Should I Buy a Puppy or Adopt a Dog?

The best way to have smooth sailing in your relationship with a dog is to start off on the right track. That often begins with your choice of which dog to acquire.

You should ask yourself a few questions before bringing a dog home, or even looking for a dog.

1) What kind of lifestyle do I want?

You might think you want an exercise buddy who motivates you to go out and run every day, but are you going to resent that high drive cattle dog, border collie, or malinois when you lose motivation? Perhaps you would really do better with a dog who can take that activity or leave it instead - like a Greyhound or Whippet. Are you physically sound enough to get a Great Dane if your balance is questionable at the age of 60? Or should you look at dogs like Maltese or Chihuahuas who you can still handle with ease even if their training needs sprucing up. Do you have multiple dogs, cats, and livestock - so you should get a dog with higher pack affiliation instead of that intense bulldog or with lower prey drive than the spitz who exemplifies his breed's traits? Do you have the money to spend on dogs who typically need intensive veterinary care? Be honest with what kind of life you want.

2) Getting a puppy versus an adult dog

Puppies are excellent because if you get a well bred puppy, you are set up for success - if you put the work in. Puppies inevitably require work up front, discipline in your schedule, and thoughtful training to become excellent dogs.

Getting an adult dog means that they have already had some training - if you're very choosy, sometimes that training is good training and you have an excellent setup for success in a dog that's been previously owned. Sometimes their previous training is extremely detrimental - like dogs who have been puppy mill breeders, taught to soil themselves in a small space. There's still work either way - so you have to make an honest assessment of what kind of work you'd like to do.

3) DO NOT BE IMPULSIVE

It's tempting to let a sort of "mystical connection" instantly occur between you and your potential dog, so I suggest not even going to see a dog until you know they fit your needs and lifestyle. Oftentimes, it turns out that getting a dog who will require less overall work is more expensive up front. Getting a cheaper dog often comes with unexpected surprise expenses later on, like TPLO surgery or extensive training needs to ameliorate a bad training start.

Taking all of these concepts together, the best strategy is to take your time and be honest with what you need. This decision will make your next decade plus of life with your dog much smoother.

It can be overwhelming navigating all of these factors, so don't hesitate to reach out to us for help in deciding what kind of dog would be best for you and your family, and how to find that dog.