This post comes to us from Summer Milroy, owner of On the Ball K9 Training in Sanger, Texas. Hopefully some of you got a chance to meet and chat with Summer last week at our Agility and Disc Dog Seminar. If you are looking for professional dog training in North Texas, be sure to give On the Ball K9 Training a call. Enjoy the article!
With the holiday season fast approaching, the thought of getting that cute little puppy may have crossed your mind. Before you make the big commitment of bringing a new puppy into your house here are a few things that you should consider:
Time - What is your lifestyle? Will you have time to spend walking, playing with, & training a new puppy? Remember, once the puppy grows up you still need to commit time to exercise & to train it.
Size - What size dog do you want? Remember size matters… you wouldn’t want to get a Great Dane or Mastiff if you live in an apartment or a smaller home. Some people think that by getting a smaller dog they won’t need as much exercise. This is not always true. Some small dogs need just as much if not more exercise then larger dogs.
Male or Female - Males are more likely to act aggressively towards other dogs, defend their territories, & try to be dominant over their owners, as well as mark territory and wander. Females are more likely to demand more affection, are easier to house train & obedience train. There is really no difference in excitability, nervous or defensive barking between the two sexes.
Purebred or Mix - With a purebred dog you know what you’re getting but have a higher chance of inherited disease. If you go with a mixed breed it will be less likely to suffer from inherited diseases but the final size, temperament & grooming requirements will be unknown.
Activity level - What is your energy level? You want to make sure that the dog you pick doesn’t have more energy then you. If you would rather stay at home and watch TV on the couch then take a nice, long evening walk, than you probably would not want to get a Jack Russell Terrier.
Good with kids - Do you have children or are you planning on having children in the next 10-12 years? There are certain breeds that tend to do better with children than others, but there are always exceptions to this rule. No dog or breed of dog is 100 % trustworthy with children.
Good with other dogs - If you have a dog now, you want to think if a new dog will make him or her happy. Is your current dog good at sharing? How will he or she feel about sharing your affection?
Cost - How much is it going to cost to raise this puppy? You need to take into consideration the cost for food, vet bills (shots, spay/neuter, medications, etc.), toys, training, grooming, & boarding, just to name a few things. Remember that the cost doesn’t end once the puppy grows up. The average lifespan for a dog is 10-12 years.
Once you have made the decision to bring a new puppy into your home, make sure that you start in a good training program early. The sooner you start training the earlier your puppy will be instilled with good behaviors.
If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to visit the website of On the Ball K9 Training. If you are a professional working with dogs and would like to be considered as a guest blogger on this site, please contact us.
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