Finding the Right Home For Your Puppies

If you are like me, you find it hard to find new adoptive homes for your litter of puppies. It is not that hard to do if you use a little discipline while seeking out the appropriate adoptive family for your young pet. It just takes some time and patience, but it is well worth it.

Put an ad in the local newspaper. Not just any ad, be specific. Most ads read “Free puppies to a good home”. That is asking for trouble. When I post an ad, I say “Free puppies to an approved home. Must have a fenced yard.” It is important that your young puppy goes to a home where he or she will be safe and not allowed to wander into the street. Allow the caller to leave a message and phone number. Capture the number and look it up if possible, find the address and drive by the house. Does the yard look safe? Is it fenced in? Are there signs of previous pets? Talk to neighbors if possible.

Ask a lot of questions. Where will the pet be living? Will it be allowed to run freely, be chained up or in a fenced area? Will the pet be left alone during the day? Are there kids?

Find out about the people. What kind of work do they do?

Perception is Reality. Your first impression upon meeting prospective pet owners is the most important. I know this may sound like I am “profiling”, but are these people neat and clean? Are they seemingly intelligent? What does their car look like? Is it a piece of junk? How do they relate to the puppies? Are their kids clean? How do they refer to the puppy in conversation?

All of these questions are necessary to try to establish what kind of quality of life your puppy will have. Dirty kids and slovenly looking parents indicate that the pup will have a life of neglect and will be possibly mistreated. I have had one family squabble over which puppy to pick and I eventually refused them one because the father got annoyed and said “Just pick one; it’s just a damned dog!”

Treat a puppy adoption as if you are letting one of your own children go away for a week with these people. Spend a little money and get the puppy his or her first shots. Parvo is the number one killer of puppies and most pet owners neglect to get the first shots in a timely manner. A puppy dying of Parvo is a miserable death.

Follow up. Let the new adoptive pet parents know that the adoption may be contingent on a follow up meeting. You have already seen their house before they came over; let them know that you will be checking in on the puppy to see how they are all getting along. I have actually “repossessed” a puppy from someone that didn’t meet my standards.

There is nothing more satisfying than to see a dog that looks like he is the happiest dog in the world. You can help make that happen.

_{Copyright 2011 By Del Banks}