Looking to add a new dog to your family? One of the main questions is whether you should get a puppy or an adult dog. Here are some top tips that can help you to decide…

If you have decided to bring a dog into your life, you will first have to think about whether you want a puppy or an adult dog. There are many merits and disadvantages to both, and you should think carefully about which might be right for you and your circumstances. Here are some of the things to think about when trying to choose between them.

Adoption

Adopt don’t shop has been a mantra in the dog-owning community for years now. Though some still like to go to a reputable breeder to get a specific type of dog, many are also making a move to promote adoption and the work that rescuers do.

No matter whether you want a puppy or an adult dog, there will be a rescuer who can help you out. Don’t think that you just have to wait for the right breed too – if there is a specific type of dog that you want to get, you might be able to find a rescue charity that specialises in helping these sorts of dogs. There are so many puppies and adult dogs looking to go to good homes out there, so you should keep a close lookout for ones that you could bring into your home.

Diet

Diet should not be a problem, no matter the age of the dog that you are bringing in. With a puppy, you will be directing what they eat from the very beginning, so you can ensure that they get a high-quality diet from early in life. With an adult dog, you can switch their diet from whatever they had before to what you wish to give them now. With both adults and puppies, you will have to watch to ensure that their diet is meeting their needs – particularly if they show that they need some form of dietary requirements.

Raw food can be a good option for both puppies and adults alike. If you are concerned about giving a raw diet to your puppy, you need not be. Finding a raw feeding guide for puppies that details every step of how to feed your puppy a raw food diet will help to give you the peace of mind that you need and the reassurance that you are going to be providing the best nutrition for your pets.

Training

With both adults and puppies, there is going to be a degree of training necessary. Puppies need to learn everything. From housebreaking to walking on the lead to commands such as sit and stay, you need to be prepared to teach it all to your puppy. There are so many little things that you need to make sure your puppy knows so they can become a friendly and obedient adult.

When adopting an adult dog, you need to be diligent and find out what their background is. If they have a history of abuse, or they have come from a previous household that did no training at all with them, you need to make sure that you are replacing their existing knowledge with the behaviours that you want to see. This can be difficult to do if you have never actively had to train a dog, and it can take a lot of time for the pair of you to get to a place where you are both comfortable.

Lifestyle

You do need to consider your lifestyle when thinking about whether to adopt a puppy or a dog. Puppies take a lot of work, and you might need to take some holiday at your job so you can properly settle them in and get a headstart on the training. You also need to make sure that you are slowly building up to what they are able to do. A puppy is just like a human toddler – they can go wild for short bursts of time and then they need a rest.

If you want a pet that will fit into your life a little bit more smoothly, an adult dog might be better. For example, if you want a dog who is going to be able to go on hikes or walks with you from the moment you come together, an adult is always going to be best. If you have also dealt with plenty of puppies before with other dogs and don’t want to go through that again, you will obviously need to think about adopting an adult.

There are many reasons why you could choose an adult or a puppy when trying to select one for your home. Think carefully about your lifestyle and the dog that you think would fit into it most easily. It should not be too long before you are able to find and focus on the perfect dog for your household, no matter what age they might be.