Is owning a puppy a lot of hard work...?

Question

What are the pros/cons?

Answer 1

Yes. Puppies need LOTS of training and patience. It's like having a active toddler in the house.

Answer 2

There are many pros and cons to owning a puppy. If it is your first puupy could luck and you will be very pleased.

The pros:
-A pet will bring you joy and love.
-A puppy is friendly and you will always have a companion.
-Puppies are fun.

Cons:
-basically a puppy is like having a child. you have to feed it, clean it, exersice it, play, teach..the only difference is you an put a dog in a kennel/crate, bedroom, or wherever so you can leave without bringing it with you.

Help deciding:
TIP #1: CHOOSING YOUR FIRST PUPPY
Is it better to buy a male or a female puppy?If you would enjoy showing more than breeding, or if you would like to begin as an exhibitors and move into breeding later, strongly consider purchasing a male puppy first.

How old a puppy should I buy?

The best time to select and buy a show-quality puppy is when it is about eight months old. By then the puppy should look close to the way he will look at maturity, he will have gone through most of the awkward stages, he will still be young enough to adjust to a new home, and you may still enjoy him as a puppy. For those not desiring a show dog, get your puppy between 8-12 weeks of age.

How in the world do I pick a good puppy?

Before purchasing a puppy, become familar with the breed. Go to dog shows, talk with breeders and exhibitors, read the breed standards, and read a book-- hopefully one from Doral ;-) --about your chosen breed. Recognize, understand, and appreciate the characteristics of your particular breed, whether it's a Newfoundland, a Collie, a Beagle, a Labrador, or a rare breed, such as the Catahoula. Knowing and understanding what the "standard" of the breed will help you better determine the quality of the puppy.

But remember, the whole dog is more important than his parts. Try not to focus too much on any one outstanding part but rather look at the dog as a whole. Even if several parts of the dog are outstanding, the dog will be worthless as a competitor if he lacks balance, symetry, and proportion

Where should I buy that special puppy?

Certainly NOT from a pet shop! When you do this you have no idea about the dog's background or health. You are much, much better off buying from a breeder.

Is it a good idea to form a relationship with a breeder?

In order to form a good relationship with a breeder you must understand what drives him or her. Breeders want the best for their bloodlines. They also want their good dogs to be shown and win.

I hope this helps and good luck!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Yes, a puppy is a lot of work.

Pros:

1) Companionship. A well-trained dog can be your companion, God-willing, for 10-18 years (depends on breed and overall health).
2) Loyalty. Friends come and go, but your dog will always be there for you. You are his world and he'll wag his tail and lick your face no matter how ill, how poorly dressed, how hurt, how angry, or how sad you are. There are no "bad hair days" with a dog.
3) Protection. Many dogs give that sense of comfort that your house is more protected with them around - even if they are small and all they can really do is bark. That extra security is great.
4) Responsibility. You learn a lot more about yourself when you are no longer the focal point of your world. Caring for another being helps you learn so much. Suddenly, staying out all night isn't an option - you have a dog waiting for you. You learn to budget your money and time more.
5) Cuteness. Dogs are cute! That allows us to cuddle and hug them. That lowers our blood pressure and our stress levels.
6) Love. They love us, we love them. It's nice to have that unconditional love - no human can offer it.

Cons:

1) Time. Dogs require training, feeding, grooming, walking, exercise. This all requires time. You have to learn to readjust your schedule. Gone are the times you slept in until the last moment - you can't do this with a dog. Gone are the late nights as you have a dog waiting for you.
2) Money. Dogs require food, vet care, training, toys, grooming expenses, medicines and treats. This requires a budgetary adjustment. You may also have to pay more in a security deposit to have a dog, or see insurance rates changed for some breeds. Also, pet insurance is an added expense, but this may ultimately save you $$.
3) Patience. Dogs require love and patience. You can't expect them to just learn overnight. So you have to train and be patient with training. Some people want overnight success - patience is key.
4) Death. In general, humans will outlive their pets. If you have a close bond, their passing is detrimental. You can overcome it, but the loss is hard and is something you won't forget.

I should stress that all of my Cons are actually things I feel we all should experience. We need responsibility because some day we may be responsible for a child who also needs love, patience, money and time. And we will all suffer losses in our lives. In other words, pets make us better people.

If you can't or won't commit the time to a pet, do not get one. But if you know about dogs and have the time to commit to a pet, then see if the time is right for you. You may start be being a foster dog owner for a while (a person who fosters a dog until adopted) or volunteering at a shelter. This will teach you a lot about what type of care a dog needs.

My last dog, who passed away last year, taught me so much about me. It's because of him that I know I'm a FAR better owner of my two current pups. I learned alot about being a better owner and a better person. I wouldn't trade my dogs for anything. But that's me - you may not be there yet. So do some homework about dogs and some self-exploring. If you can work a dog into your life - and by that, I mean the next 10-15 years - then do so.

One warning - do NOT view your pet as "disposable". If you aren't certain of your future or don't know if you can take your dog (or cat) with you wherever you move, then don't adopt now. You have to be willing to make some sacrifices both now and in the future, just as you would with a child.

Good luck!

Answer 4

We have a four-month-old sheltie and YES they are a LOT of work. The potty-training is completely annoying, but probably most dogs train a lot easier than ours (just when we think he's trained everything he's learned seems to disappear). They need a lot of excersize- they constantly want to play. If they don't get enough excersize they start getting mischievous (chewing on things, biting, etc). Ours loves to bite my hands!

The worst part about it is that if you want to have them out with you, you have to keep a close eye on them the whole time! Even if you look away for a second, they will wander around the corner and get in trouble. So, you have to be prepared to be kept busy, and you need a back-up plan for when you are away (they make vacations difficult).

I highly recommend having a fenced yard. I'm in an apartment, and as much as we'd like to just let him out whenever we want, we have to take him out ourselves on a leash each time.

Do your research- if you want a puppy there's a lot involved- know what you're getting into before you even start looking (once you start you'll be stuck- believe me :))

Answer 5

YES,I got a puppy and the housebreaking is where I think you need the most time and patience with.But all is worth it if you love dogs.Find the puppy that would best suite you.My new puppy is a pug he is more maintance cause I got to wash his wrinkles and stuff but suites my house hold its big enough for him.I had 2 German Shepards that I had to leave with my ex cause he has a bigger house and a huge yard so they can run.My yard here was not big enough for them so I got a smaller dog that suites him just fine.All the best in it.And I am not sure where your from but this site has lots of pets and is free www.kijiji.ca

Answer 6

Yes they are. You have to make sure you have the time and want to put in the effort in training and socializing your dog among other things. Vet visits.. are also very important. Training is hard work but when done right its very rewarding.
good luck if you get a puppy.

Answer 7

in short, yes!!!!

The pros:

Having a puppy is really rewarding as they love you unconditionally.

You get to train them which is satisfying seeing them develop.

They can be a lot of fun and cheer you up when you're down.

The hard bit:

You need to feed them, water them, walk them, take them to the vet to get their jabs and worming.

You also have to toilet train them (which can be unpleasant) and help them through teething ( puppy teeth are like needles) and a young puppy will eat / tear/ destroy everything.

Training a dog can also be challenging.

One of the hardest things is realising that it's not your puppies fault when they are naughty. If you leave a cooked chicken out on the table and the dog eats it - it's your fault for leaving it out - not the dogs for eating it!

Think carefully before getting a puppy - a dog is for life!!

Answer 8

YES YES YES! They are a lot of work but after the first year mine calmed down quite a bit. Only get one if you plan on keeping your eyes on him at all times if he is in the house with you. I feel that is where people get frustrated with housebreaking because they cannot watch them. Also, you have to give them A LOT of attention and play time. Pretty much the same answer everyone else has given you.

Answer 9

i have a list of the pros and cons of owning a puppy.

heres a list
Pros:
PRO: Dogs are loyal and easily trained companions who satisfy our desire to have constant companionship.
PRO: Dogs are affectionate and will provide you with undying affection. They depend on you. They "love" you. They'll die for you in most cases.
PRO: Dogs can be a jogging/walking partner, the friend you tell all your secrets to (and they won't go blabbing them to others!), your shopping buddy, your TV-watching buddy, and in some cases they can be your eyes, your ears, and more . They can be and do whatever you want (within reason).
PRO: Dogs are for life. They can live to be 15+ years. They'll provide all of the PROs above for their entire life and all they ask for in return is food, excercise, a home, and affection.
cons:

cons:
CON: Dogs require training. This can be expensive and time consuming.
CON: Dogs require basic things such as a crate, food, toys, and medical treatments. These things can be expensive, especially the medical care aspect---emergencies can break the bank for you.
CON: Dogs require attention. They're totally dependent on their owners. Having a dog is like having an infant---you always have to be there for them. DOGS NEED TIME.
CON: Dogs can, even with training, dig, get in the trash, steal food, urinate or defecate in the house, bite, and so on. Training diminishes the chances of those behaviors, but they can still happen---dogs are still animals.
CON: DOGS REQUIRE TIME. I can't emphasize that enough and yes, for most, it is a con. Dogs need regular excercise and play time. You don't necessarily need a large home or yard, but you do HAVE to have time to give them the proper excercise they need. So many dogs are given up because the owners 'didn't have time'.
CON: Dogs are for life. This means you have a responsibility to care for a dog until it dies (which can be 15+ years). Dogs aren't possessions to be cast off because of inconvenience. They're living, breathing things that owners agree to provide for, for the rest of their lives, when they adopt them. This means you may have to live in an sub-standard place just because it was the only place that allowed dogs. You may have to pay a huge pet rent or pet deposit because you have a dog. You may have to pay to kennel your dog when you go out of town. You may have to CANCEL plans because you have a dog. You may have to suffer with stuffy sinuses because you become allergic to your dog. A dog is for life.

If there seems to be more CONS than PROS in my response it's because there IS a lot of CONS to owning a dog and if you're not ready to accept them all, it's not the right time in your life for a dog. Dogs are part of the family in every respect and they really do require the attention and care that a toddler would need. Most people overlook that when getting a dog and then the dog winds up in a shelter, or bouncing between homes. If you aren't ready for all of the cons, don't get a dog.

dog bites can’t always be prevented, they can be minimized with the help of a few simple tips.


1. Never leave your child unattended with any dog.

2. Recognize an angry dog. Any signs such as barking, growling, snarling with teeth showing, ears laid flat, legs stiff, tail up and hair standing up on its back are all warning signs. If you approach a dog that looks this way – slowly walk away sideways, commanding “No.” Always act like you are the boss. Never run, scream or stare the dog in the eyes.

3. Do not approach a sleeping dog. This sudden approach may startle the dog, causing it to bite.

4. Always touch and pet dogs gently.

5. Ask an adult before petting an unfamiliar dog.

6. Do not pet or restrain any dog that is trying to get away from you.

7. Do not rough house or wrestle with a dog – this teaches them aggressiveness.

8. Do not tease a dog in any way.

9. Teach children not to put their fingers or face near a dog’s mouth.

10. Do not pull a dog’s ears or tail.


Furthermore, if you are looking for a dog as a family pet, educate yourself to choose the dog that is best fit for your family situation. In any case, take into consideration these two things before choosing the new family pet:


1. Dogs that have been trained to be aggressive or to work as guard dogs may be dangerous to children

2. Small dogs are easily hurt if dropped or squeezed and tend to nip or bite; therefore, they may not be good for a toddler.




hope u find a great dog

Answer 10

Puppies are adorable bundles of affection....but....
they need a place to run and play, they need care and training. They must be cleaned up after. They will need Vet care for routine health maintenance. They do not like to be left alone. Large active dogs need alot of exercise, at least 2 hours per day. Even small dogs must be walked. So be sure you can provide all the necessary things before you adopt that puppy.
The people I have known, that have not been responsible before the adoption process, are usually sorry.