This question is often asked by both new dog owners and those that have been blessed with canine interaction their whole lives.  Before we jump into the substance, I must stand on a soapbox (or two soapboxes, since I have four paws that I need to support) for a few seconds.  We all know how cute puppies can be, but there are many loving dogs that have grown up a little (or a lot) that are in need of homes.  They can be found at every animal shelter and at the pound (also known as “Puppy Jail”).

If you are looking for a puppy specifically, it is apparent that many breeders are not as well-versed in the rearing of pups since many of puppies are taken away from their mother way far too early in their development, sometimes as early as three weeks old.  This is usually a sign of a breeder who is in business solely to make money, rather than share the gift of a dog’s love and companionship. Continue Reading