Life with a puppy
"What do you want for your birthday?" my father enquired in 1968. "A puppy" I replied - then aged 7. Plea was completely ignored by father. Didn't get Alfie for another 35 years. Yes you read right. THIRTYFIVE YEARS.
Do you think he was worth the wait?
To be honest the reality of living with a puppy did not match up to the longed for dream of it. I recall there was a great deal of fretting - fretting about too little exercise, too much, the right diet, timing - when is it best to introduce this and that. I was paranoid about "learned behaviours" and all of a sudden the shape and consistency of the pup's poop takes on paramount importance. So on reflection my advice to anyone wanting to get a puppy is DON'T DO IT!
If you want a specific breed - contact breed societies and rescues for an adult
If you are not fussed over the breed contact the rehoming centres and get an adult
If like I was you are desperate for the full on puppy experience and you absolutely must get one then my advice is to only buy ONE puppy BOOK! I made the mistake of having two books and straight away had to contend with conflicting advice - in one book for instance I was told - never allow dogs to sleep in human bedrooms and in the other - " the bedroom is a good place to have puppy's crate for sleeping".
To be absolutely truthful with you I don't think I began to bond with our Alf until he was well over six months old. But I like to think we have made up for that lost time since then....
Do you think he was worth the wait?
To be honest the reality of living with a puppy did not match up to the longed for dream of it. I recall there was a great deal of fretting - fretting about too little exercise, too much, the right diet, timing - when is it best to introduce this and that. I was paranoid about "learned behaviours" and all of a sudden the shape and consistency of the pup's poop takes on paramount importance. So on reflection my advice to anyone wanting to get a puppy is DON'T DO IT!
If you want a specific breed - contact breed societies and rescues for an adult
If you are not fussed over the breed contact the rehoming centres and get an adult
If like I was you are desperate for the full on puppy experience and you absolutely must get one then my advice is to only buy ONE puppy BOOK! I made the mistake of having two books and straight away had to contend with conflicting advice - in one book for instance I was told - never allow dogs to sleep in human bedrooms and in the other - " the bedroom is a good place to have puppy's crate for sleeping".
To be absolutely truthful with you I don't think I began to bond with our Alf until he was well over six months old. But I like to think we have made up for that lost time since then....