Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Adopting a New Pet

Selecting the correct puppy for a family pet is the most important part of the puppy adopting process, whether you are adopting from the local pet store or breeder, the local pound, your neighbor or friend, or the kid with the box of puppies in front of the grocery store. You should do a thorough check of all the breeds that are of intrest to you and then narrow the choices from there. Important things to keep in mind after the adoption of your pet is, how much exercise and maintenance will be needed, how much and how often will grooming need to be done, will your puppy be living inside, outside or a combination of both, will this adopted puppy be a family pet or will it be a show or hunting dog. Another thing to consider when adopting is whether you are interested in a male or female. Females tend to be smaller in frame than males, wander less and be less dominate than their male counterparts.

When considering breed consider your location, the size of your residence and any small children that your new adopted puppy will be sharing his new home with. The majority of large breed dogs need plenty of room and exercise, while some small dogs may be too hyper for small children.

When you have decided on the breed of puppy that you would like to adopt and are adopting your puppy from a kennel or business, upon your arrival you should be taking a close look at the conditions that the mother and puppies are living in, if the kennels or pen are dirty or not well kept you can be sure that the puppies are not being kept in the best conditions for their health. You should take a good look at the mother and make an assessment on the kind of nourishment she is being provided, Now, she will be a little thin from the weaning of the puppies but it should be apparent if she is not getting the proper nourishment.

When you start to look for the puppy you want from the litter step back and let all the puppies interact with each other, see which ones seem to be the overly shy or aggressive ones, You should be looking for a puppy that interacts well with all his siblings I would call this a “middle of the road puppy” and this is the one you want.

After you have found a couple pups that you like pull them away from the litter one at a time and interact with them. Set the puppy down and walk away a few steps and call to it, if it comes to you this is a good sign this means that the puppy should be easily trained and if the puppy ignores you this could mean that it is stubborn and may be hard to train. Another thing to try is to clap your hands or shake your car keys and watch his reactions. He should be attentive to the noise, not act frightened by it. The next test is to pick the puppy up and cradel it like a baby if the puppy wiggles or resists this it may be the sign that it’s going to be stubborn. If it reacts with signs of being scared or uneasy this could mean it will need a little extra attention. The puppy that tries to right it’s self but then relaxes would be the puppy to choose.

Taking him from his littermates and introducing him to a new home with new smells, sights, and sounds can be overwhelming for your new adopted puppy, so to make sure it’s an easy transition there are some steps you can take.

Make sure the pup has a spot to call his own, someplace he can go where he will not be pestered by children, other pets, or visitors. This can be a crate, a purchased dog bed, or a blanket in the corner. The crate for a puppy should be a small one; an adult size crate can be purchased when he outgrows the puppy crate.

If possible bring a blanket or towel from his first home and put it in his place along with a blanket or towel from your own supply. Dogs have a strong sense of smell; familiar smells will help him feel more comfortable. Feed the same food that he or she has been eating, or mix some of that brand in with the food you prefer to gradually accustom the pup’s system to the new diet.
Confine the pup to a room occupied by an adult so you have a better chance of preventing mischief and of catching him before he relieves himself on the floor. It is best to leave the pup in his crate for short periods when you cannot give him your full attention. If he is confined, your relationship stands a good chance of getting off to a fine start - he can’t soil the floor, chew the furniture, or bite baby’s ankles if he is in the crate, so won’t start his life in your family being scolded. We will be discussing various training methods for housebreaking your puppy in a future article.

At bedtime place a crate in the bedroom of the person who is responsible for taking the puppy out during the night if he has to relieve himself. Being close to people will help him adjust better to being without his littermates, and immediate attention to his toilet needs will make housetraining easier.

Following these suggestions will help make your decision to adopt a new family member a happy and rewarding one.

Check out this short video on using a clicker to train your new puppy. If it’s something that you think would interest you there is a link on the right that will take you to their website. I’ve tried it with my dog with great success.clicker-puppy-short-sit

Still not sure? Here are 12 questions that you can ask yourself:
1. Is there space for a pet in your home?
2. Does a pet fit your lifestyle?
3. How much are you willing to spend on a pet?
4. Are you allowed to have a pet where you live?
5. Where is your pet coming from? (pet shop, breeder, animal shelter?)
6. Do you travel a lot?
7. Do you have a vet?
8. Do your family activities allow a dog to join in?
9. Does anyone have pet allergies?
10. Do you have other pets?
11. Do you have any prior pet experience?
12. Are you going to have any help taking care of your new pet?

Be sure to answer honestly! If your answers are positive, then happy hunting!! and enjoy your new pet.

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