Choosing your puppy
You will soon have a puppy ? Congratulations !
You will find great happiness !
But beware, take a puppy is a decision that must be carefully considered !
It is necessary to think about the changes that this implies :
- Time to give the puppy for his education, its outputs,
- The financial investment to purchase the puppy, food, veterinary fees (vaccines, pest control, care during illness…), the accessories (leash, cushion, bowls ...)
- The guard mode for the holidays : is he will come with us ? Someone he can keep the family ? We'll do keep pension ?
- A puppy often made mistakes ! It can be destructive, eating shoes, curtains… Are we ready to take this ?
- The acquisition of cleanliness can be shorter or longer and often requires patience…
Once all this has been well thought out and validated you can fully enjoy the happiness that a dog can do for you !
Here are some tips for choosing your companion 4 legs …
The choice of race
To choose a puppy that you match the best, it is necessary to ask what are your expectations and what you want to share with your dog. The dog breed should be chosen according to your place and manner of life (country life / city, house / apartment, presence of children or not ...).
If you want a dog that accompanies you in your walks or bike, Choose a sporting breed (Border Collie, Berger Australia, Husky, Malamute, Jack Russel, Beagle, Beauceron, Swiss white shepherd, Dogo Argentino, Labrador, Golden retriever …)
For a watchdog, one should avoid choosing a Chihuahua ! Choose a dog rather large, who has the skills to keep his territory (German shepherd, Beauceron, Belgian shepherd, Rottweiler, Boxer, Dogo Argentino ...) But be careful to not want to select an aggressive dog.
For a family dog, choose breeds that love the company of children, such as Golden Retriever, Labrador, Cavalier King Charles, Berger Australia, Bernese Mountain Dog, Border Collie, French Bulldog…
In some cases a dog may be purchased for a particular job. This is the case of hunting dogs (Beagle, Springer Spaniel, Pointer, Bruno du Jura, Brittany Spaniel ...), of guide dogs (Labrador, Golden retriever), Avalanche dogs (German shepherd, Malinois)…
If you do not know dog breeds, you can seek advice from the vet who will follow your future puppy. He will learn about the needs of each race, their skills and traits. He can advise you based on your expectations.
Male or female ?
The character of a dog does not is that it's a male or a female.
Do not believe, for example, females are necessarily quieter and softer than males.
It should be against by having in mind that a female will be hot on average twice a year and that a male will more easily tend to run away to join a particular bitch in heat…
Sterilization provides an effective solution to these various disadvantages.
Importance of the visit before adoption
A puppy should not be adopted before the age of 8 weeks. This is the minimum age that he received from his mother all the essential learning for the proper psychological development.
Before the expected date of adoption of your puppy, you will make him visit once or more.
During these visits, it is important to see the environment the puppy. Firstly to ensure that sanitary conditions are satisfactory and, on the other hand, to get an idea of the world in which the puppy grows. Is the puppy in an environment stimulating enough ? Does he see the world, He hears noises ? A large dog in a poor environment stimuli might be a fearful dog, frightened at the slightest noise, at the slightest encounter with an animal or person ...
During your visits, pay attention to the dog's behavior. Instead, choose a dog that comes to you spontaneously, who seeks contact, exploring its environment.
And you also rely on your feeling and your favorites !
Information on parents
Do not hesitate to ask about the puppy's parents : their size, their character, medical history, their health and medical care (preventive treatment against fleas and ticks, vermifuges, vaccination…). In some breeds, screening for inherited diseases can be performed in breeding. This is the case, for example, of hip dysplasia for Retrievers, the Bernese Mountain Dogs, les Rottweilers, German Shepherd, les Mastiffs… Check with seller.
Last step before instituting your puppy, just make sure the breeder you transmit all mandatory documents : the transfer certificate, the animal's identification documents, health certificate certifying the good health of the puppy and information materials on the needs of the animal.
Once your puppy adopted, think quickly make an appointment with your vet to ensure it is healthy and making his first antiparasitic treatments and vaccines .
You can then enjoy your new companion !
Author : Dr. Magali Pernot. Illustrator : Dr. Caroline Allard – Vetup®