Getting a new dog was a big decision. My husband wanted a puppy, but I was worried that a puppy meant that I was going to have to clean-up a lot of messes in the house. The kids may say they will clean-up, and they may even try to help clean-up, but when it comes to poo and pee, I'm afraid what they consider "clean" may not match what I consider "clean." I understood his concern that he didn't want an older dog with strange issues, but I thought we could find a good young dog that was already house trained...and we did.
Our new dog is about nine months old, potty trained and issues free! She is still a playful puppy, she is happy and full of energy and we all love her dearly.
I did learn a few things from adopting an older puppy:
1. I wanted to be sure that the dog had been well taken care of and the owner was able to provide me with records from the vet so I could see that she had been cared for.
2. We got her bed and toys from the previous owner, and I think that helped make the transition easier.
3. My kids checked out a number of books on owning and training dogs so they were aware of what needed to be done. I think when information comes from books rather than from mom and dad, kids are more willing to believe it.
Next week, we get the chickens!
