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6 Things You Need to Know Before Buying A Puppy

blog buying a puppy cute puppies petland Petland Texas Tips what you need to know before buying a puppy

A new puppy is a cause for joy! In the next couple of weeks, months, and even years, your life will change for the better. There’s a reason why dogs are known as man’s best friend—it’s because they’re always there for us through thick and thin.  According to a study reported by PR Newswire, many […]

A new puppy is a cause for joy! In the next couple of weeks, months, and even years, your life will change for the better. There’s a reason why dogs are known as man’s best friend—it’s because they’re always there for us through thick and thin. 

According to a study reported by PR Newswire, many dog owners have stated that their canine companions have made them more patient, responsible, and affectionate people. 

Even as puppies, they offer us cuddles and kisses while expecting nothing in return! Of course, just because your puppy’s love is unconditional doesn’t mean you aren’t responsible for their needs. From the moment they come home to you, you always need to provide your furry friend with basic necessities to live a happy, fulfilling life. 

This may include regular vet visits, grooming, training, exercise, and more. Remember that puppies don’t stay tiny forever. As such, you need to ensure that you’re there for your pup the same way they are with you!

So before you make any final decisions, here are 6 things you need to know before buying a new puppy!

1. Make sure you’re ready for a puppy.

It’s easy to fall victim to your impulses the second you look at an adorable puppy. Those shiny brown eyes, button nose, and fluffy wagging tail will have you saying “yes” before you realize what happened. Our available puppies for sale at our store are natural charmers who are so hard to resist!

But it’s crucial to keep one thing in mind: raising a puppy is a challenge (probably one of the biggest you’ll ever face). Puppies are like human babies as they depend on you for their health and wellbeing. As such, you’ll need to devote patience, time, and effort to rear your fur-baby the right way. Otherwise, they might become little rebels as adults.

As their owner, you are responsible for showing them how the world works and what behavior you expect from them. Puppy training can help you reinforce certain behaviors. 

At Petland, we provide puppy parents with several premium perks to help them train their Petland puppy, such as:

  • Full access to puppy kindergarten, which offers training for all puppies
  • Scheduled puppy training courses (private lessons are also an option)
  • Weekly Q&A Zoom sessions with licensed dog trainers

Puppies also need food, water, doggy beds, toys, leashes, bowls, and many other things to live a long and happy life. Are you ready to devote your time and energy to your new puppy? Consider your lifestyle before you decide to make a purchase. You won’t regret it either way!

2. Be curious about the store or breeder’s puppy health standards.

Unfortunately, there are a few breeders and pet stores in the industry that do not uphold quality standards for their puppies. These individuals aren’t likely to provide their pups with adequate pet care, socialization, and other factors necessary to maintain dog health. 

To ensure the store you’re visiting is the right fit, ask about their puppy health standards. How does the store care for sick puppies? What steps do they take to ensure that each puppy is in good shape? How often do they do routine checkups? 

A responsible store or breeder always cares about the well-being of their puppies and their parents. If they uphold quality standards when caring for their puppies, then that’s a good sign. Some of the ways a store or a breeder shows interest in their puppies’ health include routine checkups with veterinarians and working with an elite breeder network. 

At Petland, the health and happiness of our puppies are our #1 priority. Even before they go home with you, we always make sure your puppy comes from a good background. This means we work only with elite breeders in the industry, who uphold their dog welfare above everything else.

While at our stores, we ensure that every one of our puppies undergoes a routine checkup by our licensed veterinarians twice a week. We also offer additional perks for owners with puppies from Petland, such as: 

  • Lifetime vet exams with store-selected licensed veterinarians
  • A 14-day health warranty
  • A 10-year health warranty for puppies with hereditary or congenital diseases
  • A health certificate detailing up-to-date vaccinations and deworming treatments

3. Ask a lot of questions.

The most important rule to follow when searching for a puppy is to ask questions…a lot of them! By compiling a list of questions to ask the store or breeder, you’re able to gain insight into how they handle their puppies. It’s also important to know how they maintain routine on a regular basis. 

Other questions you should ask when buying a puppy include:

  • What type of breeders do they work with?
  • What breeding licenses do they have?
  • Do they perform routine checkups on their breeder network?
  • Are their puppies are microchipped and registered under a database? 
  • Do they have a copy of your puppy’s pedigree?
  • What health-related perks do they provide to their puppy owners, if any?

A great puppy store only works with responsible breeders in the industry. Anything you notice that’s below this standard is a red flag. Pay attention to any evasiveness or hesitation the store’s owners or breeders you’re visiting may have.

At Petland, our priority is to be honest and open with anyone who visits our store. We work directly with breeders who place dog welfare at the top of their priority list. 

We offer a three-generation pedigree for most of our available breeds so that new puppy parents know where their puppies come from.

We also have our puppies microchipped with AKC Cart and Help Me Find My Pet (Amber Alert) to help you locate your puppy if they get lost. Additionally, our puppies are part of our Puppy for a Lifetime program, which allows us to provide you with a puppy for the rest of your life! 

Be sure to ask our Pet Counselor for more details on our perks.

4. Know which dog breed is right for you.

Before getting a puppy, do some research first. One of the best steps to make before buying a puppy is to do research. Every puppy has a distinct set of traits that are inherent to its breed. 

This includes personality, size, looks, grooming, and even training needs. What works for one dog will likely not work for another. For example, a Bulldog doesn’t require a lot of exercise due to its physical structure. The same cannot be said for breeds like the Golden Retriever or the Poodle. 

Without exercise, playtime, or any activity, these dogs can become restless, leading to destructive behavior. Other dogs are perfect for small apartments while others thrive in homes with large backyards. Some owners should also consider the sizes of their dream puppies. 

Smaller dogs are known to be slightly stubborn and bossy, which means you need to devote more attention to training. Larger dogs tend to be less aggressive but they usually need more food, exercise, and other essentials than smaller breeds. By researching each dog breed and their individual needs, you ensure you find the right dog for your personality and lifestyle.

To help you get started with your research, give our Meet The Breeds page a look!

5. Puppy-proof your home and backyard.

When your puppy is finally home, they’re likely going to explore every inch of your house and backyard. You may not know it but your house and backyard are dangerous places for little puppies! Whether it’s electrical outlets, medications, or poisonous plants, your home is full of serious hazards that can harm your puppy’s health. 

Make sure you prepare your home before your puppy comes home. Put away any medications or cleaning supplies in an area that’s hard to reach. Lock up all rooms you don’t want your puppy to enter. 

Store all human foods, especially chocolate, grapes, and onions in your fridge. For your backyard, be sure to move toxic plants to a secure location.  You should also check your fence for any spaces that your furry friend may crawl under. Most importantly, never allow your puppy unsupervised while exploring outside. 

Check out our blog, How to Puppy Proof Your House to learn our tips on keeping your house safe for your furry friend!

6. Buy all necessary puppy supplies.

Food, water, toys, beds, crates—there are many supplies that every puppy needs to live a happy life. Welcome your puppy home by having all of their supplies ready. Now, you only need to start with basic supplies like food bowls, collars, leashes, and brushes. Now, you only need to start with basic supplies like food bowls, collars, leashes, and brushes. 

These are things that will help your puppy adjust to their new surroundings and life with you. As your puppy matures into a well-rounded dog, you can buy other supplies like toys or treats based on their likes and dislikes. You may also want to purchase another leash to help you leash train your puppy during walks.

As part of our commitment to your puppy’s health (and our desire to help you out), we also provide your puppy with a 30-day supply of vitamins and supplements to keep your puppy happy and healthy!

Buying a puppy should never be an impulsive decision. There’s so much that goes on with raising a puppy so think twice before you make the decision on the spot. 

If you’re ready to add a new puppy to your family, your next step is finding the best place! Our staff at Petland is committed to helping you find your furry soulmate!