Today is National Puppy Day. What a brilliant idea for a day!
Most people like puppies, and to be honest I feel sorry for those that don’t. They have nothing in life.

Let's face it, puppies are . . . well, puppies: playful, fluffy, and they nip and bark and get into mischief, and have a wonderful puppy smell. One minute they are racing around like a lunatic and the next they have collapsed where they were and are fast asleep. They can be hard work, but boy what fun that hard work is.

I have had 5 puppies, I think, in all the time I have rescued dogs, and Badger was by far the easiest pup ever. He latched onto Taff and what Taff did he did and still does.

Puppy day was brought about to advise people where to get a puppy from, and certainly not places like puppy farms. I would go to a rescue centre personally and give a much-needed home to one, or even two. There are some good breeders around but I wouldn't buy a pedigree dog. You are often buying health problems cos of the way they are bred.

Most of us probably have our favourite sort of puppy. To me one of the most cutest and wonderful is a Border Collie Pup, but we all have our own ideas .

There are several things to consider before getting a puppy.
Can you afford it if there are health problems? Vet's bills are very expensive now, and so many are dumped or given in to rescue centres cos the owners can't afford the vet's bills.
Do you have time for the pup? They are not like kids, they don't go away when you tell them to, or go to bed at a specific time, they crave attention and love, and that is what you need to give them. You need the time to take them for walks, at least twice a day and time to play and train them. An untrained puppy is not a good dog, and it is not the dog’s fault. They need to be socialised and dog training classes are a good idea for this.
Are you at work? Well, if the answer is yes, then a puppy/dog is a no-no. You can't expect to leave a puppy all day and come home to no mess. Puppies/dogs bore very easily and then that causes them to start things like eating furniture etc. etc. A garden is ideal, fenced of course, so the pup can run in and out. We mostly have the door open all day till bedtime for the dogs, apart from when the weather is really bad.

If you think you can honestly match these considerations, then yes, you are ready for a pup, but what sort? Well, that depends on the size of the house, garden etc. etc. A huge pup will grow into a huge dog and in a small house that is not a good plan.

Whatever you decide to do, please give it serious thought, as so many cute little pups end up in rescue centres through no fault of their own. But please remember that cute little bundle of fur will grow up and get bigger but if you treat a puppy right from the start and listen to it as well as to what it wants, you will have the best friend in the world.

To celebrate this day, give your pup/dog some extra love, take them for an extra walk and generally make a fuss of them. They will repay it a thousand times over. Puppies bring so much into your life and expect so little, apart from your time and love, and when you look into a puppies eyes how can you refuse that?
And please remember a puppy is for life not just till you get bored with it.

All are welcome.
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