The holidays are a time when many families think about adding another furry member to the clan. It is a time when everyone is together and can help with the initial training and such. That said, this can be uncharted territory for some. Here are some tips:
Source:
As a supporter of rescues, I will always push for adoption. That said, be sure to get as much information as possible. Many dogs are given up for behavioral issues or expensive medical problems. Heartworm has become a big problem since more dogs are rescued in the South and sent here. Ideally, use a rescue that does their own veterinary checks when the dogs arrive to ensure old records are accurate.
Rescue is not always a possibility for many families due to things like allergies and the need for a specific breed of support dog. In this case, spend some time vetting your breeder. Most should have references, including their own veterinarian. They should be able to provide records from the mother and father, including appropriate fecal & blood testing, vaccinations, and testing for hereditary diseases. The puppies should have been examined by their vet and received certain preventives during the first 8 weeks. It is a big red flag when these records cannot be provided. It often means they are ordering knock-off vaccines and medications while doing their own, illegal vet care. You should also avoid breeders that put a lot of limitations on what you can do with your dog (food, when to spay/neuter, vaccinations, etc). While these restrictions are not really enforceable anyway, these puppies and their parents tend have more issues with parasites and infectious disease.
Your home:
The first thing you need to prep is your yard. Ideally, you should have a fence installed. Electric fences are no longer a viable option in Duxbury. Our beautiful town is full of conservation land and other greenspace that has allowed coyotes and foxes to make a real comeback. It is great for nature, but terrible for our pets. While electric fences keep our dogs in, they trap them when these predators come in. Many people think they do not need a fence with a large dog, but I assure you that the coyotes here have started pack-hunting our pets. I have had patients over 85 pounds who were severely wounded by them.
You also need to prep the inside of your house. If you are getting a puppy, the days of open trash cans are over. Whether it is bathroom garbage or kitchen, it still smells amazing to dogs and they will eat things that either get stuck or make them ill. Heavy, metal, covered trash cans work best. You also want to make sure electric cords are pulled out of reach.
Health:
You should always get your dog checked out by your vet as soon as you can. Some can have parasites that can be difficult to eliminate from the home once they are spread about. There can be other diseases present as well, many of which the breeders will not take responsibility for fixing. So, you will want to know right away. This is also a chance to talk about long term care. We have been seeing a lot of issues with certain diets lately and your vet will know which to avoid and which are recommended for each breed. Lastly, you should discuss insurance at this point. There are many different kinds and, like human insurance, you want to start this before “pre-existing conditions” begin to creep up.