The idea of a new puppy is exciting. Who doesn’t want a little ball of fur to play with, cuddle, and love? But the reality of what bringing home a new puppy entails can be a lot different from the easy, blissful fantasy you have in your head.
Before you add a new four-legged member to your family, you have to be absolutely sure you’re ready and able to provide them with the long, happy, and healthy life they deserve. Ask yourself if you can check off all the boxes below before you take the plunge into puppy parenthood!
You have the time to train and care for them.
A puppy is a huge commitment of time and energy on your part. You need to be prepared to train a new puppy, acclimate them to your home, socialize them, exercise them regularly, and give them the love and attention they need and deserve. If you’re constantly putting in long hours at work or juggling the needs of a new baby, now might not be the best time to add a puppy to the mix.
You’ve researched different breeds.
Dog breeds are not one-size-fits-all. Different breeds have different dominant traits and care requirements. Before you bring home a new puppy, you need to research breeds that suit your lifestyle to ensure you’re capable of meeting their needs. Qualities to consider include level of activity, temperament, grooming needs, typical healthcare requirements, and sociability.
Your finances are in good shape.
Dogs are not cheap to provide for, and puppies come with additional costs to consider all their own. Even if you’ve saved up enough money to pay for the puppy itself, you’ll still need to factor in vet bills, food, toys, a crate, leash, and other supplies, daycare if you work full-time, training classes, and other ongoing expenses. Don’t forget to budget for unexpected expenses that are likely to crop up over the course of their lifetime too.
You and your family have talked and are prepared to put in the work.
Puppies bring immeasurable joy, love, fun, and comfort to a household, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hard work too. A puppy also means waking up for potty trips throughout the night, going on frequent walks, puppy proofing the house or handling damage, cleaning up messes, etc. You need to discuss the reality of bringing home a puppy with your family before you move forward. Everybody should be prepared to do what it takes to give them the best life possible, not just when they first come home, but for their entire lifetime.
When you’ve determined it’s truly the right time for a new puppy in your life, consider bringing home an Australian Labradoodle, Goldendoodle, or Bernedoodle from Sierra Springs Australian Doodles! Our puppies are raised to be the ideal family companion right from the start in our very own home.
To learn more about this incredible breed and our upcoming litters, give us a call at 530-903-7575 today!
I appreciate it when you explained that we should have saved enough money to raise a puppy since there would be vet bills, food, toys, crates, leash, and other things we would need to get for it. I think I am capable of that now that my finances have become more stable. So I can finally look for Goldendoodle puppies for sale here in California and finally have my dream breed which I had since I was a teen.