Bringing Your Puppy Home

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An adorable puppy can be difficult to resist. But before you give in to temptation, ask yourself: what are the traits of the breed? Is it child-friendly, for example? What are its exercise requirements? What was the health status of its parents? Do you want it as a guard dog or a gentle family pet? These and other questions need to be answered truthfully, or you may come to regret your buy. Worse, you may end up with a dysfunctional, perhaps dangerous, animal that could become a problem for you or your neighbours, and even end up escaping and roaming the streets.

In addition to establishing whether your pet is a good fit for you and your family, you need to prepare the environment beforehand. Firstly, ensure that your yard is properly fenced in. You also need a strong leash, a comfortable bed and a kennel, a non-slip feed bowl, and rawhide toys.

The way in which you introduce the new dog to your home will help determine whether it will be a joy or a problem later. Here are some hints:

• Do not fuss excessively over your new pup when fetching it. It doesn’t know you yet, and too much fussing can be overwhelming and lead to its becoming overly excitable.