Kopii the Goldie : Issue #001 - Getting a New Puppy

Kopii The Goldie

Issue #001 - Getting a New Puppy

Intending to get the puppy you saw at the Pet Shop / Pet Farm?
Planning to adopt a dog and let it be your life companion?

A dog has been historically well proven to be a man's best friend. Regardless of their breed, they stay loyal to their owners, providing us the support emotionally along with companionship and love. Unconditional Love. Because of the fact that dogs loves their owner unconditionally, many considered their furry pals to be part of the family and could not imagine life without them.

There are hundreds of dog breeds which we can choose from, from the tiny Chihuahua to the large Irish Wolfhound. Regardless of their sizes, getting a puppy requires lots of commitment. Time, work and RESPONSIBILITY. A dog needs aplenty of our time, nourishment, training and companionship.

Many times, when we set foot into a Pet shop, looking at all the adorable and cuddly puppies yelping, 9 out of 10 dog lovers will melt when they look into the puppies cute puppy eye.


However, before getting the puppy out of impulse, there are many points to take note of.

• Family members - If you are living with your family (ie: doesn't have your own pad), does your family love dogs as much as you do? Will they be ok to let you have a dog?

• Size of dog - Considering the size the puppy will fully grown to when they mature into an adult, puppies do not remain the same size forever, they might be cute and small at the time we saw them at the Pet Shop, but they will one day grow bigger and less cute when they are an adult.

• Available space - All dogs requires living space, they will not be willing to be crate up forever.  One thing to consider is if the living space that the dog can have access to will be spacious enough to allow the dog to move around freely without clutters.

• Condition of home - Dogs loves to lick, bite things especially when they are teething. Some breeds might be even more destructive as compared to others. Therefore it is very important to assess the condition of your home before bringing the puppy home. Is the floor free of wires and stuffs which might pose a hazard if your puppy bites on them?

• Commitment - Ask yourself, will you be willing to sleep late and wake up early daily if you need to spend time with your dog? Will you be ok to clean up his mess if he poos and pees at the wrong area? Will you be patient to train it during the initial stages?

• Health - Some dog breeds sheds a lot of fur during different time of the year. It is best that people at home doesn't have any health conditions that could be aggravated by the fur.

• Other pets - Do you have other pets at home? Like children, some dogs might be friendly with other pets but not all. 

• Lifestyle of owner - This is the most important factor i considered before i got Kopii, our lifestyle might have to change because of our new furry pal. Different type of breeds require a different lifestyle. Some dogs love it outdoors, some love it indoors. Some requires a large amount of exercise and some will be contented to just be a couch potato.

• Maintenance - Dogs needs maintenance to keep themselves clean and healthy. From grooming to weekly baths, all this requires TIME.

• Medical Fees - Yes, this might not apply for healthy dogs, but however it is still best recommended to put aside a small sum of money monthly for their medical funds.

Above are just some points to take note of before getting a puppy, i have read stories of how fully grown dogs are abandoned or given to the shelter just because they have grown too big and the owner did not anticipate the growth. Most reasons people give up their dogs are because of new child in the household or they are moving home and their new house could not house the dog. Personally i find it downright stupid because you wouldn't give up your child if you get a new puppy, so why give up the dog because you are expecting a new child? If the dog can live with you for years, they can live with your kid too. If the dog can love you unconditionally, it will love your child with all it can too.

Always consider for a while before getting a puppy or adopting one so as to prevent cases of abandonment. 

The dog would not abandon you because you had grown fatter / thinner, the dog wouldn't abandon you because you have body odour or stinky feet. So do not ever abandon your dog if you decided to get one.

The above points mentioned mostly requires commitment of time. Therefore be prepared that if you have a dog, you might not be able to go out that much as you need to spend time with your furry pal. You might lose sleep because you wanted to play with them before bedtime. You might have to wake up early everyday for work because you have to clean up their mess before going out. Everything needs time. So unless you can commit the time, do not get a dog.

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Finally, if you have decided to get a puppy after much considerations, start by preparing a spot at home to house your pup. If the breed you are getting will grow much bigger, be sure to find a roomy cage or fencing that is fit for bigger dogs. Have everything prepared before bringing the puppy home.

• Create an area at home just for your puppy. Puppy needs ME-TIME too. Usually i reckon people put the crates / fencing in the living area or kitchen. This way, your pup will have a limited area to explode when they comes home and a place to feel safe. most importantly, with a limited area, even if they poo or pee on the floor, it would be easier to clean up too.

• Puppy proof the area which you plan to put the crate / fence by cleaning the floors well, removing any wires or clutter that might be dangerous to your pup if they chew or swallow it. 

• Puppies love to bite, so be sure to watch over your pup like a hawk when you are home, if she will be alone, use non-biting fluids on anything that you wouldn't want destroyed. My friend recommended using Medicated Oil, apparently dogs hate that smell.

• Get a few toys ready to let your pup chew. Puppies love to chew, it is not their fault. They just need to be taught not to chew on anything and everything except their own toys. Have a few spare ones available as toys gets destroyed very fast. Kopii loves her cloth toy, rope toy and a rubber dumbbell with bells inside. 

• Buy a collar or harness and leash in the correct size for your puppy. Do not get a bigger one thinking they can still use it when they grow bigger. I made this mistake and i have to go out and get another harness correctly sized for her. When choosing a harness or collar, do not get a velcro-ed one unless you don't mind your pup breaking out of it and running away. I actually got a choke collar for training purpose but i did not use it at all for fear of breaking Kopii's neck. A harness is good enough. 

• Buy the correct shampoo. I bought mine before Kopii came back and im glad she likes it. Shampoos and conditioners have to be trialed and error-ed. Like humans, some dogs have sensitive skin, so a shampoo suited for sensitive would be recommended. Some dogs have dry skin so you would need an extra conditioning one solely for dry skin.

• Get brushes. One brush is not enough. We only bought a pin brush for Kopii and she hates it. Probably because the pin hurts. Went to get another deshedder and a soft brush. If your pup breed sheds lots of fur, you would definitely need a de-shedder, a soft brush for daily combing to prevent tangles and mats.

• Purchase a high quality food. I read on the internet that many dog food have questionable ingredients. it would be best to get one highly recommended by friends or one with good reviews on the internet. Wellness brand of dog food is recommended by my friend and Kopii loves it. If in doubt, can consult a vet or pet food supplier.

• Buy 2 bowls. One for water and one for food. It is best to get a heavier one and stainless steel with rubber base so that it wouldn't move around when your pup pushes it. For food bowl, it would be best to get one with ridges in it to prevent fast eating. You wouldn't want your pup to gobble down its meal and have digestive problems. For water bowl, its best to get a big one so that your pup can keep itself hydrated if you are not at home, if water is not adequate and with the kind of weather in Singapore, it might lead to heat strokes. I got Kopii a water dispenser, it can contain 2 litre of water and it dispenses by itself when the water level in the bowl runs low. 

• Prepare an old shirt. put the old shirt together in the crate with your pup while you travel home for the first time. The old shirt could be used to let the puppy get use to your smell while on the way home.

• Potty training. If you intend to potty train your pup to eliminate in its crate, its best to get a pee pan, pee pads and potty training spray ready. Its always best to train from day one.

Get ready other necessities needed to welcome your new pup home. Main thing is its food. Usually the place you get the pup, they will get you a sample of the food they feed your pup. If you intend to change its food to another brand, it will be best to have a transition period, mixing in the new food with the old one, increasing the new food's portion daily.
(Eg: 3 cups -> Day 1 - 0.5 cup new, 2.5 cup old, Day 2 - 1 cup new 2 cup old).

Get ready a pee pad if your pup is too big to be put inside a crate while going home. The pee pad can be placed on your car seat so that if the pup eliminates, your car seat would not be soiled.

After getting everything ready, its time to bring your puppy home!
Have fun, give lots of praises, love them!



So..... before i end this post, anyone keen to buy a carpet? Puppy design.