Parkway Animal Hospital's

PET OWNER'S GUIDE TO

Choosing the Perferct Puppy

Choosing a puppy carries responsibility along with pleasure. This means that you should take the time to become aware of what’s involved.

Ask yourself some questions about any puppy you are considering:

When selecting a puppy, choose one that is right for your situation. Important characteristics to focus on are:

Behavior traits
Gender
Size
Activity Needs
Grooming Needs

The challenge of matching yourself with the right dog depends on determining your needs and finding the pup that most closely matches those needs. Completing this form will provide us with the information about your environment, lifestyle, preferences, and concerns so that we can make the best recommendations to you.

How much space to have available?

Apartment
House
Yard
Fenced Area

What are the ages of your family members?

Is someone at home during the day?

How much time do you have for walking / exercising a dog (time/day)?

How much time / money are you willing to spend on grooming ($ & hrs. /wk.)?

Why do you want a dog?

Companionship
Security
Sport/Hobby
Show
Breeding
Other: ______________________________

What breeds do you like?

What behavior traits are most important to you? Check all areas of concern. Circle your two most important concerns.

General Activity
Snapping At Children
Excessive Barking
Demand For Affection
Territorial Defense
Watchdog Barking
Aggression Toward Other Dogs
Obedience Training
Dominance Over Owner
Housetraining Ease
Destructiveness
Playfulness
Other: _________________________________

Whatever you do, it’s important to do everything possible to make sure you wind up enjoying the results of your decision. In some cases, you can wind up disappointed or in a terrible fix if the decision you make turns out to be wrong.

Silhouette of boy looking at a puppy in a cage

For example, a longhaired dog that requires lots of daily brushing may be hard to fit into your hectic day-to-day schedule. Or a dog that turns destructive or isn’t housebroken can be even more disastrous if you live alone in a small apartment and work long hours. Or do you have small children? Some puppies can be moody and irritable around youngsters. Or a child can unintentionally hurt some small breeds by squeezing them too hard.

For help in answering these questions, you may want to start by checking out books on puppy care and characteristics at a local library. Also, there are plenty of books, including inexpensive paperbacks, at bookstores, which can be very helpful. For that matter, you should feel free to ask us any questions that are on your mind.

The Puppies Potential

Once you’ve decided what kind of puppy you want, check the potential dog for the following points:

Eye brightness
Clean ears
Clean, shiny hair coat and healthy-looking skin
Good state of nutrition
Nasal discharge
Coughing

If you're selecting dog from a litter, ask to see the entire litter and the mother. The most active and curious are the ones that make the best pets. One that growls or resists your handling is not a good prospect. Don’t let sympathy sway your judgment.

Also, remember that veterinarians make good, friendly advisors. We’ll be glad to help you make the best possible decision In fact, if you wind up buying a dog, ask to bring the him / her in for a complete check-up before you buy. This trip that can save you lots of money and sorrow later.

“Puppy-Proofing” Your Home

Puppies are lively and curious, which can get them into serious trouble. Remember that your young puppy sees everything from a much lower vantage point than you—like a baby who has begun to crawl—and may be attracted to things you do not see while standing up.

It’s impossible to totally “puppy-proof” your home against accidents, but here are some recommendations:

Securely screen all windows to help prevent falls, and keep your puppy off of balconies, upper porches, and high decks.
Securely store cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, bleach, paint, paint thinner, pesticides, fertilizer, disinfectants, mothballs, roach & rat poisons, medications, and antifreeze. Make sure you keep these in tightly closed areas to which your puppy cannot gain access. Keep all cabinet doors closed securely.
Remove poisonous house- plants, or place them in hanging baskets completely out of reach of all pets. Some plants that are poisonous include amaryllis, English ivy, narcissus, dieffenbachia, mistletoe, poinsettia, holly, philodendron, azalea, rhododendron, daffodil daphne, foxglove, bleeding heart, potato, iris, ivy, oleander, rubber plant, tobacco, tulip, clematis, morning glory, and weeping fig.
Keep toilet lids down. Young puppies may decide to play in the water, and the lid could close and trap them; also, toilet bowl cleansers are harmful if swallowed.
Store plastic bags where the young pup cannot get inside them and suffocate or chew/tear them and swallow bits of plastic. Plastic six-pack holders used for packaging beverages should be cut apart.

Keep exposed electrical cords as short as possible, or tack them against a baseboard so the puppy cannot play with or chew on them.
Never give your pup any medication without first consulting with your veterinarian. Never use over-the-counter products on your puppy without first checking with your veterinarian. Veterinarians are the true pet experts. Guard against potential exposure to human medications. Even in small doses, aspirin, diet pills, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers can all be fatal to your pet.
Keep all dresser drawers, trunks, and closets closed. Always check to see where the puppy is before closing refrigerator doors, the oven, washer, or dryer.
Always be sure your puppy is secure before leaving the him/ her alone. We strongly recommend the puppy be confined in a plastic travel crate for at least the first few months.
Keep sewing supplies out of your puppy’s reach. Buttons, needles, pins, and thread can hurt his mouth or cause intestinal obstructions if swallowed. The same goes for nails, staples, screws, brads, earplugs, and aluminum can tabs.
Do not use electric blankets for the puppy’s bedding.
Never put anything other than the appropriate collar around a puppy’s neck. Ribbons can easily choke the puppy if they should get caught on anything.

OUR MISSION:

"We embrace the art of healing and the science of medicine to enrich the lives of our animal companions.
We support you in making informed decisions that allow your pet to enjoy wellness as long as possible.
Our hospital team inspires an atmosphere of compassion and respect for our patients, our clients, and for one another."