Bringing Home an Older Puppy

By Jeff Van Dalsum

Most of the time, when bringing a new puppy into the family, a puppy is selected that is around 8 weeks old. As a result of this stage in his life, he is in the ideal situation to accept a new home. He will also be more open to training and conditioning which will make the bonding process easier and faster.

There are also many cases where a family chooses an older puppy over a younger one. The biggest drawback here is that the ideal training stage for the puppy has already passed. Therefore, bringing home an older puppy requires you to be more flexible and patient with your training routines.

There are many things to look into when you're thinking of getting an older puppy. When compared to younger puppies, the older ones are usually calmer and less energetic. Also, older puppy training might be a little easier since he may have already received some basic training. He might be familiar with children, people, and other pets. However, there is also just as good of a chance that he was not taught any commands or properly socialized which is why it is important to find out his background.

Be very careful with a puppy that has been abused or neglected by his previous owner. These puppies are typically harder to train and to live with as they are more prone to stress, fear, and anxiety towards people. Sometimes, they can even develop aggressive behavior. This isn't to say that all abused or neglected puppies are like this, in fact some are the nicest puppies you will ever meet, but it's important to be aware of the possibility.

Once you've chosen a puppy, make sure to bring the entire family to meet him. This is important because it will allow you to see how the puppy reacts to different people. You'll be able to find out if the puppy dislikes children, women, or other pets. Observe closely and note his overall behavior.

Also take notice to how he reacts to different circumstances. Try dropping your keys on the floor and see his reaction. A normal response would simply be to ignore the noise or to go sniff the keys out of curiosity. If he begins barking, biting, and jumping you may have some problems to deal with down the road.

If you can, ask a staff member to carry the puppy around for a few minutes. See how the puppy reacts to being picked up and carried. If you notice any hints of aggression or fear, you will need to address them through training routines in the future.

Remember, the most important aspect to bringing home an older puppy is knowledge. Ask the staff or breeder as many questions as you can in respect to training, behavior, vaccinations, health, and overall mentality. Also, make sure to investigate the reason why the previous owner left the puppy or why he has not been adopted yet. All of this information can help you better prepare for living with and training your new puppy.

Whatever puppy you decide to bring home, you should know that puppy ownership is like a journey between you, your family, and your puppy. No matter what age you bring that little guy home at, he will be a large part of your life for a long time to come. Older puppy training takes time, patience, and energy but arm yourself with knowledge and dedication and you will set yourself up for success.

Perfect Puppy Care is a website dedicated and developed by puppy care enthusiasts who have taken it as their goal to help you raise a happy, healthy, and well-behaved puppy.

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