Buying a Puppy Guide
They are adorable, fun, ever so cute and you just have to have one. But are you ready for a puppy?
Puppy ownership requires a lot of hard work and dedication. This guide and the website has been prepared to educate you in every aspect of puppy ownership, from purchasing your pup to general care and training. Many people purchase a puppy on impulse, only to find out how much time and effort they require.
Essentially, puppies are as much work as a newborn baby. If you are not prepared and committed to put in this work and you still want a dog, adult dogs make wonderful companions and many of them are already house broken and have some basic training. A dog at one year is much easier to deal with than a brand new puppy. Consider your lifestyle carefully and read through our guides and articles before making a committment.
Buying a Puppy Home Page
Where to Get Your Pup
Are You Ready for a Puppy?
Are You Ready for a Puppy? - Part Two
Choosing a Puppy
How to Choose a Breeder
Preparing for Puppy to Come Home
Puppy Tips
More Puppy Tips
Is Something Wrong With My Puppy?
Spaying or Neutering Your Pet
More About Puppy Mills
Puppy Mills - What You Can Do
The Dog Crisis in North America
First and most importantly, DO NOT BUY YOUR PUPPY FROM A PET STORE. Yes, we understand the pups in that store window are ever so adorable and cute plus they look so sad locked up in that cage. Their eyes practically beg you to take them home. The pet stores are counting on the puppies pulling at your heart-strings so that you make an impulse buy. There are numerous reasons not to buy your puppy from a pet store, but most importantly, all pet store puppies come from puppy mills. Puppy mills are commercial breeders who have little regard for the health and well-being of the animals themselves, but are concerned only with making the largest profit. Animals are kept in substandard conditions and face incredible abuse and neglect. The end result is pups that have health problems, behavior and genetic problems.
Beware of Backyard Breeders
Secondly, beware of backyard breeders. Generally speaking, these are the ones who place ads for pups in your local paper. Backyard breeders may seem okay, but more often than not, they have simply taken two dogs and thrown them together without regard for health issues and genetics. Possibly, these pups are the result of an accidental pregnancy where a female has gone into heat, escaped and mated with a dog of unknown origin.
Say No to Flea Markets Too
Also on the watch list are places such as flea markets or any other temporary type market or show or fair or even at the side of the road (believe it or not, it actually happens!) The puppies that are sold in such places are often of unknown origin which potentially means dogs with health problems and diseases. And again, they are either from a backyard breeder or worse, a puppy mill.
The bottom line is that all of these places will more than likely result in a puppy with health problems, diseases, genetic problems and temperament issues. Temperament issues will make training difficult and produce unwanted behaviors such as aggression. The other issues will cost you money in medication and vet bills. Not to mention shortened life expectancy, which will cause you heartache and disappointment.
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