Winter Puppies

Many people seem to think that the middle of summer is the best time for a puppy to join the family.  While there are many merits for getting a summer puppy, there are plenty of good reasons for bringing home baby in the winter.  Here are a few:

(1) Puppies need to be fully vaccinated before they can be brought to public places.  Most vaccine protocols are not finished until the puppy is at least 4 months old.  They puppy you bring home in July can't be socialized until September...that means no parks, no ball games and no walks along the beach during the hot, hazy days of summer.  On the other hand, a puppy that comes home in February or March is fully vaccinated and ready to go everywhere by Spring and you can show him off to the world.  

(2) Who wants to be out during the winter?  Very young puppies don't really require a whole lot of robust exercise and what they do need can easily be accommodated in the house on cold, blustery days.  Older puppies on the other hand, do require more outdoor exercise.  A puppy that comes home in the summer will need a lot of walks in the snow!  A winter puppy should be perfectly content with indoor games until early Spring.

(3) Housebreaking - ever think you didn't need the bathroom in the winter then stepped outside?  Enough said.

(4) Training - Obedience schools run year round.  Classes in the winter won't interfere with summer vacations.  As an added bonus your winter puppy will be properly trained before he makes his public debut!

(5) No more winter blahs - it's hard to be grumpy with a puppy around!