The Ultimate Guide to Puppy Care and Training. Tracy J. Libby

need plenty of physical and mental stimulation. If left to their own devices, they will get into all kinds of mischief—barking, chewing, digging, and peeing from one end of the house to the other. Dogs are social animals and often become stressed when left alone for extended periods of time. You will need to spend a lot of time playing with, training, and socializing your puppy by going places, meeting people, and exposing him to all sorts of different situations. Puppies can be expensive, too, because they need food, toys, bedding, training classes, leashes, collars, flea and tick control, vaccinations, and regular trips to the veterinarian—the list goes on and on!

      A puppy’s early days—the first sixteen weeks—are critical for instilling all of the desired behaviors and discouraging unwanted ones. Bringing a puppy into your home if you do not have the time, energy, or patience is unfair and will result in a puppy who is at a higher risk of developing behavioral problems, as well as being denied the best start in life.

      Where Do You Live?

      Dogs need space to run, play, and explore their environment—to be dogs. Where you live and how much space you have will help you decide what type of puppy best suits your lifestyle. Or maybe help you rethink dog ownership.

      Do you live in the city or country? Do you have a large yard or a small patio? Do you own your home or rent? Plenty of landlords, as well as some housing communities such as condominiums, co-ops, and active-adult communities, do not permit dogs or limit dogs to a certain size. Some even go as far as to ban specific breeds, such as pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers.

      Will your puppy have access to a fenced yard? Do you need to install a new fence or reinforce the one that you have? Maybe you need to add a dog run to keep him safe?

      Also consider the the size, as well as the breed, of your prosective puppy. Will the size of your new dog suit your children, as well as your home, furniture, and car? For example, a Great Dane is a big, but not super-active, dog that may do well in a large apartment or smaller house but might not fare so well in a studio apartment.

      For most people, the benefits of owning a dog outweigh the cost and responsibility.

      What Is Your Lifestyle?

      The dynamics of your household will have a huge impact on the type of puppy you choose. Do you live alone? Are you quiet or reserved? Do you have a boisterous family of toddlers or teenagers? Is your household nonstop with friends, kids, and video games? If you have an active and noisy household, you will want to search for a puppy with a solid temperament and personality that can adjust to the domestic hustle and bustle of your home.

      Are you looking for an energetic jogging or hiking companion that can keep up with you on extended outings? Do you prefer a field dog for hunting and retrieving? What about a calm companion for leisurely strolls around the neighborhood?

      Do you have other pets? Have you considered how they will get along? A docile toy dog is not likely to wreak havoc on livestock, but larger dogs, be they purebred or mixed breed, have been known to chase and sometimes kill cats, chickens, and sheep. Many counties have provisions allowing farmers and ranchers to kill any dog chasing their livestock. Can you keep your dog safe?

      You must also consider who will be in charge of feeding and cleaning up after the puppy. (Hint: Thinking that your children will scoop poop on a daily basis is a lofty goal but not likely to happen.) How long will the dog be left alone each day? Who will play with and train him? Take him to obedience class? Walk him? How much are you willing to budget for dog food, vet bills, toys, and other canine necessities?

      Time to Groom?

      Many of today’s breeds retain the coat for which they were bred. Are you a neat freak? If so, you might prefer the wash-and-wear coat of a Boxer, Boston Terrier, or Doberman Pinscher rather than a four-legged shedding machine such as the Shetland Sheepdog, Golden Retriever, or Chow Chow. Some breeds’ coats, such as the corded coat of the Puli, are more difficult to maintain. Coats also come in a wide range of textures from the crinkly, harsh, and wiry coat common in many terriers to the linty, soft, downy coat of the Bedlington Terrier.

      Seriously consider the amount of time and energy you want to spend on grooming. All dogs require regular grooming, regardless of their coat type, but some coats require more maintenance than others, including clipping, trimming, or stripping (think Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, and Miniature Schnauzer). Are you willing to learn to do it yourself? Do you have the funds to pay a groomer on a regular basis to do it for you?

      Do you have allergies? Does dog hair floating around your house make you panic? Are you willing to abandon the notion of ever owning dark-colored clothing or furniture, which is a magnet for dog hair? These are important points to consider when choosing a breed.

      A true ball of fur, the tiny Pomeranian will fill your life with endless billows of doggy coat.

      Male Versus Female

      When it comes to the “battle of the sexes,” personal preference is usually the driving force when choosing between a male and a female dog. Some people simply prefer males to females, and vice versa. Some people are attracted to the larger size and ruggedness of the males. Others love a smaller, more feminine companion. Some owners swear that males are easier to train and that females are more protective.

      No studies exist that establish the superiority of one sex over the other. Both sexes have their pros and cons. It is true that females tend to mature faster than males, with many males remaining goofballs for what seems like an eternity. Both sexes can and do make wonderful, loving companions. Behavioral differences depend on the individual breed and temperament of the puppy’s sire and dam. Some dogs are naturally more affectionate or aggressive because of their environment and upbringing.

      Intact females come into season very four to six months if not spayed. Intact males can be more dominant, may challenge their owners, and may roam and fight…and they can smell a female in season a mile away.

      If you already own a dog—regardless of the breed—consider getting one of the opposite sex who is (or will be) spayed or neutered.. Dogs of the opposite sex are less likely to create chaos and turmoil in terms of fighting and squabbling. Some dogs, despite your best intentions, simply will not live together happily. Much will depend on how well you implement and reinforce canine rules and boundaries. A dog’s individual breed, temperament, and personality will also influence how well he gets along with canine siblings.

      DNA Testing for Mutts

      If curiosity gets the best of you, DNA testing is readily available and may provide some interesting insight into your mixed-breed dog’s ancestral background. Canine DNA testing has expanded considerably since the first tests became available in 2007. However, before throwing open your wallet, be sure you understand what you are getting.

      Two types of tests are available: A swab test is simple enough to be done at home and involves collecting a sample of cells from the dog’s inner cheek with a swab brush. A blood test involves your vet’s drawing a small sample of your dog’s blood. With both types of tests, the samples are sent to a lab for analysis, and then owners receive reports of the results. Some companies have a DNA database of more than 130 AKC-recognized breeds, while others have between 50 and 100 breeds. Accuracy of the tests varies, so first decide what and why you want to learn about your dog’s ancestry.

      We Just Want a Great Pet

      A dog is a dog, right? Not quite. Dogs, like people, have different personalities, temperaments, quirks, and idiosyncrasies—even within the same breed. Golden Retriever puppies, for example, look strikingly similar in appearance, yet each puppy will develop into a unique individual with his own spirit, personality, and genetic makeup. The genes that a puppy inherits and where he comes from will have a huge impact on his future health and well-being, too.

      Generations of selective breeding have produced over three hundred breeds of dog with a wide range of appearances, temperaments, and