Acquiring a dog is the only way money can buy true love, loyalty, and devotion. If you are ready to take responsibility for a fluffy and cute toddler, which after a while will grow up and turn into an adult dog, you can attend to the choice of a puppy.
Instructions
Step 1
Buying a puppy does not tolerate rash decisions. The first step is to decide for what purpose you have an animal. Some people take him as a guard for the house, others - a companion for the hunt, and still others - as a creature that can fill the aching emptiness in the soul and brighten up loneliness.
Step 2
Determine where to buy. You shouldn't buy a puppy at the poultry market. Most often they sell mongrel dogs or half-breeds under the guise of purebred dogs. But this is not the worst thing. On the market, it is impossible to objectively assess the health of an animal, to make assumptions about its character and habits.
If it's not the breed that is important to you, but the character, go to the nearest animal shelter. Volunteers will be happy to show you all the dogs, let you get to know them, tell you about the fate and customs of each of them. Those people who fundamentally want to take a purebred puppy should be guided only by the breeders.
Step 3
Find and carefully study all the available information on the Internet about the desired breed. For example, Pekingese love calmness and order, Labradors need constant physical activity and training, Poodles are easy to train, they amazingly copy the behavior and many actions of their owners.
Step 4
If you ever plan to breed a dog in order to breed, read about the breed characteristics. Even an imperceptible deviation from show standards will significantly reduce the price of a thoroughbred puppy.
Step 5
When you come to pick a puppy, try to keep your emotions in check. Every puppy, regardless of breed, is touching, cute, defenseless and very funny. But a dog is not a toy; it will require daily attention and care from you. Observe the puppies at a shelter or breeder.
Step 6
Take a closer look at the mother of the puppies. If she draws her tail and tries to hide when you appear, there is a good chance that her offspring will grow up cowardly. But the manifestation of too violent joy is also bad. It is very likely that the puppies, even when they turn into adult dogs, will rejoice at every passer-by on the street, literally throwing themselves at their feet. The normal reaction of an adult dog to the appearance of a stranger next to its cubs is warily raised ears, a straight stand, an interested look.
Step 7
A simple test can be done with puppies to make assumptions about their future relationship with the owner. Place the dog on its back, keeping your hand on its chest for about 30 seconds. If a puppy tries to free himself by all means, without neglecting his teeth, then he has the makings of a leader. Strong-willed and persistent dogs usually wriggle, fiddle with their paws, but then recognize the leadership of a person. Timid and obedient puppies will not resist at all and will look at you expectantly.
Step 8
It is also important to assess the puppy's health.
- Do not take a dog younger than 7-8 weeks old.
- The nose should be cool and moist, the mucous membranes should be bright pink, the teeth should be clean, without visible defects.
- Fluffy, shiny, clean coat is a good sign.
- The puppy's eyes should be clean, clear. See if the third eyelid is reddened, if there is inflammation.
- Ears must be clean, odorless. If the puppy is constantly scratching his ears or shaking his head, it means that he has an infection or a tick.
- Do not take a puppy that is too fat or too thin.
- The belly of a small puppy should not be overly swollen (these are the first signs of worms and malnutrition).
Step 9
Once you've chosen your puppy, take him to the vet. Have a specialist perform an examination and also draw up a vaccination schedule. If suddenly you got an unhealthy dog or a dog with some kind of mental or physical disabilities, the veterinarian is obliged to inform about it. In this case, it is better to return a thoroughbred puppy to the breeder, however, the possibility and criteria for returning must be discussed in advance.
