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Where Not to Get a Puppy!
Health in the long term is always a roll of the dice, no
matter where your puppy may come from. But there is
one type of puppy you should certainly not buy: never buy
from a place that carries puppy mill puppies! These places
don’t care about dogs and don’t treat them well, so it is
important to not reward them by purchasing a dog from
their facility. Although pet stores seem like a great place
to get a dog, they generally source from puppy mills, so
make sure to do your research. Puppies from mills are
often plagued with inbreeding, and genetic abnormalities
are common. there can be huge personality differences within a
particular breed. Two littermates can vary in temperament
more than you might imagine. Some Rottweilers
are stubborn and may challenge their owners while
others may be the most submissive pups in the world.
Regardless of what the breed standard says, each dog has
its own personality and may not be anything like what you
read about online. My best piece of advice here is to use
the expertise of the breeder or the rescue. They know the
puppies better than anyone and can help you choose a
puppy that fits best with your personality and goals.
Baby Boy or Girl? Closing Thoughts
After you have decided on a breed and either a breeder
or a shelter, it is time to determine what sex of dog is
right for you. If you already have a dog I would suggest
getting a puppy of the opposite sex. Male dogs are much
more likely to fight other males while female dogs are
much more likely to fight other females. Although same
sex dogs can get along and often do, why not play the
odds and make things easier on yourself? If you don’t
have another dog then the sex doesn’t matter all that
much. Female dogs are often a little less strong-willed
than male dogs, but in many breeds this difference is not
very pronounced. My last piece of advice when picking a puppy is to just
get one at a time. Although bringing home littermates
sounds like fun, it is often a bad idea. Not only is it hard
to train two dogs at once, but there is a very serious
behavioral issue that can arise called Littermate Syndrome.
Littermates often bond to each other too tightly and don’t
develop socially the way they should. Littermate syndrome
doesn’t come up every time people raise littermates and
it can be remedied once it arises, but my suggestion is
to simply avoid the chance. Get one puppy now and get
another in 4 or 5 months if you really want another dog
right away.
Time to Meet the Puppies I hope this advice is helpful and that it allows you to pick
the right dog for you and your family. Although picking
the right dog may take some research and a little legwork,
you and your new puppy will both be happier if