A Vet’s Honest: Take Ten Things to Know Before Getting a Puppy

So, you’re looking to adopt a puppy, or maybe you just lost your senior dog and are ready to bring a new puppy into your life. The idea of an adorable, fluffy, playful baby pup sounds awesome, but are you really up for the minute-to-minute challenges that come with raising a young dog? Before taking the plunge, consider your lifestyle, home environment, family members (human, canine, feline, and others), work life, other responsibilities, and your finances. 

Puppies are adorable, and many people feel as if adopting an eight-week-old puppy is like starting with a clean slate compared to adopting an older dog. But even though adopting a very young puppy can be an amazing, life-changing experience, they do bring a whole host of responsibilities requiring a great deal of time, energy, patience, and money. Puppies are not for everyone, and there are several advantages to adopting an adult dog. 

Important things to consider before adopting a puppy

To help you decide if adopting a puppy is right for you, here are 10 things to think about before taking the puppy plunge.

1. Puppies don’t sleep through the night

Settling on a workable sleeping arrangement can be challenging. Depending on the plan (crate, pen, or human bed), their size, and their age, some puppies can be extremely disruptive to a good night’s sleep for quite a while. Puppies usually aren’t able to sleep eight uninterrupted hours until they are at least 12 to 14 weeks old — if not later. They need to be taken out to pee once or twice during the night, especially if they are crated. And they might have accidents during the night, which require cleaning and baths.

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Some, especially tiny-breed puppies, may never adjust to sleeping in a crate or pen. They just want and need to be in their human’s bed, and that is OK, as long as you can keep them safe. You don’t want to roll over on them or risk them falling off the bed while you’re sleeping. You also don’t want to be up all night worrying. 

Fortunately, most puppies fall into a manageable routine within the first few weeks to months.

2. Potty training a puppy in the winter can be problematic

Whether they’re playing, eating, or sleeping, if a puppy has to go, they’ll just go. When you adopt a puppy, you might already expect to feel a bit overwhelmed with pee and poop. But if you’re adopting a puppy during the winter months, it’s even tougher. Puppy potty training is easier in warmer months than in the middle of a deep winter freeze. Imagine taking a tiny, two-pound puppy outside in deep snow? Pee pads often become an interim step in teaching winter puppies to go outside to do their business.

Thankfully, most puppies transition well from indoor pads to going outdoors once the weather is more conducive to potty training. It’s important to give strong consideration to seasonal weather when you’re deciding on the time of year to add a puppy to the family.

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3. You can’t leave them long, so get back up help

You can’t go out to work for eight or 10 hours without arranging for puppy care during the day. Doggie daycares work well for many dogs, but puppies need to have their full set of vaccines through 16 weeks of age before attending. This means you need to take several breaks from work throughout the day, work from home, or hire someone to come to your house to take care of your puppy for the first few months. 

Finding the right day care that fits your dog’s needs and your work schedule isn’t always easy, so plan ahead. Once you have a routine in place, puppies look forward to their daily routine and fun activities with their pet care people and doggie friends.

4. Puppies need more feedings than adult dogs

Puppies need to be fed three times a day until they are 14 to 16 weeks of age. Depending on their breed and size, about an extra half-hour of lunchtime puppy care needs to be scheduled into the day. After eating, they need to be taken outside to relieve themselves and have a little play session. If you have a pet sitter coming in midday to take care of your puppy, they should be able to take care of your puppy’s lunchtime.

This midday meal can double as training. Hand-feeding part of their lunch is an easy way to start training basics such as name recognition, gentle mouth behavior, and early cues — without adding in extra treats. Some puppies are very eager eaters who inhale food, so slowing them down with puzzle feeders, scatter feeding, or short training sessions also helps with their digestion and teaches them patience.

5. Your travel plans may come to a halt, at least temporarily

Pet sitters are costly, and taking care of a puppy requires someone to be available for much more time than is necessary when caring for an adult dog. Finding safe, reliable pet sitters and boarding facilities should be a priority.

The other option is to bring your puppy with you when you travel, which does take some extra planning. There are many variables to consider, which include where you’re going, how you’re getting there, whether or not you can find dog-friendly places to stay, weather extremes, and your individual puppy’s behavior and ability to adapt to new environments.

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Puppies who have not completed their full puppy vaccine series should be kept out of public areas, where many dogs congregate and are walked, to avoid exposure to transmissible diseases and parasites. This may be a deciding factor in whether or not it is safe to travel with your new puppy.

If you do end up traveling with your puppy, you might find an amazing, extremely gratifying way to spend time with your dog, whom you’ll want to continue in the future. Traveling with dogs can become a new, awesome way of life.

6. Puppies need basic training, which is a lot of fun, but is very time-consuming

Dog trainers and group classes should be part of your new puppy plan, especially if you are an inexperienced puppy parent or have a puppy with behavioral issues. Be selective when choosing a dog trainer and class. There are many approaches to dog training. It’s important to find someone whose training philosophy aligns with your approach to working with your individual puppy.

Once you find the right dog trainer and/or class, you will have a lot of fun working and bonding with your puppy. You’ll meet other puppy parents with whom you can share puppy experiences. And the puppies will look forward to going to school each week, especially when you put in the time between classes.

7. Adolescent puppy behavior can make young puppy care look easy

Once you’re through the initial, rigorous puppy phase, you are definitely not home-free. Your dog will now become a teenager, where even the most well-socialized and trained puppy has the potential to become a very difficult adolescent.

Adolescence often catches pet parents off guard. During this phase, puppies are bigger, stronger, and tend to be more impulsive, more energetic, and less attentive to previous training, which can feel frustrating. Your boundaries are sure to get tested: This is the period where consistency matters most. So, be prepared. Continuing with dog training classes and independent work with your dog will pay off big time.

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8. Health and behavior can be unpredictable 

Certain breeds are prone to health issues, which may not be completely predictable. This is why establishing veterinary care early on and regular vet visits are so helpful. Having a trusted vet can help you track weight, mobility, digestion, and behavior, and make it easier to spot small changes before they become bigger problems.

And there are no guarantees about their personality even within breeds — changes can occur over time due to genetics, environment, and your relationship with the dog. Similar to raising children, there will be blips along the way with your puppy. Your veterinarian, dog trainers, dog friends, and online support groups can help you work through any health and behavioral issues that come up.

9. Compatibility with other pets is important

It’s really important that your new puppy is compatible with your existing dogs, cats, and other pets. Meet-and-greets and foster-to-adopt are good ways to help you decide if a particular puppy will be a good fit for your family. 

Reactivity from older dogs, mismatched size and energy levels, and fragile seniors who can’t manage living with a young, energetic puppy are all factors that will point you away from adopting a puppy. Don’t be afraid to say “no” if your gut tells you it’s just not going to work. There is a puppy or adult dog for everyone, but not every dog is right for every family.

You will also need to spend alone time with the new puppy. Your other dogs will not willingly agree to spend less time with you, which can create feelings of guilt for you, even though it is temporary. Of course, the goal is to integrate and include the puppy in family activities, which happens over time. So be patient. 

10. Sometimes, things don’t work out 

If you work all day, your nightlife will need to become dog-focused. Puppies — and adult dogs too — need lots of time with their people. If you’re out all day working, you must spend time with your dog in the evening. You should look forward to this time, taking walks, training, and snuggling on the couch. Be sure your lifestyle is suited to spending good, quality time with your dog.

Most pet parents start with good intentions. But sometimes, despite your best effort, things don’t always click, or you might realize it’s much more time-consuming than expected. When serious issues come up, rehoming might become the only responsible option. Always work with a reputable rescue that can help place your pup in a new home with pet parents who are prepared for the challenges you were not. Doing this thoughtfully protects your puppy and gives them the best chance to thrive in another setting.

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How to know if you’re prepared to adopt a puppy

The most important consideration when adopting a new puppy is how much time you really have to devote to bonding with and training them. There are no easy puppies, although some may require more or less effort, depending on their early socialization, breed, age, and size. Even the most experienced dog parents can underestimate the amount of time, energy, and compromise new puppies require. Once the puppy is home, they will draw you in with their cuteness and eagerness to bond and learn with you.

The time you put in when they are young will come back to you in the most rewarding, loving experiences you will share with your dog.