Planning to welcome a new member to your home? Still confused about choosing a puppy or an adult dog?
Puppies are adorable and require baby like attention and care. Whereas, an adult dog is usually well behaved and well adjusted. It is important for you to consider your needs and decide what suits you better. If you have enough time to parent a puppy, going through the phase of behaviour training, and teaching toilet habits and house rules, go on, buy the cuddly puppy, but those big eyes, you have always wanted to.
Or, if you have a hectic schedule and know that training your dog step by step would not be as easy, it is best to go for an adult dog. They are usually well trained and know how to behave. Once an adult dog understands the house rules, you have a constant companion.
We understand that picking from a puppy or an adult dog is the hardest decision for a dog lover like you. To help you make a better decision, for both yourself and the one you will bring home, here are a few questions that you must consider beforehand:
1. Do you have dedicated time for caring for, and raising a puppy?
A puppy requires a lot of time and attention from you, with constant supervision for at least the first few months. From providing them with shelter, food, and protection you have to do it all. Puppies are to be taken special care of as these little creatures put themselves to trouble without even knowing, and are just like little babies. You have to teach them how and what to do, from toilet training to reactions. This takes a lot of time and patience from the owner’s end.
Only if you have ample of time to dedicate to these little bundles of joy, then consider a puppy, else, an adult dog who is house trained and well-mannered is exactly what suits you.
2. Is your lifestyle conducive enough to raise a dog?
More often than not, the pet parents do not realize the responsibility that they have to themselves when they decide to pet a puppy. You, as a pet parent, must understand that puppies are a great responsibility and only if you can stay back home for the major part of your day, is when you should consider one. A busy social life does not suit the needs of a puppy. If you are a busy and out type of a schedule, it is always better to opt for an adult dog. Adult dogs can stay back home without destroying a thing, and be safe on their own.
3. Is it important for your new dog to behave in a particular way?
An adult dog is surely better behaved and knows how to be on their own, but they may have a few behavioural problems that may not fit your home manners. The adopted adult dogs behave the way their previous owner taught them, and hence it gets difficult at times to cope with them and to teach them new mannerism. If you want a dog who behaves how you want him to, it is better to buy a puppy. Training him to mould into as you want would be easier with a puppy, than with an adult dog, because puppies do not have any previous ways that they have to change.
4. Are there any children in the house?
It is an important question owing to the safety of both the child and the dog. If there are toddlers around, it is always better to wait for a year or two before buying a dog, be it a puppy or an adult dog. A puppy around that time would definitely mean extra effort in raising both the toddler and the puppy together, whereas, an adult dog may harm the child unknowingly; and vice versa. With older children, it is important to make sure that if you opt for an adult dog, he has been raised around children or at least knows how to behave around them, so as to avoid injury to children. Older children can be of great help in raising a puppy.
5. Is financing for a dog an issue?
Both a puppy and an adult dog have a cost associated with them, but the pure-breed puppies’ costs hundreds of dollars when compared to the rescued dogs. If the budget is an issue, it is always smart to adopt a dog as they are cost effective. Neither do they cost too much, nor do they have much maintenance cost. To nurture a puppy during his early months costs too much and can get really difficult to maintain with a lower budget. With a limited budget, it is best to adopt an adult dog.
Keeping in mind these questions and discussing well with family is the healthiest way to decide what to pick. Also, consider your home environment, your past experiences with a dog and the level of activity at home.
Puppies are nice and adorable but require a lot more care than what individuals access it as. It is important to think well before opting for a puppy. It is much important to understand that even tough puppies are adorable, adult dogs look for homes too. Do not drool over puppies only, adopt a dog, as and when feasible, too.
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