The Dos & Don'ts of "The Christmas puppy" buying and giving
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Buying a puppy under any situation is an ADULT responsibility. Leave the children at home and purchase with your head not your heart!! Do your research on the type of dog you want to love: large or small, short hair or long hair, active or calm, black, brown or multi colored, long ears or short ones, cute or cuter, puppy or adult, private owned or SPCA rescued etc. etc. etc. Request medical records that contain record of immunizations. If buying a large breed dog from a breeder ask to see the pedigree and hip x rays and O F A number indicating the parents had good hips. O F A (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) is the hip dysplasia screening facility at the University of MO. In today's market when buying the larger breeds, if no O F A number, don't buy puppy!!! DON'T BUY FROM PET SHOPS OR PUPPY MILLS. Be an informed buyer! Don't buy a puppy and bring it home for the Christmas morning gift opening. Wait until after New Years day when all the excitement has abated and the household is getting back to normal. A new puppy does not do well with the excitement of "opening the gifts". When the puppy is introduced to the family it should be a calming, quiet, stress free experience for the puppy and an emotional one for the new owners. No distractions for the puppy, only the human interaction. When the time comes that he/she realizes this is his home then let him explore Have an appropriate size crate, one that allows the dog to stretch out as an adult. Set up as the puppies/dogs quarters close to a traffic pattern he/she can see and interact with the surrounding activity. DO NOT USE THE CRATE AS A PUNISHMENT TOOL. This is his safety place where he can go to dream of the good things to come. Not the place that the big stupid, demanding, loud mouth, short tempered, know it all human throws him in and then slams the door. With crate training allow the dog free access to the open crate. Lock him only when his actions can't be monitored. Train the dog from the beginning. Punishment should never be an option!! Simple training should start on day one. Purchase a puppy training Book. The title should be a "Human" training book. I've always believed that there are only ignorant trainers not dumb dogs!!! Remember!!!! Wait till after the Holidays to introduce you pet to the family. The Breeder or the adoption agency should comply. Any questions??? Just call!!!! 570-672-3214
Education not Domination IT Works!!!!!!! "I" follow requests when I'm asked - rebel when I'm ordered!! Ask My Wife
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