Especially if you have children, the idea of having a new dog in the home can be an exciting feeling. Perhaps your old dog had passed away and your family is now finally ready for a new furry friend in the home, or maybe this is your first dog ever because you and your spouse were recently married and a ready to begin “growing your family.” Whatever the case may be, it is important to realize that if you plan on buying a new puppy, consider buying from the breeders rather than pet stores. So many sad stories have been shared regarding the stores that neglect their animals and poorly treat them. This often leads to early sicknesses, behavioral issues as well as other problems in the animal because of the constant cage time and the abandonment.
While choosing from a breeder is much more legitimate, especially when compared to the local shop, this too can have its dangers, which is why you want to do as much research as possible before jumping the gun with what will most likely be a very expensive purchase. Sadly, there are some occasions that may call for you to return your little pet back to the breeder. An example of this would be a sweet little dog that is known to be great with people of all ages, especially children. You know that the breeder has a good reputation, and all of their animals do as well, so you go ahead with the purchase. However, when you get home, you find that the dog is only friendly to the adults, and once a child gets close, it begins snapping at them. While your children were very fortunate to never have been attacked by the new house pet, you realize that this dog may not be best in your house with the kids. As a means of protecting the children, you decide it is time to call the breeder.
When it comes to returning animals, we often only think of the owners and the family they are with. However, we must also see her in this situation that going back to the breeder, and eventually anther home, was not only best for the children, but also the dog as well. When an animal is snappy around certain people, and they shriek back in fear, that is often a sign they are frightened or uncomfortable as well. When this happens, you can return the dog to the breeder as a favor to the animal in hopes of it having a better home in the coming future.
When making a decision to buy a dog from a breeder it is important to do your research on the history of the animal (whether their family has signs of aggression, attention disorders, disobedience), etc in order to see what their pup may act like. For some, it may take spending time with the animal before making a decision. You may want to call your breeder and find out if you could do an over night stay with the puppy before the purchase in order to see if the pup is comfortable in your home, and your family is comparable with them.
Perhaps a new puppy isn’t for your family at all, or you just aren’t ready to spend the time training and adapting it into the new world. Consider visiting the local animal shelter and rescuing an older dog that needs a home, because animals, not matter their age are a great addition to the family.
Be sure to visit your local veterinarian for any questions you may have!