As a dog lover, it can be very difficult to decide between whether to adopt a puppy or a full-grown dog. Dogs are all beautiful in their own way, and each dog is unique, depending on factors such as age and breed. Puppies and adult dogs do have certain fundamental differences, and you may just want to consider these before making your decision!
Here are 6 important differences between a puppy and an adult dog.
This one is perhaps the most obvious one and goes without saying. A newborn puppy weighs between one and three pounds while a full-grown dog can weigh up to 70 pounds!
While size isn’t that much of a problem to most people, it does make some difference. The smaller the dog, the easier it will be for you to bath him, train him and even play with him.
This is why, if you are a new dog parent and have never done this before, you might just want to start off with a puppy before you are ready to adopt a full-grown dog.
It is also, of course, a matter of personal preference. While some people prefer their pets to be tiny bundles of joy that they can put on their laps at all times, others prefer a pet they can sleep with and cuddle with, in which case, an adult dog would make far more sense.
Generally speaking, the smaller the dog, the weaker his immune system. There is nothing surprising about this. Humans function similarly. Children have weaker immunities than adults and therefore get sick so much more often than an adult human. This is because it takes a few years for their immune systems to fully develop. It works the same way in dogs.
Puppies don’t have fully developed immune systems and are therefore far more susceptible to catching diseases and becoming sick.
This also becomes an important consideration when choosing between an adult dog and a puppy because the weaker the dog’s immune system, the more often he will be sick, and the more you will have to take care of him.
In fact, with puppies, routine visits to the vet are very important as well as common.
If you do ultimately decide to opt for a puppy, make sure to not take him out and about until he is properly vaccinated.
So wait about 12 to 16 weeks so that your pet is properly vaccinated before you take him on play-dates to friends’ houses, to the supermarket, to the dog park, and even for walks around the neighborhood.
The smaller the dog, the greater the responsibility – keep this in mind!
You have to think about a puppy as a human child. Just as a child is a lot of responsibility, as is a puppy.
Puppies will have weaker bladder control than a grown dog. They may even go potty indoors many times, and you will have to deal with that.
With time, your pup’s bladder will become stronger, and he will be properly trained to go potty only outdoors.
But when bringing home a pup, do keep this in mind!
If you decide to ultimately adopt a puppy, you have to think about his teeth!
Puppies tend to have teeth that are far sharper than the teeth of an adult dog. In fact, they resemble little vampire teeth!
When playing with your pup, you are bound to be left with bite marks everywhere. So if you’re okay with that, then go ahead and adopt a pup; otherwise, stick to an adult dog!
Usually, it takes about five months for your pup’s adult teeth to come out. So if you do happen to adopt a pup and are afraid of all the biting, don’t worry! It’s just for some time.
Generally speaking, when adopting a pup, whether straight from a breeder or from an organization (hopefully you choose adoption), you get to know a lot about the pup’s history, where he comes from, etc. Much of this isn’t possible when adopting a senior dog.
So if you are someone who is interested in knowing all of these things, you may want to go for a pup instead of a full-grown dog!
In terms of cuteness, there is little to no competition! A puppy always wins!
While a puppy is likely to be far more troublesome than an adult dog – he pees around the house, bites you hard, is difficult to train, can be stubborn, etc., a puppy is also far more likely to win your heart in ways an adult dog never could.
Imagine coming back from work, having had an exceptionally stressful day. Now imagine, your pup comes to you with his wide, puppy dog eyes, you pick him up, and the two of you watch a movie together, snuggled up close.
While an adult dog can be pretty cute, too, a puppy usually wins in the battle for cuteness!
These were 6 important differences between a puppy and an adult dog. It can be impossible to choose between the two sometimes. After all, a dog is still a dog, no matter his age!
Hopefully, these 6 points can make your decision slightly easier to make! And if you intend on becoming a dog parent for the very first time, it’s okay! Remember, your pet is your baby, and you will love him no matter what! It might take you some time to learn how to take care of him, but after that, you’ll most likely become a pro! Please consider adopting one of these sweet dogs here www.puccicafe.com/adoptions
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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Here are a some adoptions for consideration: puccicafe.com/adoptions