Are your clients really ready to bring a little furry friend home? Sure it sounds all wonderful in theory, but before you run out and take home the first puppy who melts your heart, there are some things you’ll need to consider carefully. Try to help help your clients see that they are making a life changing choice for them as well as the puppy. Let’s take a look.
Do They Have Time?
Puppies need time, and lots of it. If the family is constantly rushing to get everything done, they may want to seriously reconsider the idea of taking home a puppy. A puppy is a new creature to this world. They need time and attention to learn how to properly live in it. Puppy is going to need their family’s help learning how to potty train, how to behave properly around other pets and people, as well as lots of attention for playtime. Does your client have that time to give a deserving puppy?
Is The Family in Agreement?
This new family member is going to affect everyone in the family. That is why it’s a good idea to make sure everyone in the family agrees to accepting this new family member. This ensures the puppy comes into a completely welcoming home and that you don’t create any unwanted issues and tension between family members, and the puppy, too.
Is The Family Ready For The Work?
Puppies take a lot of work. Is the family ready for that? Are they prepared to have mop and paper towels in hand constantly? Will they get up in the middle of the night to tend to their puppy’s needs, to play even when they don’t feel like it, to make vet trips, and to make trips to the store to buy pet food? Are they ready to handle emergency situations with their puppy? Are they ready to spend the hours and hours it takes to physically care for your puppy; training, bathing, brushing, feeding, and other care?
Can They Afford a Puppy?
Puppies cost money. Even if they can get a puppy absolutely free, the puppy is not going to be free for long. As breeders we often give older dogs and the occasional puppy to the right home. With older dogs it is usually a retired show down that we will match with someone looking for a companion, and who doesn’t want to raise a puppy. Puppies we will sometimes place with a family who wants to get into breeding or showing, and we will work out an arrangement on showing, breeding, etc.
Either way, the expenses don’t end when you take the puppy home, they just begin. The new family whill need money for food, bowls, toys, treats, bedding, crates, leashes, collars, grooming, shots, neutering or spaying, licenses, training or obedience classes, routine medical bills, unexpected vet bills, and more. Make sure your clients are prepared for this and honestly decide if they really can afford that furry friend.
Do They Have Support?
It’s hard work taking care of a puppy. Will your clients have any support to help them when they need a break? Make sure they think about this before they take a puppy home and you’ll save them a ton of stress. Support can come in many different forms; the neighbor down the road who walks their dog once in a while, the family member who’s willing to dog-sit when they go out of town, the friend who can offer puppy potty training advice and help.
If they’ve honestly answered these questions, then they will be in a very good place to make a realistic decision about whether they can adopt a puppy or not.
If the answers show they are not quite ready for a puppy, then waiting until the time is right is the proper thing to do. A happy customer later is better than an unhappy customer now. You and your potential client will be much better off. If the answers show they are ready, congratulations! You’ve found the right home for one of your puppies.