Getting a puppy can be a great addition to your family because not only are they a lot of fun, they are a great way to teach your children about unconditional love and responsibility.
A dog is known as ‘man’s best friend’ because they are such wonderful companions; however, it’s essential that you think carefully about it before you get one because there is a lot of hard work involved that will need to be put in over the dogs entire lifetime.
1. Choosing a breeder
Choosing your breeder is a hugely important part of the process of bringing a puppy into your family. There are many unscrupulous breeders out there who keep their dogs in poor conditions and breed them irresponsibly. This means that their animals lead very unhappy lives, and it also means that your puppy is likely to have problems as a result.
Puppies from unscrupulous breeders can have a range of health issues for which you will end up footing the bill. They can also have behavioral problems as a result of growing up in an environment where there wasn’t a lot of socialization, and they felt afraid. So, first things first. Make sure you do diligent research before making up your mind. You might feel motivated, and probably nothing is stopping you from getting a puppy at this stage. However, a lot of attention is required to find a proper breeder. Try visiting this website first and gather all the information you need.
Good breeders like snowypineswhitelabs.com treat their Labradors like members of the family by giving them attention and affection, lots of space in which to exercise, and breed responsibly to ensure that their lab puppies are as healthy as possible.
When you’re choosing a breeder, it’s important that you visit the breeder to see how the puppies are being kept and that you see the puppies with their mother so that you can ensure that they have not been taken from her too soon and that she is in good condition.
2. Training
Training your dog is important because it means that you will have a well-behaved dog who comes on command, goes to the toilet outside, and that you can take into public spaces without fear of mishaps!
Training is also valuable for building your relationship with your dog and creating a bond, so it’s important that you commit to doing at least some training every day.
3. Socialization
It’s important that your puppy is introduced to other dogs and other humans as soon as they have been vaccinated so that they start getting used to coming into contact with them.
If you don’t do this, you can end up with a reactive dog who is difficult to walk and who also can’t be left in places like kennels and doggy daycare.
4. Puppies and children
If you have children, you need to be mindful of how you introduce your puppy to them to be sure that they have a good first interaction and a good start to their relationship.
When introducing puppies and children, your child must understand that they need to be gentle and quiet around the dog so as not to scare them.
It’s also important that you create a space for your dog to retreat to if they become overwhelmed by rambunctious kids!
When you actually make the introductions, it should be in an open space where the dog can easily see the child approaching and can back off if they want to. The interaction should be supervised, ideally by two adults, and should be taken slowly.
