Buying A Puppy What You Need To Be Aware Of
A look into the puppy box makes every dog lover’s heart beat faster. You’d like to take all the puppies home, but (usually) there should only be one. The black one, the black and white one or maybe the one with the funny mark on the chest? The confusion is growing. This article can help you find answers to the most common questions that arise when buying a puppy.
Let the puppy choose for himself
Is there a puppy that immediately heads towards you and seeks your presence? This is usually a good sign.
When a dog feels spontaneous sympathy for an unknown person, it is drawn to them for some reason. This is a promising basis for a future life together. If the animals are already a little older, it is also recommended to observe their behavior.
Important when choosing: Look at the personality
In every litter, there are daredevils, calmer representatives, and especially affectionate puppies. Dog lovers should definitely take the time to study the behavior of their littermates carefully.
Puppies’ play behavior provides valuable information about innate personality traits. There is no doubt that a dog’s personality is also shaped by external influences such as socialization, upbringing, and its living environment.
However, it cannot be denied that certain basic predispositions are, so to speak, inherited: Anxious puppies only rarely develop into confident and fearless dogs. Little bullies and mischievous dogs often tend to be dominant even as adults.
Buying a puppy: The “ugly duckling”?
In some litters, there is one puppy who is very different from his siblings. While the others run towards the strange visitor, he hides in fear and refuses to come out. He ignores the wild play of the other dogs. Not even a treat can lure him out of his hiding place.
Often it is this puppy that touches the heart. But even though the puppy with its help-seeking gaze awakens the protective instinct in humans: It is not advisable for every dog lover to acquire this particular puppy.
Anxious puppies belong in experienced hands
Young dogs that instinctively hide and retreat as soon as they see a stranger belong in experienced hands. Anxiety can easily develop into a highly problematic general behavior.
Anxiety biting, soiling and other behavioral disorders are not uncommon in such dogs if their insecure disposition is not counteracted with competence at the right time.
Listen to the advice of the breeder
A two-hour visit by a dog enthusiast is not enough to form a complete picture. It is not possible to decide to buy the right puppy after such a short time.
Therefore, you should have an intense conversation with the breeder and visit the puppies repeatedly before choosing a puppy.
You should listen to the advice of an experienced breeder. A good breeder knows whether a dog and an interested party are compatible or not. If the breeder is concerned that the future dog owner does not have enough experience to handle a dominant male, he will probably advise a more balanced bitch.
There is actually a lot to think about before you make the final decision to buy a puppy. And that’s just as well. If you inform yourself carefully before buying a dog and consider exactly what basic requirements you can offer your four-legged friend, you create the ideal basis for a harmonious partnership.
Where to buy a puppy? Alternative to the breeder
If you want to adopt a puppy, you don’t necessarily have to go to a breeder. Animal shelters also regularly have young, healthy dogs waiting for a second chance at life. The staff there will be happy to help those interested find the right four-legged friend.
Be careful with sentimental ads online. These are often the work of unscrupulous dog breeders or the puppy mafia, who are not interested in animal welfare, but only in making a quick buck.
The little puppies most often come from shoddy puppy mills and are often sick: They are forcibly taken from their mother too early, have infectious diseases and/or genetic defects.
