TAKE YOUR TIME
Whether your choice is a puppy or an adult, from a breeder or rescue agency, do take your time when choosing your pet. Hopefully, this will be your best friend for many years to come, and all the time and effort you spend prior to the final selection will greatly increase the chances of you getting the dog that is right for you. Please select one to learn more about choosing your new pet.

ANIMAL SHELTER
BREEDER
PET SHOP
RESCUE ORGANIZATION

PET SHOP

It is impossible for most people to walk through a mall and not stand and look at the puppies in the window of a pet shop. The puppies are usually at an age when they recognize people and are striving for attention. They either jump at you against the glass or cage or sleep in big adorable balls of fur. Let us face it, they are cute and therefore the natural impulse is to take one home.

While many pet shops diligently try to provide top-quality puppies, the main disadvantage for people buying their pet from these facilities is that it is almost impossible to learn anything about the breeder or the animalís parents. You will know the breed, age, and sex, but that is about all the information you will have. You will not have any idea if the particular line of dogs has a high incidence of hip dysplasia, epilepsy, or other problems. Regretfully, a lot of puppies from the puppy mills end up in pet shops.

If you cannot resist, at least try to have the animal examined by your veterinarian before the purchase is made. This will give you an idea if the animal is currently in good health. However, the problem with an evaluation at this age is that it is impossible to diagnose or predict the occurrence of many serious medical or behavior disorders that are going to show up later in the animal's life.