If you and your family have chosen to take the leap and welcome a puppy into your home, then there are a number of things that you need to know. While owning a puppy can be extremely rewarding, many people underestimate the amount of work involved both in choosing a puppy and in caring for one. So before you rush out to choose the perfect puppy for you, read on to see just how important choosing the right puppy is.

Why do you want a Puppy?

Before you can pick the perfect puppy for you and your family, you need to first think about why it is that you want the puppy in the first place. Do you want one because they are cute? Are your children putting pressure onto you and you just want to make them happy? If so then the best advice to you is to stop and to think about what owning a puppy actually involves.

Puppies are hard work. They are just like babies. They need to be fed, walked, taken out to the toilet, bathed, groomed and they need plenty of love and affection. Often when parents purchase a puppy for their kids, they soon lose interest and the parents are left with all of the work. That is why so many dogs end up in rescue centers and it could all be avoided if people made a more educated decision when choosing a puppy. Once you know that your home is ready for a puppy, it is then that you can decide which type of puppy you should choose.

What kind of lifestyle do you lead?

The first step to choosing the right puppy to suit your family is looking at what type of lifestyle you lead. Different breeds of dogs will need a different amount of exercise, care and training. For example, a Rottweiler will need firm handling, whereas a Chihuahua will need gentle handling. Sheepdogs will need more exercise than a Bulldog. By understanding these differences and by knowing the demands of each breed, it will help you to choose the top companion to suit your family.

Choosing a puppy which does not fit into your lifestyle can be a really big mistake. It is not fair on the puppy for you to expect it to change its instincts. So if you don’t have the time to take your dog on an hour walk each day then do not choose a breed which has a lot of energy. If you do not want a dog that will protect you naturally then do not choose an Alsatian. Always choose a breed which will best fit in with your lifestyle.

Selecting the Right Puppy

Once you know which breed of puppy will best suit your home, you should then research more about how to choose a puppy. For many people they choose the cutest or the one that looks really unhappy. When you see a puppy that is cowering in the corner, it can break your heart and you just want to take them home. However, you need to understand that this may not be the right pet for you. A puppy that is cowering in the corner will be timid and prone to behavior problems. At the same time a puppy which bounds over to you and which jumps all over you could have problems with dominance. So you want to look for a puppy that comes up to you, but which does not seem overly confident.

Another thing that you will need to look at is how healthy the puppies are. You should always try to purchase a puppy from a specialized breeder as they will be the most responsibly bred puppies. They should have clear eyes and their nose should not be runny. They should look generally healthy and you should not be able to see their ribs.

Overall choosing a puppy can be hard if you do not know what to look for. It is always a good idea to ask the breeder questions on how to care for the puppy and general breed questions. If they cannot answer your questions then it would be wise to find yourself another breeder. By taking the time to do your research before you bring a puppy home, it will really help you to pick the right puppy for your family.