Loads of newbie questions about getting a puppy!

moomin5

Don't just give up on rescues centres if the nearest one doesn't home with younger children. A lot of people seem to use that as a reason they had to get a puppy, but honestly if you hunt around you will find one that will consider you based on your individual circumstances and not a set of blanket rules. Most of the greyhound groups near me will home with younger children/flats etc if it will suit the dog and often smaller rescues do too.

Rescue centres can be great at picking the right dog for your household too. A lot of dogs end up there looking for a home due to their owners circumstances rather than because they have issues and sometimes puppies end up there too.

Depending on how much exposure your kids have had with dogs, don't forget they will also need training to respect the dogs space etc to avoid problems. I have retired greyhounds that i adopted at 2yrs old and have since experienced greyhound puppies and as cute as they I think i'll always opt for an adult, they have way too much energy and sharp teeth:rotfl:

kjmtidea

I definitely agree about training my kids, they will probably be more hard work than the dog!

moomin5

kjmtidea wrote: »

I definitely agree about training my kids, they will probably be more hard work than the dog!

:rotfl:True they don't seem as easily bribed with food & praise!

Just realised my post might seem i'm anti-puppy buying and it it wasn't meant to be. Many people could find their perfect dog and save on some puppy traumas by getting a rescue but don't consider it due to incorrect preconceptions. My friend has 9 dogs and is always embarassed that the worst behaved of the bunch is the only one they've had from a puppy.

I'd have a good think about what it is you want from the dog (size, temperament, coat, energy etc) and what you can offer now & in future and then look at breeds and see what matches your requirements. There are some online quizes but i don't know if they have the majority of the breeds on them. When you have narrowed down the selection, try and chat with owners and meet that breed to get a better impression of what they are like on the whole. There are always exceptions to the rule with all breeds so you want to make sure so-and-so's dog is a typical example.

Also please do plenty of research into how to avoid the pitfalls when buying the puppy. So that you get a healthy dog and are not lining the wrong peoples pockets
http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/information/atozofdogs/p/puppies/buyinganewpuppy/

You might find it useful to join a dog forum or 2 once you get into your search. I used a breed specific one prior to adopting and so gained a lot of knowledge and also had support after. I'm still learning new stuff though.

UKTigerlily

Totally agree with moomins posts, great advice