By Jill Sherer Murray for WebVet
Are you ready for a new puppy ? You've picked a name and loaded the kibble in the pantry and now can't wait for puppy to come home. After all, it's so cute and cuddly. But did you also know it can poop in the house, cost money, and shed all over everything?
If not, you're like too many others who get a puppy without really knowing what's involved, said Ty Brown, a dog trainer in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Searchwarp.com.
"I [occasionally] view the classifieds and am upset to see phrases like 'Have to get rid of dog because she sheds so much' or 'This dog needs an owner who can give him more attention,''' he said. "The question I think should be posed is, 'What were you thinking?'''
The problem is many don't, said Mark Gajkowski, an obedience trainer in Stockton, N.J. That, he said, is one reason why there are so many unwanted animals in shelters and rescues.
Instead, he and others agree, it's best to know upfront what you're in for before you get a puppy. Following are five things to expect when you're expecting.
#1: Puppies call for patience, the buddy system, and cleanser.
Especially on your first day together.
Case in point: When Maria brought her 12-week-old boxer home from the breeder, it threw up twice in her car and pooped three times on her oriental carpet. Typical, say experts, who recommend preventing this and other first-day calamities by:
- Bringing somebody with you to hold the puppy for the ride home from ...
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