A puppy is exuberance on four legs: everyone's a potential playmate, and anything's a potential toy. Puppies of all types are wonderful pets who grow up to be loyal and devoted animals. Of course, that's not to say that getting them trained as they grown doesn't have its challenges! Rare is the puppy owner who hasn't sacrificed one pair of shoes to Fido Junior's insatiable need to chew. And house-training a puppy takes time, patience, and a fair bit of humor.
Still, the effort you put into training your dog is more than repaid by her friendship and love. Other pets, no matter how devoted, just don't wear their hearts on their collars the way dogs do. Besides, when was the last time you tried playing fetch with a hamster?
Choosing Puppies: Dog Breeds and Canine Health
Before you run out and buy your new pooch, do a little research into different dog breeds. Some dogs are very family oriented, while others tend to give their loyalty to only one person. Certain breeds are more tolerant of children than others. Then there's the size issue. That Dalmatian pup may be cute now, but how well will he fit into your two-bedroom apartment when he's full-grown? Is your house so busy that a very small breed runs the risk of being stepped on? Think carefully before you choose a breed.
Canine health is an important consideration when picking out a pup. Certain breeds have genetic problems that can affect their health. (Labrador retrievers, for instance, often have serve hip problems in later life. Ask your breeder about breed-specific health problems).
A good puppy choice is active, but not overly aggressive and nippy. The pup should have clear eyes, and clean ears. The nose should be free of discharge. While you want to avoid overly nippy pups, don't pick the one that flinches or cowers when you approach either: puppies should be active but not aggressive. If one pup in a litter seems sick, you'd be well advised to avoid choosing a pet from any of its littermates.
Choosing Dog Names: Fido? Rover? Augustus?
Dog names are limited only by your imagination: if you want to name your miniature poodle after your favorite professional wrestler, go for it! Bear in mind that when you're calling your pooch, lengthy dog names may be a bit of a mouthful. If you're planning on naming your Great Dane Empress Theodora Vanessa Olivander, you might want to train her to simply respond to Empress!
If you're racking your brain for that perfect doggie name, and nothing's coming, why not try the Internet for ideas? Dog Name.com has a list of possible names.
How Old is Your Dog?
So, how many doggie years are there in one human year? In part, that depends on how big Rover is. Larger mutts tend to age quicker than their smaller cousins. A nine-year-old Yorkshire terrier is in his fifties, in dog years. By comparison, a Saint Bernard of the same age is in his early seventies. Find out how much your pup will weigh as an adult, and check out the chart below:
Dog's Age | Breed's Adult Weight (lb) | |||
0-20 | 21-50 | 51-90 | >90 | |
6 mo | 12 |
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1 yr | 16 |
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2 | 24 | 24 |
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3 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
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4 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 34 |
5 | 36 | 38 | 39 | 42 |
6 | 40 | 42 | 45 | 49 |
7 | 44 | 47 | 50 | 56 |
8 | 48 | 51 | 55 | 64 |
9 | 52 | 56 | 61 | 71 |
10 | 56 | 60 | 66 | 78 |
11 | 60 | 65 | 72 | 86 |
12 | 64 | 69 | 77 | 93 |
13 | 68 | 74 | 82 | 101 |
14 | 72 | 78 | 88 | 108 |
15 | 76 | 83 | 93 | 115 |
16 | 80 | 87 | 99 | 123 |
17 | 84 | 92 | 104 |
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18 | 88 | 96 | 109 |
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19 | 92 | 101 | 115 |
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20 | 98 | 105 | 120 |
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