What questions should you ask before getting a puppy? The prospect of getting a new puppy can be very exciting. Who doesn’t like the positive aspects of owning a pet? They’re always there for you. They bring you many good memories, warm feelings, and laughs. No matter which breed you get, there’s something good to be had about making that furry addition to your family. That being said, owning a pet IS a responsibility, here are 3 questions you should ask yourself before getting a puppy.
1 – Are You Ready to Commit Time to Your Pet?
When people talk about the responsibility of owning a pet, they really are referring to the time commitment. You’ll have to get them on a schedule to pee or poop, which means you’re also on a schedule unless you train them to go inside on a pad—which is not preferable for most owners.
However, that’s just a basic fact of owning a dog. A more flexible time commitment is asking yourself how much time you have to play with your dog and give them company? This is among other important questions to ask yourself before getting a puppy. A dog is a living creature, not some toy you can play with and put away when done. Thankfully, most people do not see pets this way, but it can be easy to forget that there will come a time when perhaps you’re having a tough week and may not have the energy to play with your pet as much as they’d like.
Thankfully this can be worked around! Choosing a breed that has lower energy demands may go a long way in preventing a poor match compatibility wise. If you talk to us at Silver Nickel Puppies, we’ll be happy to suggest a breed that is just as content as you are to relax on the couch and unwind after a stressful day!
2 – Are Those You Live With Okay With Helping?
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person with a puppy is in want of someone to help take care of it. Strange uses of Jane Austen quotes aside, do you live alone or with family/roommates? As much as we’d like to think we can take care of a puppy by ourselves, if someone is around, inevitably you will ask them to watch your puppy for a bit when something unexpected happens.
Even in ordinary circumstances, small things like letting the dog out or taking them for a walk may be favors you’ll ask of family or roommates. While we believe that you should just get a dog if you want one, it is a courtesy to ask those you are living with how they feel about it.
An unwritten rule about puppies is that anyone against having one around is slowly converted to being a dog lover. The internet is littered with videos of parents or other people not wishing to have a dog in the house, only to grow very attached to the puppy
3 – Do You Know Basic Pet Training and Safety?
Bringing a puppy home at the soonest opportunity is an exciting and scary time. Ask any dog owner about the first time they brought their lil’ fella home and they’ll recall a story in which they were scared, had little idea what they had done, if they’d made a mistake, and how afraid they were of doing the wrong thing.
Thankfully, raising a dog isn’t very complicated, but that doesn’t mean it is easy! First-time owners should understand what kind of training needs to be done first when their puppy is young to prevent problems down the line. A little bit of basic obedience training can go a long way—especially for larger breeds that have more combative or aggressive reputations.
Puppy Store Englewood NJ
Silver Nickel Puppies in Englewood, New Jersey has been the starting point for many people to purchase a dog to complete the family! We sell a variety of highly popular breeds that have captured the hearts of many people. Breeds such as the Maltese, Havanese, Mini Aussie, MaltiPoo, Mini Poodle, GoldenDoodle, and many other mixed toy breeds that offer the best of both worlds!
Take a look at our available puppies and then contact us today if you have any questions. We hope to hear from you soon!
