Local Voices: 'Can We Get a New Puppy—Pleeease?'

Who can't relate to that feeling you get when you see a little cute puppy in the window, or an awesome dog up for adoption at your local shelter? You find yourself daydreaming about taking him or her to the park or playfully greeting you after a long day.

Thoughts of "Scout" or "Molly" start to swirl around as possible names, and you find yourself picturing your newest family member in the passenger seat of your car heading to the pet store to purchase a new dog bed and toys. The idea of bringing a dog home to join your family is an emotional decision, and it can really pull at your heart strings.

But, as with any large decision (and introducing a pup into your home is a huge one), you should really take the necessary time to weigh out all the factors. I'm looking to help people in choosing the right dog so that fulfillment (for the humans and the dogs) wins out over doubt, frustration, and potentially giving him up.

The leading reasons dogs end up in shelters mainly boils down to lack of money and/or time and inappropriate household dynamic. Let's take a look at these issues ahead of time to get everyone thinking about the right things before choosing the right pup to take home.

TIME:

Be it an adult dog or a puppy, a new dog takes a lot of time to acclimate into the dynamic of your home. In advance, consider how much free time you have to devote to your new pup every day as this will help in the decision making process. For instance, if you have an hour of free time to dedicate to your new dog every day, be sure to get a pup that won't use that hour (and then some) needing an extensive run to drain his energy. You will need a low-energy dog that can get by with a 20-30 minute walk once a day leaving the other 30-40 minutes for other things, such as training, feeding, house-breaking and grooming.

MONEY:

It is much cheaper to feed a 7-pound Chihuahua than a hundred pound Rottweiler. Consider how much expendable money you have to devote to your new four-legged family member, as this will also help you decide which type of dog is right for you. Keep in mind, there are a lot of financial considerations besides food and grooming. Don't forget vet bills, dog training classes and all of the periodical purchases like chew toys, beds, leashes, dog gates, collars, tags, crates, x-pens, boarding, dog walking, etc.

HOUSEHOLD DYNAMIC:

Considerations like having a newborn baby in the house or a backyard also need to be a part of the decision-making process. If you have a lot of property with large animals on it, and you're looking for an outdoor dog—a toy poodle may not be the solution for you. If you plan to change residences in the next few months, you may want to hold off on bringing home your new dog until you are settled in your new home and you make sure you have permission to have a dog move in with you.

DOG'S BREED & TEMPERAMENT:

It is always a good idea to do your homework on the different breeds to see what traits you can expect and to research what each dog was bred for. Looking for a small dog to be your new companion? Consider a King Charles or a pug. If you're looking for a running partner, consider a Lab.  If you don't want to mess with a lot of specialized grooming, think twice about a standard poodle. If you want to avoid having a dog that sheds a lot, consider a bichon frise. The bottom line is you want to have a dog that will integrate well with your lifestyle and your family.

Each household will have its own set of requirements, so read up on different breeds to find out more about energy levels, grooming requirements, average size once full grown, heat/cold tolerance, as well as little nuances, like which dogs have a tendency to slobber. Narrow down your search before you go looking for your pup so you don't get bamboozled by a sweet face that requires a lot of attention on all the points in your "avoid" column.

Because each dog is unique, remember that regardless of breed, each pup will have his or her own temperament. Look for a dog whose vibe and energy seem to be a good fit for you. This can be difficult to determine at an adoption fair or in a shelter, because the environment itself can be a little off-balance. If you ever have the option to remove the dog from the environment for a bit to get the dog on his own, that is always a bonus. Hiring a professional to help facilitate this process is always a good idea.

Keep in mind, however, that a dog's temperament can change over time, and breed traits are to be used only as a guideline, as every dog is unique. It is still a useful exercise to narrow down your search for the right dog.

WHERE TO LOOK:

It is always good to check out your local animal shelter, and contrary to popular belief, many purebred dogs can be found at your local shelter. Some shelters even allow you to put your name on a list to be notified when a particular breed arrives.

You can always check out breed rescue organizations if there is a particular breed you have in mind.

If you have your heart set on a particular breed and you can't find it in your local (or even long distance) shelter or rescue organization, be sure to do your homework on your breeder. There are a ton of puppy mills cloaked in cute, online pictures of the puppies with fun little write-ups, so do your due diligence to make sure the breeder you select is legitimate. I can't stress this enough!

PLAN AHEAD:

Bringing home a new dog or puppy to join your family can be really exciting at first, but the novelty can wear off quickly as soon as Molly poops in your family room. A good exercise to do BEFORE you bring home your new pup is to assign responsibilities to every member of the family so that everyone contributes to his/her acclimation and general well-being while the anticipation of getting the dog is still high. No one will sign up for poop patrol when there's poop on the rug to scoop—trust me.

Another way to set everyone up for success is to hire a professional to assist in the process of bringing home and introducing the new pup to the new environment. This way, you'll have everyone stepping off on the right foot while avoiding bad habits from the start.

Word to the wise: Do your homework before you select your trainer and your vet. Don't be afraid to have a real conversation to make sure their philosophies/methods match your expectations. Ask a lot of questions and make sure that you have a good gut feeling with how your dog trainer and your vet plan to work with and build a relationship with your new dog.

Choose wisely and enjoy your new companion, my friends! Dogs are awesome creatures and I have a lot of love and respect for the value they can bring to a life experience when all aspects are managed well.

Chad Culp, Canine Consultant and Owner of Thriving Canine in Gilroy