The Do’s And Don’ts When Adopting a Puppy

Adopting a puppy can bring so much joy to a home. Dogs are some of the most polite creatures you’ll ever have as a pet. There are those breeds that are more aggressive but the majority tend to be gentle especially towards their owners. If you intend to adopt a puppy, there are things you should be doing for the general love of dogs and other animals

Don’t Encourage Puppy Mills

This has been a serious menace over the years and law enforcement can’t seem to find a long lasting solution. There are over 500,000 puppy mills pups sold every year according to MadonnaOfTheMills.  Most of them are born in deplorable conditions and the owners only care about selling. The worst part is the puppies spend most of their lives in cages if they are owners don’t find a buyer. By choosing to adopt from Westchester Animal Rescue, you are making the world a better place. It makes perfect sense to adopt from a shelter as you would be contributing to a bigger course. You are also likely to get a healthy puppy since they are regularly treated and vaccinated.

Don’t make it a whim decision

Humans have a tendency of making decisions on the fly without taking time to think of the repercussions.  It is easy to be carried away with the cuteness of puppies. They are adorable and one is tempted to save them all. It is important to educate yourself on the pet you want to get before you finally decide to adopt. Taking care of a dog requires investment in terms of money and time. You should be willing to sacrifice both. Any puppy in the shelter must have been part of a family at one given time. Adopting it means you’re part of its new family.

Space

You should make sure you have enough space to accommodate the puppy. They grow up pretty fast and depending on the breed, you might need extra space for it to maneuver around in the house. One of the common reasons why dogs can easily be relinquished is because the owners usually don’t have enough space. You should also put the number of pets you own into consideration.  Some pets may not like it when the new puppy invades their “space”.

Adjustment Period

Rescued pets usually have been through a lot and it could take time before they fully adjust to their new environment. There are no clear timeframes when the puppy will settle. All you can do is to be patient with your new pet. Sometimes the help of a professional may be needed for the puppy to overcome trauma.

Time

You should set aside a substantial amount of time for your new puppy. Settling in is a process and may never happen if you don’t have time for the puppy. There should be bonding sessions for the dog to feel at home. Dogs do well in packs and you will be the one setting precedence.