Please do me a favor before you buy a puppy.   Think about the time, responsibility, dedication, and expense involved in owning a dog or new puppy. My biggest concern when selling one of my puppies is making sure it's going to a caring, loving home. A home that understands the huge responsibility and dedication involved in raising a dog. Very simply put, are YOU ready for the added responsibility of owning a new puppy? If you're not sure, then you're probably not....

So many times people buy a puppy thinking it's not going to change their life. Wrong! If you're not willing to embrace this puppy as the newest member of your family and make decisions based on the best interest of your dog,  it's not time for you. If you're not ready to deal with vet bills, housebreaking, the day to day love, attention, and maintenance required with owning a puppy,  it's not time for you. 

I'm not trying to talk you out of anything. I'd just like to give you a few things to think about before you make that HUGE decision to bring a new puppy into your home.  Before you buy a puppy from me, or anyone else for that matter, think hard about the points I will bring out in this message. Will your pup become an active member of your family or will he spend more time then he should in a crate? Going off to work at 7:00am and returning at 5:00 or 6:00 at night is a long time for any dog to be left in a crate, especially a high energy dog like a beagle.  So think about how your work schedule will affect the alone time for your puppy, and is it fair to the animal.   How will owning a dog affect YOUR life? Are you prepared to forego other activities in order to tend to the puppy's needs?

Do you or anyone in your family have dog allergies? The time to find this out is before you bring your puppy home from your breeder, not after. The best way to find out if allergies are going to be a problem for you or any other family member is to spend time with your breeders dogs. After spending time with their animals I'm sure any allergy problems would have had plenty of time to surface.

Do you have a safe place for your puppy to grow up? Did you know that beagles have their own agenda and might run from you if they are without a leash or fenced in yard? Living on a busy street without a fenced in yard could be extremely dangerous for a beagle.  If you do not have a fence, or plan on putting up a fence or at least adding an invisible fence or dog kennel to your yard, a beagle is not for you! 

Do you live in a condo, townhouse, or apartment? Will your dog be disruptive to your neighbors? After you bring your puppy home there will be a few day adjustment period for your puppy. He's being taken from his mother, his littermates, and everything that's familiar to him.  Basically the only life he's ever known, so of course there may be some crying, barking, even howling for the first few days, even nights. This is to be expected.

 House training a puppy will take a lot of time, patience, and consistent work on your part, and believe me, accidents on your carpet ARE going to happen. Reward and praise are the only way you will get positive results. An 8 week old puppy does not have enough control to hold his bladder or bowel. 12 weeks is a little more realistic. If you do not have enough patience for house training, this may not be the right time for you to own a puppy.

Let's talk about what to feed your puppy.  Did you know that with proper diet and exercise you can add two years to your dogs life?  I recommend feeding him good dog food rather than the bargain brands at the grocery store.  I use Purina Pro Plan.   Feeding your dog bargain brands will mean he will have to sacrifice by eating mostly fillers.  Healthier dog foods like Pro Plan are specially balanced with just the right vitamins and minerals for your dog at all stages of his life.  He will also require less amounts of food to equal the nutrients needed for his proper diet and growth compared to the bargain brands, therefore you'll save money by not having to feed him as much food per day.  It's like getting a double bonus.  Saving money while feeding your dog healthier. 

Puppy teeth are very sharp until about 4 months of age, at which time their adult teeth start to come in. Until then they will most likely chew your furniture, carpet, favorite pair of shoes, etc. Puppy teeth could also be a problem for small children. I'm not going to kid you, puppy teeth hurt and even though a beagle is a wonderful choice as an all around family pet, making it through the "puppy stage" period could be a problem for a child. On the other hand, is your puppy safe around small children? Perhaps a child will hold the puppy too tight, or sudden moves from a puppy could cause a child to drop him. Children get excited and and try to chase puppies. They could accidentally step on one. These are things you need to consider before you purchase a puppy. Are your children ready/old enough for a new puppy?

Your puppy will need regular trips to the vet for his health care, especially for the first few months. 2nd and 3rd puppy shots, a rabies vaccination at about 4 months of age. He'll need monthly heartworm medication to be used as a preventative against this deadly disease. He'll need annual visits for yearly boosters and heartworm tests.  Office visits can be costly. Are you ready, willing, and able to provide health care for your dog?

When you decide it's time to starting thinking about adding a new puppy to your family, be sure to start your search for your beagle at least 4 to 6 months before you actually want to bring your puppy home.  Most breeders, including myself work off a waiting list and do not have puppies available on the spot.  A lot of families make the mistake of thinking all they have to do is call a breeder and they'll have a puppy for them.  That's not usually the case at all.  What sometimes happens then is the family starts scrambling for a puppy, especially if the pup is going to be a Christmas or birthday gift.   When they find there is nothing available, they could make a bad decision by ending up at the pet store. 

The best advice I can give you is find a breeder you like and trust.  Work only with them.  Remember, you're not just buying a puppy, you're buying the knowledge, experience, and the advice your breeder can give you.  Someone who will be there to answer all your questions, even after you bring your puppy home.  That's not something you're going to receive from a pet store, not to mention all the other horrible things that can go wrong.  We've all heard the horror stories.   

If you remember nothing else about pet shops, remember this, NO reputable breeder would EVER sell their puppies to a pet shop.  We want to know where our precious puppies are going.  We want to stay in touch with our families and get updates on our puppies over the years, so don't let the pet shops fool you by saying they buy their pups from reputable breeders, because they DON'T!  Be smart and stay away!  Don't even go in the store.  We've all seen the adorable little puppies in the store window.  Trust me, I have too.  It breaks my heart.  I want to go in there and save them all, but that's what these stores count on, and that's what keeps the puppy mills in business.  Our hearts!!!!  So buy with your head, not with your heart, because buying your puppy from a pet store could bring you a BIG heart ache down the road. 

Something else I'd like to caution you about is buying a puppy out of state over the internet and having your puppy shipped.  My personal opinion is, any breeder that breeds SO MANY puppies that they need to offer shipping tells me that they breed A LOT OF PUPPIES!  Anyone who breeds a lot of puppies is certainly a facility I would have many questions about, not to mention, why would anyone want to buy a puppy they can't see in person?  Don't most people want to see what they're buying, especially when they're spending hundreds of dollars?  Don't most people want to hold their puppy and see how he/she interacts with them?   Don't most people want to make sure that puppy looks and feels healthy?  Don't most people want to meet the parents of their new puppy and check out the facility where their puppy was born?  Don't most people want to meet the breeder of their puppy and know if he or she is going to be around to answer questions once that puppy goes home with his or her new family?  

AND HERE'S MY QUESTION, " What do you do if you wind up with a sick puppy that you just bought and had shipped from 6 states away?"  Do you ship him back?  Do you get reimbursed for vet bills from the "breeder"?  Yeah right!  Do they even take your phone call or answer your emails? 

Please do yourself a favor, buy within your tri state area.  I'm sure there are reputable breeders within driving distance of your home that are within your budget.  Besides, by the time you pay for the puppy's airline ticket, special crate, and vet certification, you're probably spending twice as much as you would from a more local breeder anyway, and you wouldn't be holding your breathe hoping everything really is as good as they made it seem on the internet. 

If you have thought about all the points I have just brought out and still feel a puppy is right for your family, then I congratulate you. Owning a dog can be a wonderful loving experience for both adults and children. It's a tremendous way to teach your children to love, respect, and nurture life. To be kind, gentle and caring. A baby dog who needs them in the same way they need you. 

I'd also like to encourage you to have your new dog or puppy micro chipped.  It's an easy procedure which does not hurt your dog.  Some breeders offer it, or it can be done at your vets office.  Believe me, it's an inexpensive way to have peace of mind if your dog somehow gets lost.  It does not guarantee he will be found, but the odds are much higher he will be reunited with his family. 

Last but very very important,  please do the right thing by having your dog spayed or neutered so you can help protect the pedigree of the puppy you are about to purchase. Anyone can breed a dog, but not everyone breeds for the right reason. I breed for the love of my animals. A love I want to help other people experience.....Good luck in your search,

Terry Stern
New Jersey Beagles