( 
)Welcome to my guide for some helpful tips on what I think is needed before your aquire your first or next puppy or dog into your family.
As an eBay Powerseller and an nimal owner, I would like to offer the new puppy dog tips Guide below as well as an invitation to my ebay store where you can find a vast assortment of pet care books and some supplies..
- Involve the whole family in discussion and decision making process before you get a puppy or dog.
- Research and Select a veterinarian if you don't have one already.
- Knowledge is powerful, especially if you have a good knowledge base before you aquire your dog.
* Hold family discussions to cover the following topics
* What size dog do we want?
* What breeds do we like and what do we know about them?
* Will our puppy or dog be a purebred or mix breed?
* When would be a good time to get the dog (ie., after school lets out for summer, break or when and why)
* Do we want a male or female and why?
* Why do we want a dog and most importantly - discuss the responsibilities in puppy and dog ownership and who in the family will be taking on the responsibility?
It is a good idea to select a vet if you don't have one already. Once you have a vet name or hospital in mind, check references, visit the facility - is it clean is the staff friendly?. Ask people you trust that have pets for their recommendation for a vet such as your neighbor, friend etc. Research the vet with the American Animal Hospital Association (known as AAHA). Search for them on the web with the .org extension. Not all vet hospitals are AAHA accredited. My vet is an approved AAHA vet hospital.
Knowledge is what often is the key difference that makes anything become a win-win and success instead of a frustrating or costly mistake. Think about all of the things that the family purchases where you normally research the item. For example, you would never just go out to the first car sales lot and buy the first car you see. No way. An educated consumer knows the makes and models available, they often will research crash tests and repair record statistic AND the consumer will still shop around for the best price. In addition, the consumer knows how much they should probably pay for the car, maybe even what the retailer paid - and more importantly the consumer certainly knows how much they can afford to pay and over what period of time. And they often know how the car will be used and by whom.
Well, why shouldn't we go through the same thought process for acquiring a new dog or puppy. The dog will become a family member for anywhere between 7 to as much as 18 years. And with good care and with good vet care, dogs are living longer happier lives. The family dog could very well outlive that car I just mentioned. So, why then would a family not put the same level of care and research and take steps for the preparedness of the new family dog. The sad truth is, many families decide on a whim, or on the tug of their heart strings when they see a cute puppy and they take it home. That is usually where the mistakes happen because the family was not properly prepared or they did not do enough reading or research prior..
I suggest that before you purchase or adopt your new family dog, pick up a book or two to study with. Read the books together with the family, involve young children in selecting supplies with your guidance. I invite you to visit my ebay store as a great place to start by using this link All Books and More
How big is the mother or father? If you can meet them, how old are they? Are they friendly, could you pet them? Do they seem well cared for in regard to their body weight, coat cleanliness and texture, clean water and food bowls available?
The seller of the puppies or dog should be just as interested in you as a potential home as you should be of them. Be prepared with a list of questions so you don't have to remember them. Obviously, if you are seeking a puppy from a rescue group - some of the answers might not be known about the dogs history. But, you can ask the person who is currently fostering the dog or the kennel help. They should know a good bit about the dogs available for adoption or rescue. I do NOT recommend purchasing your puppy from a "puppy store" or "pet store" since most of these dogs are produced by puppy mills out west and they have often traveled far and housed in cramped quarters before arriving at the store. I would stay away from any facility that offers dogs for sale where the breeder has given up the dog for sale with no interest regarding the homes that the puppies are going into. A good breeder will not make a puppy available with the only factor being the price tag.
What I DO recommend is that you research the breed you are interested in. Buy some books and read them. Research information online. You can find many rescue groups as well as reputable breeders through breed chapter clubs listed with the AKC.org website.
* Has the dog been Vet checked? Is there evidence of that?
* Has the puppy been dewormed and has first rounds of vaccines been administered?
* Why did you breed the litter?
* What brand of food, food preparation method and feeding schedule has the puppy been on? I strongly suggest getting the same food that your puppy is currently on for when you bring him home. You don't want to change his diet while acclimating him to his new home and routine. It can lead to stomach upset diarrhea or constipation. After the puppy has settled a few weeks, then if you wish to change his brand of food, do it gradually.
* Is the seller willing to take the dog back if for some reason it doesn't work out?
* Has the puppy been socialized? If so, how often, how and where? How does the puppy act.
* For additional ideas for questions, open a search engine and enter the search string "questions to ask a dog breeder" There are numerous websites out there with suggestions.
* Bring the household members with you to become aware of any potential issues or concerns
* Try to visit on a day that you are off from work, school or you are not tired. You will be more observant and patient if rested and you allow yourself time.
* Wear loose comfortable clothing that allows you to get on the floor at the puppies level to evaluate
* Bring a notepad and pen with you for notes. Believe me, you will forget some pieces of conversation or answers to questions in the excitement of checking out a new puppy or dog.
* If possible, stand back and observe the puppy or dog interact with littermates. Is the dog shy, aggressive and does it recover from brief noises or disturbances or does it run and hide? Ask the seller, why they think the puppy is acting that way?
* Invite the puppy to come to you, don't approach the puppy right away - give it time.
* Clap you hands or whistle, does the puppy respond or halt their play with the noise? How do each of the puppies react?
* Are the puppies clean, nose eyes and mouth clean and clear. Listen to their lungs, clear breathing? Do you see any fecal dropping - are they normal? Does the kennel or puppy play pen seem clean and maintained. If not, this is not the puppy nor seller for you.
* Research online for topics such as puppy temperament testing and selecting a puppy.
* Allow yourself time if possible by scheduling the puppy to come home on a day you are off from work or school. This will give you time to enjoy your new pup and help him get settled in.
* Prior to anticipated date of the puppy coming home, develop a list of supplies you need, purchase them and have them ready. Below are some suggestions
---Collar - Measure the neck of the puppy and add a couple inches. Take note of the size when selecting a collar. A thin nylon buckle collar is best.
---Leash. I suggest a walking leash of about 4-6 feet and another training leash appx. 10-15 feet for training.
---Dog bedding or a suitable place where your puppy can sleep at night
---Dog toys. Cotton rope, hard rubber balls are best. Any toy large enough that the puppy can't swallow and choke on. Supervise toys so that the puppy doesn't chew pieces off and swallow it.
---Food that the puppy is currently on
---Food and Water bowls. I suggest aluminum dog pans are best. They are dishwasher safe and resist scratches and nicks that plastic bowls often get.
---A dog crate that will comfortably fit the puppy when it is at it's adult size measuring the back of the dog. As an adult, the dog should be able to stand up in the crate, turn around and sleep comfortably.
---Depending on the breed of dog and hair length and type, you will need grooming tools. At minimum, every owner should have nail cutters and a brush.
---It may be helpful to bring home with you a familiar toy, blanket or object from the seller of the litter. The familiar scent will help the puppy with the transition.
---There are more ideas, but the above list are the basics.
Guide created: 10/05/05 (updated 06/10/08)
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