Well the urge can be just too much.  You are out at the mall, or where ever and you see some puppies.  The conversation quickly turns to, “I have always wanted a dog,” or “I think it is time we replace Lassie.”

Oh boy, now you have gone and done it.  Once the seal is broken on that idea it is very difficult to get it back in the can. Did that mix enough metaphors?

First, “choosing a puppy 101.” What to look for? What are the characteristics that you should watch for when making your selection. I suggest just 2 criteria, really just 2, yup just 2. Temperament and size match with your living situation.  Why only those two? Because if you are an experienced dog owner then you ain’t reading this article for information purposes and second if you have special plans (hunting, showing, rescue, competition) you are not looking to get your information here.  You are reading books and talking to folks that do this stuff and they are giving you incredibly useless information regarding your selection of breed, temperament, breeding and lineage and all of the other things that they are absolutely sure you must know and they have been unable to figure out for themselves.  They may have gotten lucky and have the best animal ever for whatever it is they do, but more likely they bought an animal from a breeder that has a good track record of birthing these animals with success in providing the traits consistent with their specialty.  In other words if you want a good hunting dog, find a breeder of hunting dogs, if you want a show dog, find breeder specializing in that. So if you have very special needs then I am probably not your source for super specific information regarding picking a pup. While my needs are very specific and my dogs are chosen with those needs in mind I am going to discuss the “pet” side our your selection and I will cover the “obedience” side of your animal. Meanwhile your specialty needs are going to get the short shrift here.

So you walk up to the cage, home breeder, puppy mill, mall shop, neighbors’ garage or wherever and pup and all of pups siblings look up at you and they just beg to be held and you immediately start the argument in your head (don’t tell me you will not, yes you will) that you could actually raise two of these guys as easy as one.  Hopefully sanity will prevail and you will go home with only one.  Find a mellow but not comatose pup of a gender you prefer.  I prefer females and have always preferred females when picking out dogs.  In cats, I don’t care so much, but in dogs they will be female. Every book says pick the one that comes to you and responds to you.  I am not so sure that this really matters.  That instant bonding thing will wear off pretty quick so I suggest just find one that is not jumping all over you and does not pee all over his/her self every time you speak and you will be fine.  The runts can be very special pets as well but for the first time pet owner I suggest a little more personality than is usually found in the runt. Any animal will work, and if you follow Ceasar Milan (The Dog Whisperer National Geographic Channel) he indicates that we always get the dog we deserve so as long as we like his/her temperament we will be fine.  Pup is easily molded to your wants and needs so consider this a work in progress.  There is a lot of difference between personality and obedience so don’t try to find the perfect dog just find one you like.

So we need to take a quick look at your home and see what dog will “fit” into your house. If you have a one bedroom efficiency apartment with no yard on the 5th floor of the building and 20 blocks from the nearest park or green space you probably should look for smaller statured dogs. If your home is larger and has yard space and ease of access to the outside, larger dogs can be considered.  That does not mean that large dogs fit large homes and yards.  It is really more important that you believe that you can handle Pup than it is how big your house is.  Do not put a Bull Mastiff in a two room efficiency where you are home after a 14 hour day. It won’t work for either of you. I guess the point is to select a dog of the size and physicality to match your home and your comfort.  Don’t match the size and physicality of your dog to your needs. You will end up with a Labrador Retriever (oh, I always wanted one of those) in your 3 room apartment and Pup will be perpetually a problem because you went with your needs rather than Pup’s. That is a fundamental first mistake in pet ownership.  The best question to ask is, “what is best for Pup” not “what is best for me?”

It is probably time to discuss the responsibility part of pet ownership. Being a pet owner brings with it a number of things you need to accept before bringing Pup home.  My number one rule is this is not a Wal-Mart purchase.  When you bring Pup home this is a final decision.  This is not something you can return tomorrow. So if you are unsure then DO NOT BRING PUP HOME. If you are unsure, find an animal you can try out for a weekend, a family members’ dog or someone that needs a dog sitter for a weekend or a week and be sure you want Pup for ever and ever. While I would rather you return Pup, that should not be your mindset. Health care is a basic gotta do part of bringing Pup into your home.  Shots, neutering, GOOD dog food, and hygiene are fundamental parts of having a pet.  If you are; too busy, financially strapped, disorganized, away from home too often or any other reason unable to provide for Pup properly then do not bring Pup home.  I understand that Pup will be expensive but that is part of the responsibility of bringing a pet into your home. I guess the short recommendation is if you are unable to care for Pup properly then leave him where you found him.  If you are emotionally unable to care for Pup’s needs leave him where you found him. Pup is going to become your responsibility and you need to be sure you can meet those needs before making him/her a part of your family.  If you really want a child DO NOT GET  A DOG. In other words get Pup because you want a dog not because Pup is cheaper than a kid. Pup will be perpetually confused and dis-functional if you see it as a human.  They are not humans and just because you want them to be they won’t become humans.  But worse, they become really mal-adjusted dogs if you treat them like humans.  They are dogs.  You are humans. The relationship can be very rewarding and deeply meaningful to both parties but it will be meaningful to humans in a human way and meaningful to dogs in a dog way and interpreting their behavior in human terms just confuses them and causes them to see you as weak then they begin having behavior issues.

All right, we have accepted the role of responsible pet owner and broughtPup home (did you take Pup for a walk yet, if not please go back outside and take Pup for a45 minute walk, yes thisis required and will be required everyday for the rest of Pup’s life, I told you this was not going to be easy) and have already had our first “accident” (isn’t our language priceless?) so the first thing you need is some basic instructions on house breaking Pup. You are going to hear story after story of the 2 day house breaking. Do not believe it, you are going to learn how to house break Pup, while you are teaching him to “outside” and that will include several if not many poops and pees in the house.  Ah, the joys of pet ownership. Figure, 6 weeks at least before Pup will relaibly tell you when it is time to go outside, be able to hold it while you get up from the dinner table, put on your coat, find your shoes, locate Pup’s leash, put that on Pup, and get him out the door and down the stairs to his favorite spot in time to outside. Trust me you will get there but it will not likely happen in 2 days. In fact if you see Pup as your child, he may never become house broken.  Pup is a Dog!

Start watching the book stores for books on how to bring a pet into your home. There are oodles and they will give you insight and understanding of what might be going on in Pup’s head. Watch TV. National Geographic Channel and A&E have shows on pets regularly.  The other gotta do is find a good vet.  Definition of a good vet is someone you like, trust and believe in.  He/She is going to be Pup’s health care provider for the rest of Pup’s life.  Since that translates into at least 2 visits a year for 10+ years this is not a decision to be taken lightly.  If you are not happy with office procedures, how Pup is treated, or the conditions of the facility go find another vet.  Eventually it is quite likely that this individual will oversee Pup’s euthanasia. Chose wisely and carefully as you will likely be called upon to make some very tough decisions together.

So we talked a little about finding Pup, picking out Pup, Pup’s first few weeks at home, Pup’s health care, and Pup owner’s responsibilities.  That is a lot to accept but it is hard part of being Pup’s pack leader, to borrow a phrase from Ceasar. From here on the relationship between you and Pup is going to get closer and closer and there will quickly become a time when you cannot imagine living without Pup, even though that day will come and for most pet lovers it comes far too quickly.

So next time we will take some time and discuss socializing Pup, teaching Pup to do things you ask and the joys and difficulties of a maturing Pup.  Until then, enjoy Pup.

Love, Dad and Creator Bless.