How to Choose a Puppy Rationally Rather Than Emotionally
Knowing how to choose a puppy does not have to be rocket science but there are a few things to watch out for. Although it is hard to go wrong with a Golden Retriever, it is important to organize your thoughts and ask the right questions when you set out to choose your Golden puppy.
Practical rather than emotional decision: When you hold a cute and cuddly golden puppy, it can tug at your heart strings and you will probably feel a wave of affection and you may even feel like you have somehow formed an instant connection with the puppy. This is a good initial response, but it cannot serve as the basis for your decision in how to choose a puppy. You cannot allow it to cloud your judgment. It is very important to step away for a moment and ask some hard questions.
Step one in how to choose a puppy is does the puppy have all the necessary health clearances and certificates? Here’s a shortlist of some key documents
- Hip clearances of the puppy’s parents - Hip clearances are certificates issued from recognized institutions such as OFA or PennHip
- Eye testing of parents - Eye testing and clearances of parents have to be maintained on a yearly basis. It is not a one time clearance. Check if the clearances of both parents are in order
- Veterinarian's clearance on heart health - Whether the parents have healthy hearts, supported with ultrasound validation by a canine cardiologist
In all the above cases, a mere verbal confirmation will not do. Ask the breeder to show you the original copy of the certificates and documents.
Are either of the parents of the puppy afflicted with any of the following health conditions?
- Any type of allergies
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
If the parents are free of these conditions, it means you probably have found a fairly healthy puppy.
Factors relevant to your home and environment: Besides health factors, your lifestyle and home environment does have a bearing on how you choose your puppy. Even small puppies have certain personality traits and the breeder can guide you in making an appropriate choice.
How to Choose a Puppy Based on Personalities
- Shy or timid puppies - could be mismatched in a large family with many boisterous kids
- Submissive puppies - could be mismatched in an outgoing family who need an energetic and lively puppy, but a quieter puppy could be a perfect match in a senior citizen household
- Energetic puppies - could be mismatched in a senior citizen household
It is always possible that the puppy might undergo a change in its personality as it grows up. But it is a useful consideration in the initial phase when you have to train your puppy and acclimatize it to its new home and surroundings.
Knowing how to choose a puppy and actually doing it can be difficult. It is natural to feel an emotional response when you see so many cute little puppies, but try to make a clear headed and informed choice. Your puppy will be with your family for its entire life span of at least 10-12 years. A healthy bloodline will reduce the number of trips you make to the vet, restrict you costs on medical treatments, and spare you the heart ache of seeing your pet suffer as a consequence of inherited diseases.
Learn More About How to Choose a Puppy
Adult Golden Retriever Adoption Can Save You Training Hassles
After going through how to choose a puppy you might consider adoption of an older dog can help you avoid the training hassles of crate training, poop on the floor, puppy teething, and establishing a leadership role in the house. more...
Puppy health problems are mostly preventable. There are certain fatal diseases that require early vaccinations. It is imperative that puppies receive their shots in time. This aspect of puppy health care is very similar to human babies and simply cannot be neglected. more...
To detect puppy illness you need to keep your eyes peeled for common symptoms. Use this checklist of symptoms and signals of illness. Here are the common symptoms and likely illnesses in your Golden Retriever puppy. more...
A decision to adopt a Golden Retriever or any dog should not be taken lightly. Impulse puppy purchases from the side of the road or from shelters or humanitarian rescues are okay if you keep these 6 factors in mind. more...
Golden Retrievers puppies go through five stages in their early weeks as puppies. Find out more about each of these little steps in a puppy’s life. more...
Find a good golden retriever breeder and you will have a quality dog that you will enjoy for a lifetime. Pick the wrong one and you are buying a problem.. more...
The process of choosing a dog breed starts with the reasons why you are thinking of bringing home a pet in the first place. Golden Retrievers are in high demand as family pets. They are wonderful pets who fit very well into the family environment. They are especially good with kids. And they have a beautiful Golden coat that everybody adores. more...
Dogs having puppies usually have lots of hopeful new owners waiting with bated breath for the litter to arrive, but there is a waiting phase both before and after the birth of the puppies. Did you know you have to wait a further 8 weeks? more...