Finally the time is here to begin choosing your new dog. There are newspapers with advertisements for dogs, or flyers and posters and the dogs are usually inexpensive. Are there advantages to this? One advantage could be the cost. At least initially, that free or almost free, puppy looks inviting. This is a temporary advantage, in my opinion. The puppy probably has not had it first veterinarian visit, needs shots and then add on the cost of neutering. Another consideration is you may be able to see the environment where the puppy had been raised. You might even be able to meet the mother, and maybe the father. I will admit that I did get Bandit from a family my husband worked with. We met the parents because the family owned them both. It was wonderful being able to see the siblings and watch how all of them interacted. That helped us to choose which puppy we thought would be best for our family.
Shelters and humane societies are plentiful, especially around the city areas. Here the dogs are brought in for so many different reasons. Usually once they are at the shelter, they are examined and cared for until they are able to go home. In general, most shelters will be certain the dogs are up to date on immunizations and a veterinarian will examine the dogs. Most shelters charge a fee that covers not only these examinations, but also the cost of neutering. Generally the cost of the dog is a bargain compared to what it would cost to pay for the veterinary care and neutering outside of this setting. Another benefit to the shelter would be that many will screen the dogs for behavior issues. In some instances, the staff keeps notes on the dogs so the potential families have an idea of the dog's personality, temperament and level of training. At times, the staff is trained to work with these dogs and help to resolve any of the behavior issues that may be found. Some shelters offer reduced fee or free obedience classes, if you adopt a dog from them.. In general, I feel the cost of a dog from a shelter is well worth the investment.
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