also one of the most demanding. Before you buy a puppy, please think first. Is there really time for a dog in your life, and can you give a commitment that might for 12 years, possibly more?
Do you have the time to provide the exercise and training that a dog requires throughout its life, provide a safe and secure home and afford a suitable and nutritious diet that will ensure the very best of health?
You should also take into consideration your health and age. Do you want an active or sedentary animal? Some dogs require almost constant attention, lots of exercise and stimulation. Others are more laid back; therefore you need to research which dog will suit you and your family's lifestyle. For instance if you live in a flat and have limited free time, a Border Collie or Springer Spaniel would not be such a good idea, and would probably lead to behavioural difficulties, not only for the dog!
You will naturally want a puppy with a good temperament who will adapt happily to life as part of the family. Buying a puppy that has been home reared; exposed to everyday sights, sounds and smells should help the transition from life with Mum and litter mates to a new home and environment.
If you’re buying from a breeder make sure that they will let you come and see the puppies with their Mum and will answers all of your questions. Never ever let anyone bring the puppy out to you – you really do need to see the puppy and Mum together. If the person selling you the puppy tells you that this is not possible then just walk away.
This might seem like common sense, but the sad fact is that too many people are persuaded to buy a puppy at under 4 weeks of age, maybe without even seeing the mother. Then there are tales of woe from new owners who bought from a pet shop or puppy farm where the pup had been exposed to illness, fear or stress, and then wonder why they are experiencing health or behaviour problems later.
There are arguments as to the best time to separate a puppy from its mother.
The optimum time for socialisation is between 6 – 8 weeks when the puppy’s instinct to make friends with strangers overcomes its natural wariness, and this is generally considered the ideal time period for removing a puppy from its litter mates and mother.
For a puppy, being taken away from its mother and placed into a strange environment where nothing is familiar can be a frightening experience. Spend the first few days welcoming the puppy into your family, giving it lots of attention and mental stimulation and showing it the basics of what’s right and what’s wrong, where it can eat, sleep and go to the toilet.
Create a positive experience at all times. The escape and fear response has not fully developed in the first 12 weeks of development and so things out there in the ‘big wide world’ will not be so scary. Puppies do need to get used to the various stimuli that they will encounter in everyday life as early as possible. These include car rides, household and other strange noises, other animals, water and traffic.
Puppies go through many changes in the first 12 months of their lives and most of their learning and behavioural patterns are learnt in this time. Teach the puppy to socialise with humans and other dogs as soon as possible. A puppy has a short attention span so all training sessions should be frequent but brief. Simple obedience and the discouragement of unwanted behaviour will help to show you are ‘worthy’ of the puppy’s respect. Praise is important!
The earlier the training the better, even if it’s just the basics.
Vaccination is important to prevent your dog from becoming ill from infectious diseases. It stimulates the body’s own defence system to produce protective antibodies in the blood. The micro-organisms that cause disease can be widespread in certain areas of the U.K and unvaccinated dogs are at risk from a range of life-threatening diseases such as canine distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, infectious canine hepatitis and kennel cough.
A course of vaccinations will be needed for your puppy. These are usually given at around 9 and 12 weeks of age.
Worming is also important. It is possible that your puppy already has worms, which have been passed from its mother, and worming should be done every month until the puppy is 6 months old and then every 3-6 months.
It is important to choose the correct diet for your pup. Rapid growth can cause health problems in later life, so it’s best to feed a high quality, low protein and low fat food, such as BURNS Mini Bites, to enable your puppy to grow strong but steady. Avoid the temptation to fill the puppy with treats and sweets on top of his daily allowance, and if you do then take what ever treats are given out of the total food given in the day. Always provide a ready supply of fresh drinking water.
Puppies need lots of time, care and patience. Follow these guidelines and your efforts will be positively rewarded.
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