DogBoy's Dog Blog

Typically when a family starts thinking about adding a new dog to their household, most people immediately jump to which puppy they want. I totally get it. Puppies are adorable, fluffy, and you really just can’t resist puppy eyes. What people rarely consider is all of the work that goes into raising a puppy into an adult dog, like:

• Frequent late night restroom breaks in and out of the house
• Tons of house training and behavior training hours
• The socialization process for your puppy
• Possibly having your things torn up as they learn their boundaries

There's a reason people say that having a puppy is like a light version of having a newborn--it's a lot of work. Now, don't get me wrong, all of that work is TOTALLY worth it if you're willing to put in the effort.

However, you can get just as much love, affection, and incredible companionship from a dog that's already passed the puppy phase. And, in general, there's less work involved up front. Adopting an adult or older dog is an amazing way to add a new canine to your family. Here are five reasons why:

1. How Much Time Do You Have For A Dog?

Before getting a dog, make sure you have the time for one. You should have a clear idea of your family’s activity level, and how much time you have to dedicate to training and enrichment activities. Examples of enrichment activities with your dog include:

• Exploring a new park together.
• Hiding their food bowl for dinner time.
• Teaching them new tricks and games.

You will want to make sure your dog’s energy and needs will be compatible with what you can give. Dog’s age, breed, and upbringing can contribute to their overall behavior.

2. Go Get A Dog Crate Immediately

The dog crate is AMAZING! It’s a great tool to help with housetraining young puppies as well as adult dogs. Crates also help keep your house safe while your new dog is adjusting to their new environment and learning what types of behaviors are acceptable in their new home.  You should treat any new dog in your household as if they aren't house trained initially.

When you are thinking about adding a new member to your family, there are several factors to consider. You may be asking yourself the following questions:

• What kind of dog should I get?
• Is this the right dog for my family in particular?
• What situation or environment was the dog in before I bought them?

You want to make sure that the dog you are adding to your family is the right dog, and that you are getting them from the best situation possible. Considering these factors ahead of time will ensure that the transition is as easy as possible for both you and your new family member. There are a lot of questions to consider, and sometimes it’s hard to know what the right answer is. DogBoy’s is here to help you through this big decision, and help make sure you end up becoming a satisfied and happy dog owner.

Adopting a Dog from a Rescue Shelter

So you want to adopt a dog? That is so amazing! Adopting a dog is very exciting, both for you and your new family member. Dog adoption is not only a great service to the dog you are bringing home, it is also helpful for the community at large. Rescue shelters in the U.S. are overcrowded and euthanization rates for healthy dogs are depressingly high. However, adopting a dog from an animal shelter or dog rescue has it’s own special challenges when compared with bringing home a puppy from a breeder. There are some very important things to make sure you do if you decide dog adoption is the right thing for you, and some things you will want to make sure don’t happen.