Puppy or Adult?
When most people think about acquiring a dog, they imagine bringing home a cute little puppy. And certainly getting a dog as a puppy has its rewards. But it can also turn your life upside down. If you're not home during the day, or you want the new canine family member's introduction to your home to be less time-consuming and stressful, you should consider adopting an adult dog.
Benefits of Starting Young
It's a good thing puppies are so cute, because otherwise you'd want to kill them sometimes. They're just babies and need to be (gently) taught the rules of living with humans. It can be to your benefit to be the one teaching these rules from the time your dog is a puppy.
The puppy months are extremely important — things that happen when your dog is up to six months old can make a huge impression on him that can last the rest of his life. Being there for your puppy's formative months and helping make sure his experiences are positive can help you mold your poodle into the dog of your dreams. You have control over the training methods used, the disciplinary actions taken, and the things that your poodle is rewarded for doing. You carefully select his groomer so that grooming doesn't become a source of anxiety for him. You make sure he's exposed to all sorts of people and places, in a positive manner, so he grows up to be a happy, confident dog you can take anywhere. It's a great opportunity for your poodle to put his best paw forward.
Alert!
If you do choose to get a puppy, keep a camera handy from the very first time the two of you meet. You'll enjoy looking at these baby pictures (and growing-up shots) for years to come.
Puppies Need Extra Attention
The downside to buying a puppy is that it takes a real time commitment. Until your pup is housetrained, he needs to be supervised whenever he's loose in the house. He can't be confined for hours on end, which means you have to come home and let him out every so often. If your plan is to help mold him into an exemplary adult, you have to spend time socializing him. You have to teach him that cords aren't for chewing, cats aren't for chasing, and shoes aren't for eating. It's fun and rewarding — but it can be exhausting.
Adopting an Adult
If you choose to adopt an adult dog, he might seamlessly integrate himself into your family. In a best-case scenario, your adult poodle will already be housetrained, will know the rules of living nicely with humans, and will bond to you immediately. With poodles, this happens frequently.
Essential
Adult poodles do not have trouble bonding with a new owner. In fact, many people report that rescue dogs seem to be more grateful and loving than those that were acquired as puppies. Rescue dogs don't take you for granted!
If you adopt an adult from a rescue group, shelter, or previous owner, you may not be able to get a health guarantee or know with any certainty the poodle is well bred. But adopting a needy adult can have its own rewards and can be worth the risk of genetic diseases.
No matter what the source, even if your new adult dog has a few issues, that doesn't mean he won't be a great family member. Treat him with love and patience, and you'll know the special feeling of helping a dog blossom into a wonderful, happy companion.
