New Puppy Questions You Should Ask If Buying An Older Puppy
August 31, 2010 – 4:08 am
Usually people purchase new puppies and bring them home around age 6-8 weeks. This is actually the perfect time period in which they are best to be weaned from their mother and conditioned to live with you and the entire content of the family. It makes bonding much easier because you have immediately replaced the puppy’s mother with yourself.
On the other hand, there are many times when older puppies become available. These dogs may be older than 10 weeks, 12 weeks, or even up to six months and still considered to be puppies. Like making any decision from the norm, there are benefits and drawbacks to bringing home and older puppy.
Exactly what factors should you remember when deciding on an older puppy?
One of the biggest benefits of getting an older puppy straight away is that their behavior is a lot more calm than a younger pup and the dog has usually been socialized to a small degree in relation to the day-to-day chaos of living in a house with other people. Their first home has already conditioned them for you.
Look out for older puppies that could have been neglected. It is important not to be too naive when you find yourself discussing the option of buying an older puppy from someone. Not everybody sells their dogs for positive reasons. Some owners are trying to get rid of them since they couldn’t take care of the puppy’s needs and because of this reason they probably neglected the dog for a long time of time.
And of course, you need to ask the owner a few basic questions before making a buying decision. Ask if it had undergone any dog training. Find out firsthand if the puppy displays any behavioral bad habits such as aggression, chewing, or excessive barking. Also, ensure that this can be a first and only home the dog has been doing. If he has lived elsewhere before the current owner then find out why he was sold. These are just a few of the basic questions you have to know to ask. Add more questions to your list for better due diligence.
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