New Puppies – What Kind to Get

So you’re getting a new puppy. Whether it was quarantine that made you want a new companion or your kids finally reaching an age where they can have some shared responsibility, you have some important decisions to make. Undoubtedly, family members will be anxious to welcome the new addition, but don’t let them rush you. It’s imperative that you weigh your options carefully before bringing Fido home.

The one thing you don’t want to do is make your decision based on how cute a puppy is, rather than what he’s going to be like when he’s four years old.

You want to fall in love today and make sure you are still in love when the cuteness of the puppy wears off.

What Kind of Puppies to Get

New Puppies versus Dogs

Puppies are adorable, but they aren’t all cuddles and kisses. Like children, puppies need to be

taught right from wrong; and like children, puppies will lose their baby teeth in order to grow adult ones. The difference is that instead of chewing on a baby toy while teething, your puppy will chew on the leg of your brand new Arhaus coffee table. Consider bringing a fully trained dog into the family. If you have young children constantly pulling you in three different directions, chances are, you won’t have time to take a puppy outside to pee on the grass every hour.

Big Dog Little Dog

Most dogs are little when they’re puppies. But some of those puppies grow to be six pounds, and others grow to be over 75 pounds. A Maltese may not be the best choice for your family if your teenage boys are constantly roughhousing on the floor or playing tackle football in the backyard with their buddies. Likewise, a Saint Bernard isn’t a sensible choice when the home is a walk-up brownstone in Manhattan.On the other hand, sometimes the fun loving gentle giants like a Great Dane are perfect for city life as well as country living. It’s important to sort through the popular dog breeds and the not so popular and find the right dog for you and your family.

Dogs That Are Good with Kids

The Centers for Disease Control states that every year, 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs, and about 20 percent of the victims require medical care.

Don’t put yourself or your children in danger by getting a dog that has a bad reputation. Sure, there are plenty of nice Pitt Bulls, but why take the risk? Ask a veterinarian or seek online resources to help you find a dog that will be perfect for your family. Do your homework; it will pay off.

On the other side of the coin, there are several smaller dog breeds that are known to bite because they scare or spook around children. If you want a family dog that loves to play, it might be best to stay away from the smaller dogs, especially if you know your children have energy levels that will outlast the puppy stage of the dog.

Shedding versus Non-Shedding Dogs

Golden Retrievers are beautiful dogs, and they make wonderful pets. But if you get one, expect to find dog hair….everywhere! Many pet owners consider this a minor inconvenience if, in fact, they consider it at all, but some people are more uptight when it comes to sanitation and cleanliness. If having dog hair all over your black sweater makes you cringe, a non-shedding breed might be the way to go. Although most non-shedders do a pretty good job of keeping their fur to themselves, keep in mind higher maintenance is required since brushing and grooming are essential. Dogs with double coats like Bernese Mountain Dogs, French Bulldogs, and Corgis are a few of the dogs that you can expect to see hair on the floor. If you are thinking long haired versus short haired dogs but don’t want the maintenance, consider the Irish Setter, who needs brushed daily to ensure their long hair doesn’t tangle. Other times, short hair isn’t always the best. Our French Bulldog, Louie, who’s shown in these photos, sheds his short hair every time he itches or shakes.

Some Dogs are More Active than Others

Dogs depend on their owners to give them what they need to be healthy, and that includes

exercise. If you have a large backyard, you may be able to get away with tossing the tennis ball for a few minutes every day to provide your dog with the activity he needs. But if you live in a house with a tiny yard or an apartment, you will need to walk your dog on a daily basis. All dogs need exercise, but obviously, some need more than others. If your idea of working out is getting off the couch Sunday afternoons to grab a beer during half time, perhaps you should get a Pug instead of an Irish Setter. If you take the dog to obedience training, they often teach a technique or series called a “puppy pushup” which is a series of sit and down several times. This wears them out, and allows city dwellers to have a higher energy pet if they are trained in obedience.

Dog Breeder or Pet Store

Once you’ve made the weighty decision to purchase a new puppy, you need to make an important decision. It’s so tempting to purchase a pet store puppy that fluffy little ball of fun looks at you with his beseeching eyes, and it’s obvious how much he loves to roll around and play rough with the other puppies in the window. Unfortunately, a large number of pet stores obtain puppies from puppy mills where dogs seldom receive the much-needed interaction with humans that they need to form proper dog-human relationships.

Many puppies from puppy mills are taken away from their mother before they should be, giving rise to fearful behavior and anxiety. Seek out a reputable dog breeder in your area and contact them regarding the next available litter. It may cost you more money, and you may have to wait a little longer for your puppy, but it will be worth it. Hopefully, you will have your dog for many years to come, so what’s another 5 or 6 weeks?

Speaking from experience of the puppy store, we got our new pup, Louie, from a puppy store and it was a great experience. Lucky for us, we got Louie a few days after he was transported to the store, and he now gets plenty of human interaction. While I know we could have adopted or searched out a breeder in our area, for us, it was so much more simple to go in and see what we wanted, look online for the pros and cons, and search photos of what the dogs look like as adults and decide. It was a quick decision we don’t regret at all. Louie fits well with his big brother, Champ, and the girls love him too.

Local Dog Shelter Puppy

Consider getting your puppy or dog from the Humane Society or local animal rescue shelter. There are many shelters in cities that people aren’t even aware of. Many “no-kill” shelters foster dogs, puppies, and animals out to caring for foster families until they can be adopted. Be aware that some of these puppies are rescued from puppy mills so they may have some of the same anxiety that puppy mills have, but in many cases, the puppies are rescued young enough to able to form solid bonds with their new families. Oftentimes, the mixed breed puppies are also the best combination of both breeds of their parents, making them the perfect match for what you are looking for, yet can’t find in a pet store. A family dog can be high energy when it wants and then lazy and love kids and naptime other times. Patience is the key when welcoming a new family member.

Consider all the factors when selecting the type of dog breed for your new family. Then once you’ve made the decision and jumped in with both feet, enjoy your loving new addition. And remember not every day will be great, much like with kids. But those days in the grand scheme of things will be far and few between. Make sure whatever decision you make, is one that’s for your family and your best interest. There will always be puppies, make sure to really take the time and decide what is best for you.