What You Need to Know Before Buying A Puppy

April 8, 2022

Bringing home a puppy is one of the most precious—and challenging—moments of your life. In the next couple of months, your life will change for the better as it has for so many dog owners around the world. According to PR Newswire, around 71% of dog owners have said their new puppy has made them happier people. 

And there are plenty of great reasons why! Puppies are our friends whenever we need them. They shower us with cuddles and love without expecting anything in return. Even at our lowest points, dogs remain our loyal best friends for life. 

Our furry friends also need lifelong dedication from their owners, such as regular visits to the vet, training, and exercise. Puppies won’t stay small forever so you need to make sure that you’ll always be there for your cuddly friend.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of things you need to know before ever buying a puppy.

1. Make sure you’re ready for a puppy.

Many puppy parents fall for their impulses.  We get it. It’s hard to resist the charms of a cute puppy when you glance at them for the first time. For example, our available puppies for sale are known for being such natural charmers that you can’t help but love them. 

However, it’s important to remember one key thing: raising a puppy is not easy. 

Just like with babies, you’ll need to devote a lot of patience and time to your furry friend. Your puppy does not know your rules or how the world around them works. They also don’t know what behavior will earn them rewards or praises. That’s where training comes in. 

If you cannot dedicate time to train and socialize your puppy, they may not grow up to be well-mannered dogs. We know how important puppy training and socialization are for the development of your puppy. 

That’s why we offer several premium perks for customers who’ve purchased a Petland puppy to help with training. This includes:

• Access to a puppy kindergarten class, which provides training tips for all new puppy parents
• Scheduled training classes (there’s also the option for private sessions)
• Weekly Q&A Zoom sessions with dog trainers and more

Puppies also need other essentials to live a happy life, such as food, water, bedding, grooming toys, leashes, and collars. Are you ready to commit to a new puppy? Think about your life commitments and schedule before you make a final decision.

2. Be curious about the store or breeder’s puppy health standards.

Does the store or breeder you’re planning to visit have a quality health policy with their puppies? A responsible store and breeder always cares about the welfare of its puppies and their parents.

They may uphold certain standards when it comes to providing care to their puppies, such as having licensed veterinarians check on their health. Some may even go above and beyond to search and work only with elite breeders in the industry.

Unfortunately, there are many breeders in the industry who aren’t careful with their puppies’ health and wellbeing. That’s why we highly recommend taking a good look at the store or breeders’ puppy care standards.

At Petland, we always hold exceptional puppy health standards. Before they go home with you, we ensure each of our puppies is examined by licensed veterinarians twice a week. 

We also provide additional perks to owners who purchase a Petland puppy, including lifetime vet exams with licensed veterinarians we choose, a 14-day health warranty, and a 10-year health warranty on all puppies with hereditary or congenital diseases. 

Every Petland puppy also goes home with a health certificate that contains details of up-to-date vaccinations and deworming treatments.

3. Ask a lot of questions.

No matter the reputation of a puppy breeder or store, always ask questions. It’s highly important to get as much information as you can to get an idea of the store’s puppy care standards, dog welfare, and overall routine maintenance.

Along with asking about a store’s health standards, you should also ask them what type of breeders they work with. A responsible puppy store only works with elite breeder partners that are renowned in the industry.

Any below this standard is a red flag.

You should also ask whether a store’s puppies are microchipped and/or purebred and if they offer health-related perks to their customers. Pay attention to any evasiveness to certain questions. 

Our policy at Petland is to be transparent with every person who visits our store. We offer a three-generation pedigree for most of our available breeds so that new puppy parents know where their puppies come from.

We also have our puppies microchipped with AKC Cart and Help Me Find My Pet (Amber Alert) to help you locate your puppy if they get lost. Additionally, our puppies are part of our Puppy for a Lifetime program, which allows us to provide you with a puppy for the rest of your life! 

Be sure to ask our Pet Counselor for more details on our perks.

4. Know which dog breed is right for you.

One of the best steps to make before buying a puppy is to do research. Every puppy has a distinct set of traits that are inherent to its breed. This includes personality, size, looks, grooming, and even training needs. 

What works for one dog will likely not work for another. For example, a Bulldog doesn’t require a lot of exercise due to its physical structure. The same cannot be said for breeds like the Golden Retriever or the Poodle. 

Without exercise, playtime, or any activity, these dogs can become restless, leading to destructive behavior. Other dogs are perfect for small apartments while others thrive in homes with large backyards. 

You should also consider the sizes of their dream puppies. Smaller dogs are known to be slightly stubborn and bossy, which means you need to devote more attention to training. 

Larger dogs tend to be less aggressive but they usually need more food, exercise, and other essentials than smaller breeds. By researching each dog breed and their individual needs, you ensure you find the right dog for your personality and lifestyle.

To help you get started with your research, give our Meet The Breeds page a look!

5. Puppy-proof your home and backyard.

When your puppy is finally home, they’re likely going to explore every inch of your house and backyard. You may not know it but your house and backyard are dangerous places for little puppies! 

Whether it’s electrical outlets, medications, or poisonous plants, your home is full of serious hazards that can harm your puppy’s health. 

Make sure you prepare your home before your puppy comes home. Put away any medications or cleaning supplies in an area that’s hard to reach. Lock up all rooms you don’t want your puppy to enter. 

Store all human foods, especially chocolate, grapes, and onions in your fridge. For your backyard, be sure to move toxic plants to a secure location. You should also check your fence for any spaces that your furry friend may crawl under. Most importantly, never allow your puppy unsupervised while exploring outside. 

Check out our blog, How to Puppy Proof Your House to learn our tips on keeping your house safe for your furry friend!

6. Buy all necessary puppy supplies.

Food, water, toys, beds, crates—there are many supplies that every puppy needs to live a happy life. Welcome your puppy home by having all of their supplies ready. Now, you only need to start with basic supplies like food bowls, collars, leashes, and brushes. 

These are things that will help your puppy adjust to their new surroundings and life with you. As your puppy matures into a well-rounded dog, you can buy other supplies like toys or treats based on their likes and dislikes. You may also want to purchase another leash to help you leash train your puppy during walks. 

As part of our commitment to your puppy’s health (and our desire to help you out), we also provide your puppy with a 30-day supply of vitamins and supplements to keep your puppy happy and healthy!

Getting a new puppy should never be an impulsive decision. There’s so much that goes on with raising a puppy so think twice before you make the decision on the spot. If you’re ready to add a new puppy to your family, your next step is finding the best place. Our pet counselors and staff are committed to helping you find your furry soulmate! 

✓ This article has been reviewed by Petland Miami’s expert team to ensure accuracy and reliable pet care guidance.