BEFORE PUPPY COMES HOME!

http://www.revivalanimal.com/articles/Before-baby-comes-home.html

Dog ownership = Lots of responsibilities!

I borrowed this from a friends website, and I couldn't have said it any better myself!

 I want every buyer to understand what it means to own a puppy. There needs to be a lot of research and consideration before purchasing a puppy. Puppies take a lot of time and patience. Puppies are a LIFE TIME commitment, do you have 14-16 years to devote to this puppy? If you are not ready to commit to this you do not need to own one. Very young puppies go to the potty A LOT so there are a lot of potty breaks. Very young puppies need a lot of socialization and this comes in good quality times just like we do our own children. It doesn't hurt for a puppy to be in a home where the people work as long as those people give the puppy the good quality time it needs when the family isn't at work or school. It will sleep most of the time while you are out, puppies are like babies, they don't need a lot of play time, they need a lot of sleep to grow.They learn to look forward to when its people gets home. There is a dog food bill to take into consideration. There are vet bills to take into consideration, once again if you can not afford a vet bill, do not buy a puppy. I do everything possible here so that you will get a healthy puppy. Puppies receive 3 vaccinations at 6-8,10-12, and 14-16 weeks.  Your puppy is not fully vaccinated until 16 weeks, so be cautious of the common areas you take him/her to play. Better yet, don't take to areas where other dogs may have been. During stress things pop up in puppies that ordinarily would never show up. Your puppy will more then likely get diarrhea when it gets to you. This is due to the trip and I will be giving it a wormer before it leaves here and it gives the puppies a loose stool. If your vet takes a stool sample, which most of the time this is an unnecessary expense unless there are symptoms that something is going on, he may find coccidea or giardia. Dogs are carriers of these and most of the time a person never knows that a dog has these. They pose no threat to you and if there are no symptoms to the dog his immune system takes care of it. Before a puppy leaves here I give cocci-gard and a  probiotic which guards against coccidia and giardia. One is given this at 6 weeks, and again 10 days later.  If there should be a mucusy, greasy stool then that is when it needs attention and let your vet know.  A  puppies body at 12 weeks will begin to fight off coccidia. There is no need to be concerned once again unless there are symptoms that something is wrong. I give wormers every 2 weeks, Using Pyrantel and panacur .There is nothing more that I can do to protect your puppy other then keeping everything here disinfected. I want you to get a healthy puppy and know that you want one but if your puppy gets to you with one of these don't be alarmed, it is not a sign of an unhealthy puppy. All puppies and dogs are just carriers of these.  I have just mentioned these things so that if a puppy should come up with it, you the buyer will know a little about it and what has been done here to prevent it. Your puppy needs exercise. Depends on the breed and individual dog on how much. Most dogs love to go for walks. This will keep your dog healthy and something to look forward to.  Okay we have covered, patience, commitment, extra bills in owning a puppy, exercise, etc. Now we talk about the good stuff...A puppy will love you for life, they are the best friend, companion and family. You will never know anything that has so much unconditional love as a dog has. He is the one that looks forward to seeing you and wants to be with you. He will make you laugh and sooth your soul. The rewards far out weigh the negatives. Once that puppy grows up, it won't take so much time and patience. Just like raising a child..only a dog doesn't talk back...LOL. I always say a puppy is only as good as the trainer. Now enjoy your new puppy and love it forever. A prayer goes with each of my puppies that it has found its true loving home and be a healthy puppy that you expect it to be.   Getting married, having a baby, moving, job transfers, etc are NOT REASONS for abandoning your pets, they are EXCUSES. Pets are a LIFETIME commitment the same as children are a LIFETIME commitment. We don't get rid of children for these kinds of excuses, we adjust our lives. Our pets deserve the same level of devotion.