Episodes > 102 > Paws Button

My Kids Want a Pet, but Which One is Best?

What do you do when your child wants a puppy? How do you know what pet is right for you?

We’ve all heard the song “How Much is that Doggie in the Window”…Well hopefully before you get to this point you’ve done your research to determine what kind of puppy will best fit into your family. Finding just the right breed for your specific family conditions is very important to the wellbeing of not only your family but for the new puppy as well.

Remember this new pup is being put into a new environment and perhaps is away from its Mom for the first time in their young lives. It’s the same as bringing home a baby. You will have the same responsibilities with your puppy as you would have with a baby…

1. Toilet Training – Make sure they learn it as soon as possible and don’t forget puppies need a little privacy too.
2. See the Doctor – Puppies are prone to certain diseases and need to be vaccinated to make sure they don’t get sick.
3. Good Nutrition – Like babies, puppies need to have a healthy diet. Check with your Vet for suggestions of puppy food that is good for their growth and health.

If you have children in your family you might want to set up some “house rules” to make the new pup feel more comfortable and at ease. Here are a few suggestions…

1. No running in the house…this might get the puppy excited and if their not housebroken if could cause an accident on your new leather sofa.
2. No screaming in the house…this might startle or scare the pup which is not good when they are trying to get used to a new home.
3. Let them have their mealtime in peace…there’s plenty of time for lovin and play.

It’s also a good thing before you fork over your hard earned cash to know what you are getting into. Take our “Pup Quiz” in this episode to see if you’re ready to get that doggie out of the window!