Buying or Adopting a Puppy: The Essential Guide

Getting a puppy is an extremely rewarding decision that will provide your family with wonderful memories for years to come. But before bringing home that furry little friend, it’s wise to research exactly what caring for a puppy involves.

Our essential guide to getting a puppy will walk you through the most important stages of finding your new best friend.

For a variety of reasons, there are unfortunately tens of thousands of dogs surrendered to shelters and rescue organisations in Australia every year. However, it’s not always possible to adopt one of these animals, so the best alternative for finding your new best friend is choosing a company that abides by pet shop standards and codes of practice for breeding dogs.

After that, it’s time to prep your house and your family for a puppy!

How to prepare for your new family member

If you’ve never owned a dog before, it may not seem like a big deal whether to get a puppy or an adult. But there are major differences between the two, and you should understand the heightened level of care a young pup needs. This includes:

• Regular vet visits for required shots and vaccinations.
• Reserved areas both inside and outside of your house. Choose somewhere your pup can be easily monitored in case of sudden illness or attempts to wander off.
• Toys, bedding, food, water supplies, treats and more.
• External training services – whether puppy school or one-on-one consultations – with accredited dog trainers.
• Time to spend with your puppy both indoors and outdoors so they can acclimate to the bustling – and sometimes frightening – world around them.

This brings up the question of finances. Aside from toys, bedding and treats, vet check-ups are much more frequent for a puppy than an adult dog, and of course there is always the risk of an (expensive) emergency visit should the unexpected occur. The last thing we ever want to see is a much-loved pet not get the care it deserves due to financial constraints.

Finally, make sure you have enough time to spend with your animal buddy, both in the short term as well as for their 10 to 15-year life expectancy. In the first few months of their lives, puppies need time to train and socialise with other humans and animals. They also shouldn’t be left alone for extended periods while their owners are at their full-time jobs or school – this can lead to anxiety and abandonment issues, as well as habitual chewing and destruction.

Everyone wants their puppy to grow into a social, playful and healthy dog, so make sure you have enough free time to invest in their needs.

Which breed will suit your lifestyle?

Once you’ve determined that you can provide everything your puppy needs, it’s time to consider which breed is right for you. Think about your current lifestyle:

• Active:  For couples or young families who are always out and about, and willing to bring their puppy along on weekend adventures, an intelligent dog with an energetic temperament include: Beagles, Pugs, Jack Russell X Pug, Spaniel X Beagle, German Shepherds, Labradors, Springer  Spaniels, Border Collies, Huskies, Staffys, Cattle dogs, Groodles, Kelpies.
• Moderate:  If you enjoy trips to the beach and visits to the dog park, but are also just as comfortable at home on the couch, consider a dog that loves the best of both worlds such as Greyhounds, Cavoodles, Spoodles, Cocker Spaniels, Beagle X Cavalier, Golden Retrievers, Labradoodle French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Schnauzers.
• Mild: For owners who perhaps live in an apartment or don’t have the biggest backyard, dogs with calm temperaments who are quite independent include Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Maltese X Shih tzu, toy poodle, Chihuahuas, Moodles, Bischon Frise, Bichoodles, Pomeranians, Italian Greyhound.

How to look after your puppy

Once your puppy is home, the real work begins. And while there’s nothing better than snuggling up with your furry best friend on a cold winter’s night, it does take time and patience to care for a puppy.

Before bringing a puppy home, make sure your house has all the essentials:

• A secure and dedicated area where your puppy will live for the next few months while training and learning to socialise.
• Food, bedding, toys and walking equipment like a collar, harness and leash.
• The training centre or group where you will take your puppy to weekly classes.
• Research de-sexing, microchipping, worming, flea and tick prevention, and the registration fees required by your local council.
• Most importantly, have your local vet clinic already chosen.

Drop Us a Visit

When you’re ready to give a puppy the loving home it deserves, Kellyville Pets is the perfect place to find your newest member of the family. As an established family business that’s been looking after puppies for over 30 years, we actively encourage responsible pet ownerships for the continued wellbeing of all animals big and small.

Drop in any time and have a chat with our friendly staff. Our first priority is always to help you prepare to welcome your new pup, and give you all the help we can along the way.