10 Reasons Not to Adopt a Puppy

1. They Poop and Pee Everywhere

          Puppies do not come in to the world knowing where we Humans would prefer them to eliminate.  When you bring home that adorable ball of fur at 8 weeks of age, he literally is like an infant in diapers; Not a clue.  Punishing him at this age is like slapping a baby for messing his pants.  You wouldn't do that.  Instead, take the puppy out at least every 1/2 hour at first, and reward him with good things for going in the proper place.  Get a puppy book and read up on how old he'll be before he starts to understand the concept.




2. Puppies Bite

       


 It's called curiosity, and teething.  Again, something a young puppy has no control over yet.  If you have young children, this can create a real problem.  Kids tend to jerk their hands away when the little shark is coming at them, which prompts her natural prey-chase response, which makes her jump at the hands, which makes the kids squeal (or worse, the kids start slapping her head) which excites the pup, which makes her bite harder, which......anyway, you get the point.  You may think your kids need a puppy, but I think differently.






3. They Chew:  A Lot.
       

This is really about how his mouth feels, or how much fun he's having when you weren't looking, much more then it is about spite.  I hear it all the time, from friends and from clients; "he musta been really mad 'cuz I left him"  "she just does it to spite me"  "I guess she was angry....."  Well, no, your puppy, especially a younger one, is teething (or you left your baby dog loose when you went to work...what did you think was going to happen?).  Those little milk teeth have to come out somehow, and if you were the Stupid Human who left a puppy unattended with your best pair of boots laying around, "oohhhh leather feels soooo good on my gums..."  or perhaps you have a hamper with dirty underwear at nose height?  Either way, your dog is not doing these things out of spite.

          And yes, I know, you've got all kinds of toys and bones laying around for the pup, but he still insists on eating your carpet.  Well, stop leaving him unattended and unwatched long enough for him to get into it so much that it's now a habit.  If you see something non-dog-approved in the puppies mouth, trade him for something that IS dog approved, and much better.  Socks?  Kong with a little cream cheese and peanut butter..woah, I said a LITTLE cream cheese....go easy....

          If you are unsure what qualifies as a good chew for your puppies particular age, ask somebody.  Ask your Teacher.  Ask somebody at the pet store what worked for them.  Ask your vet.

4. They Require More Trips to the Vet
          Puppies are the kamikaze equivalent to a 10 year old boy on a skateboard sometimes.  They will fling themselves into the worst situations, with big smiles on their faces.  They can swallow things that are inedible (I have a vet-tech friend who took 2 whole pairs of boxers out of a Golden Retriever), they fit into places they are not supposed to go....They get stomach upsets, and diarrhea all over your carpet, they freak you out with lethargy; they bite bees.  Y'know, KIDS.
          Oh, and if we're talking just basic wellness, they need vaccinations.

Hopefully, your breeder or shelter will have done the first set, but you are responsible for the rest.  Which they will need in a few weeks of each other.  You'll need to look at getting your dog spayed or neutered, to ensure a long, healthful life, and to make sure you aren't perpetuating the cycle of unwanted puppies.  You are also avoiding some unwanted behavioral issues, and some cancers if you choose to "fix" your pet.
          Unless you are a licensed show, or work breeder (preferably with a conscience, and not a backyard or mill) or your vet has given you a physical reason that fixing your dog is not a good plan, you have no reason what-so-ever to have an intact animal as a pet.....In my opinion.
          Your female does not need to have a litter to be more calm.
          Your male will not "pee like a girl" or lose any of his "manliness."
          Your kids do not need to experience the birthing cycle to understand the birds and bees.....

5. You're Not Quite Sure What You're Getting
          Shelters take their best guess with the breeds or potential size of a puppy.  If their mother is present, that can help, but usually they have no idea what kind of pup you are getting.  I love when I see a small dog, and they tell me "the shelter said it was Great Dane and Mastiff, but he's only 40 lbs"  or "We had no idea he'd get so big!  The shelter said he was a cattle dog mix."
         

At puppy adoption events, I cringe (as do other Humans who know Dogs) when I see parents allowing kids to choose the puppy.  This is not a toy.  This is an animal who will need you to help it learn the ropes and become a good dog.  Just because little Suzy wants the scrappy little terrier who's latched on to the other pups neck and is growling and shaking him, and snaps when you try to take him off the lifehold he's got, does not mean he's going to suit your family.  It is amazing to me that parents who call themselves responsible allow this to be the process.  That little biter goes home, is way too much for the family, but they keep him til he's a teenager, and finally return him to the shelter; where he has very little chance of finding a new place, because you dropped him off with complaints of "he chases the kids and bites their ears"  "he growls at us when we get near his food"  "he hates other dogs"  and so forth...choose wisely.

6. Puppies Chase Stuff
          Well, this doesn't need much explanation.  Dogs like to chase things, (well most of them anyway) and if you have cats or young kids around, you will be teaching the pup that chasing these things is not a cool activity.

7. You Must Watch Them at All Times: Or Else
          ...or else they chase the kids, or the cat.
....they eat stuff
.....they poop on stuff
.........they chew stuff
............they do all kinds of stuff you don't want them to do!

Be prepared to feel as though you have brought home a furry two year old who does not wear diapers.  Puppies are trouble.

8. They Consume All Your Time; if you're doing it right.
          If you really want a well-mannered adult dog from this crazy little being you've chosen to bring into your lives, you are going to have to dedicate some time to it.  I'm not talking scheduling an hour a day to "train" the dog.  I am talking Lifestyle Change.  Think about how much a families' life changes when a newborn baby is brought into it.  That is how you should be viewing bringing up a new pup.

NO, you can't go out and party tonight, your puppy needs you.  No, you don't have time to go golfing all day, your puppy needs you.  Sorry, you had to miss things, but your puppy needs to get out of the crate and go for a walk.  Just because you have a box to put the dog in, does not mean you can just get a dog and leave it in the box.  This is a living creature!  She has needs!  If you want something you can adore and forget about while you run all over town, get one of those robot dogs.  Take the batteries out when you're through playing with it.

9. Someone Else Will Most Likely Adopt That Puppy

         Puppies are cute.  Passing over that puppy at the shelter, or adoption event is something I'm ok with doing.  I know people fall for puppies.  And there are a lot of great homes out there, just waiting to commit to raising that little guy.  If you are not prepared, I mean fully prepared to at least try to do this right, say no.





10. Someone Else Will Most Likely Not Adopt The Older Dog Sitting Next to The Puppy

          If adopting a canine is what you really want to do, but aren't prepared for the level of crazy a puppy can bring, please consider the older dogs that are there.  There are literally thousands of dogs over the age of four, waiting for homes that may never come.
          I just recently talked with some Humans who have asked for help with their younger adoption, but have nothing but raves about their older one.  "He's perfect.  And he came that way," is how they describe him.  He was a shelter save.  Another woman only adopts if the dog is over the age of 9.  How cool is that?  Getting an older dog may mean you are getting something who already knows where to eliminate.
They may know tricks.  They might even be obedience trained already....you never know til you start to interview them.
          Yes, you do run the risk of taking home a dog who is suffering from a behavioral issue, but all in all, I'd rather work with a barker, or a reactive dog, then keep up with a puppy any day.  Most shelters are kind of familiar with the dogs in there, and some even have programs that allow you to do Foster to Adopt; which means you can bring the dog home and see if it fits in.  If you have other dogs, please bring them to the shelter and go for a walk or do a meet and greet there, rather then try it on the dogs' home turf.  IF that is unavailable, make certain you have a friend help you introduce them, and DO NOT do it at your dogs' house.  Go walking.  
Bonus points if you've chosen a black dog.