Adopt Responsibly During Puppy Season
Updated On: Friday, November 15, 2024 10:22:21 AM America/Los_Angeles
There’s nothing quite as exciting as bringing home a fluffy, chubby puppy to be the newest addition to the family. But with so many pups to choose from during puppy season, how do you responsibly adopt the right one? Read on to learn more about some important factors to take into consideration as you think about your future fur baby!
Photo by hannah grace
Where to Adopt
A local pet rescue is one of the most common places that people go to when they think of adoption. And for good reason! What’s not to love about an organization run by fellow animal lovers who work together to provide animals in their neighborhood? Shelters and rescues are a good place to start because of the variety that they offer. You may go in looking for a rambunctious pup, only to fall in love with a shy runt who just needs the right person to help build her confidence.
If you do opt for adopting from a breeder, make sure you’re able to examine the living conditions that the dog is coming from. Click here to read more about adopting responsibly from a breeder.
Picking the Right Pup for Your Family
Adopting responsibly means much more than adopting from an ethical rescue. Responsible adoption also means that you (and whoever else is in your household) has thought carefully about what type of dog makes the most sense for your home and how much you are willing to do to accommodate your future fur baby’s needs. Some central factors to consider include:
- Breed
- Personality
- Activity level
- Home environment
- Size
- Shedding
- Age
Other Important Considerations
- Lifestyle: Dogs, especially when they’re young and brought into a new environment, will need consistency to thrive. If routine isn’t in your current (or future) vocabulary, it may be best to hold off on adopting until there’s a time where you can commit to establishing all the different kinds of routines that a new puppy will require, including feeding, walking, training, and playtime routines.
- Cost: Think carefully about whether or not your family is ready to bear the financial responsibility of adopting a pet. In addition to yearly check-ups and vaccinations, will you be able to support a dog who has a serious injury, a chronic illness, or a terminal disease? While we would all prefer to think about the sunnier days of pet ownership, there will be a time when medical emergencies arise. Considering the financial cost of being a dog pawrent before adopting can prevent heartache for both you and your pup down the road.
- Training: Whether it’s potty training or leash training, training will be critical to establishing a relationship with a new dog. Age, breed, and lifestyle all come into play when it comes to training. Puppies can be trickier to train, while older doggos will pick up new things much more easily. Consider how much time and effort you’ll be able to contribute to training, as well as whether or not you can afford to bring a professional trainer into the picture.
Thinking about bringing a furry friend into your home? Be prepared with a real grass pee pad like DoggieLawn to make potty training a breeze! Snag our Ultimate Potty Training Set to establish a long-lasting potty routine.
