One thing about dogs is that they are very loyal, and may not adapt easily to new homes once they are mature. Many dogs are on offer to be rehomed. If you decide to adopt a fully grown dog make sure you go to a reputable organisation. The best organisations will check out your circumstances to make sure that you will be able to give the right sort of home to the dog, and shouldn't pass on a dog with known problems. However, with some dogs problems only become apparent once they have been adopted.
Whether you go for a puppy or full grown dog do some research and make sure the breed is right for you and your family. Even mixed bred dogs can give you a clue of their heritage, and what their traits might be. Certain breeds have been bred to have particular characteristics. A sheep dog, for example, needs plenty of room to run and will enjoy herding anything - including the kids! Dobermans are guard dogs, and although they can be very gentle, if you are rehoming one you need to be sure that no one has encouraged its aggressive traits.
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - and this has an impact on your budget! A smaller dog is far cheaper to feed than one of the bigger breeds.
Whether you go for a puppy or full grown dog do some research and make sure the breed is right for you and your family. Even mixed bred dogs can give you a clue of their heritage, and what their traits might be. Certain breeds have been bred to have particular characteristics. A sheep dog, for example, needs plenty of room to run and will enjoy herding anything - including the kids! Dobermans are guard dogs, and although they can be very gentle, if you are rehoming one you need to be sure that no one has encouraged its aggressive traits.
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - and this has an impact on your budget! A smaller dog is far cheaper to feed than one of the bigger breeds.
A puppy or a full grown dog?
There really cannot be anything very much cuter than a sweet little puppy, but is that the best age to get a dog?
What is your image of a dog? A well behaved companion trotting at your heels? If you get a puppy it takes an awful lot of training to get to that stage! Depending on breed it can take anything from a few months to two years for a puppy to mature - whilst they are growing they will need house training, and may very well chew furniture!
There really cannot be anything very much cuter than a sweet little puppy, but is that the best age to get a dog?
What is your image of a dog? A well behaved companion trotting at your heels? If you get a puppy it takes an awful lot of training to get to that stage! Depending on breed it can take anything from a few months to two years for a puppy to mature - whilst they are growing they will need house training, and may very well chew furniture!
"Our Great Dane took 2 years to house train - and at his chewing stage destroyed a washing machine, as well as ruining a few door frames!"
If you are choosing a puppy from a litter it will be hard to select just which one is right for you. Always make sure that the puppy is healthy, alert, comes running to you and doesn't hide away. You may want to be kind to the runt of the litter, but this will not make the best and easiest pet.
One of the worst things that can happen is that you bring an unhealthy puppy home, and it dies just after the children have got madly attached to it. Don't put your family through that - make sure it is strong and healthy from the start, and make sure it gets all the vaccinations it needs.
One of the worst things that can happen is that you bring an unhealthy puppy home, and it dies just after the children have got madly attached to it. Don't put your family through that - make sure it is strong and healthy from the start, and make sure it gets all the vaccinations it needs.
Puppies and children make excellent playmates - as long as both remember a few simple rules:
| n | Puppies, like babies need a lot of sleep. If they look like they want a rest leave them be. |
| n | Puppies have to chew to help lose their baby teeth and help adult teeth grow. They will chew anything, including fingers! |
| n | A growl is a warning and means 'you've gone to far, leave me alone'. |
| n | Behaviour which is naughty should be punished with a stern 'no' immediately (can apply to youngsters of both species!) |
| n | Puppies should have their own space, e.g. bed, and should not be encouraged to use human furniture (think of shed hair, fleas etc.) |
| n | A good dog can be turned into a naughtly nuisance if children take playing too far and become cruel (tying things to tails, being too rough etc.) |
Pets4kids
Info4You
A Puppy or a full grown Dog?
Copyright reserved. Webmaster Productions Ltd
Quick links to info about dogs....
Dogs main page
Dogs - the good and the bad
Commitment to owning a dog
Dog or Puppy?
Pedigree or Not?
Quiz - are you ready for a dog?
Dogs main page
Dogs - the good and the bad
Commitment to owning a dog
Dog or Puppy?
Pedigree or Not?
Quiz - are you ready for a dog?