You've found yourself online, searching through "available puppy" pictures. You have THE BUG really bad! This is when people start asking themselves, "Is this the right time for a puppy?"
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1) Can I afford a puppy? Our application covers many of the costs involved. Including training, etc. Our puppies also go home already spayed and neutered (your puppy deposit payed for this right up front) so that's one cost you don't need to worry about.
2) Do I have the time for a puppy? How long would your puppy be alone during the day? What if you have a long day at work, who will take the puppy out instead? Who will be the primary caregiver of the dog. If you think your 10 year old can handle this responsibility, think again. This would be like giving a 10 year old a running toddler to care for.
3) Do I have time for obedience training? Obedience training your puppy is so important, that we give a cash-back incentive if you attend classes. By attending class one day a week you can earn back up to $100 on your puppy! One day a week, and 10 minutes a day, will give you a dog your friends and family will adore!
4) We go out of town a lot, what do we do with the dog? If you have attended obedience training, chances are your dog is going to be very well behaved. A well-behaved dog can go almost anywhere with you. There are many pet-friendly hotels and resorts that would love to include your furry family member! If you must leave your puppy behind, and if you've spent the time to train your puppy, you will have no problem finding someone who would like a furry guest for a weekend! We often go out of town during the summer months, and have friends who call and ASK to take our dogs!
5) Do you feel like something is missing in your family? It could be a that you need a cat, a turtle, a dog, or a horse. But when that feeling is there, there is just no denying in. Sit down and have a family meeting, and discuss what your family "needs" in a pet. This will help you narrow down your options.
6) Do you have children? If you don't yet have children, but plan to have a baby within the next year, now is not the time for a puppy. Having an exhuberant adolescent puppy (in a full-grown body) while you're trying to learn the ropes of parenthood is not fun. If you already have young children under the age of 4, you may want to reconsider waiting until your youngest child is over the age of or 5. Doodles are big dogs, with big tails, and while very gentle, they WILL knock top-heavy infants and toddlers over. While many breeders will gladly sell a puppy to anyone who will send a check, our policy at D & L Doodles is to not place a puppy in a home with children under the age of 4 UNLESS the family has prior successful history with raising and training a puppy.
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