Let’s say you are thinking about getting a puppy.
If you were thinking it was time to drive a car, you would have to take a test to prove you know how to drive, right? So let's take a little quiz to see what you know about taking care of a puppy before you go out and drive one!
Here goes!
1. To locate a puppy, you…
a. Look at the classified ads, or Craigslist, meet a sketchy guy with a box of puppies at a gas station off the Northway, and pick one out.
b. Buy that really cute puppy at the pet store in the mall.
c. Research the breed you think is the best fit for your family and purchase the puppy that the reputable breeder thinks is a good fit for your family.
d. Adopt one from the Humane Society or a rescue group.
2. You have children under the age of 8, including an infant, so you…
a. Get a puppy so they can grow up together.
b. Get a puppy to teach the kids responsibility.
c. Wait until the children are older and can understand how to handle a puppy.
3. You believe puppies learn to not potty in the house by…
a. Letting the puppy have the run of the house and then yelling at it when it has an accident.
b. Expecting it to tell you when it needs to go out.
c. Supervising the puppy when it is not restricted to a small area or crate.
4. If your puppy chews on something it shouldn’t, you…
a. Get frustrated and wonder when it will stop.
b. Redirect it to an appropriate toy.
c. Apply Bitter Apple to your rugs and chair legs.
d. Carry the puppy around so it won’t chew on anything.
5. Your puppy cries when you leave it alone, so you…
a. Run over to it to keep it quiet or it will disturb the neighbors.
b. Keep feeding it because it can’t cry when it’s eating.
c. Wait until it is quiet before giving it attention.
6. You work long hours, so you…
a. Keep the puppy crated all day until you get home.
b. Have a pet sitter come during the day to let the puppy out.
c. Decide to put off getting a dog until things ease up at work.
7. To train your puppy, you…
a. Try the stuff you see the trainers on TV do.
b. Solicit your friends who have dogs for advice.
c. Ask your veterinarian to recommend an in-home dog trainer.
HINT: There may be more than one correct answer to some of the questions!