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At seven years old, my daughter wanted a puppy. So after much debate we bought her one. I knew that the puppy would end up being mostly my responsibility. Puppies are babies, and need a lot of attention, love, patience and training. This was at a time when crates were unheard of. After cleaning up quite a few little accidents, I decided, I needed to be proactive.

We named the puppy Holly, and I decided the only way to get the puppy to understand that outside is where she is to do her business, is to schedule outside time every two to three hours around the clock. So for about 3 weeks, I set the alarm and got up and took Holly out. One time she was so tired at the 2am outside time, she waddled over, and lay down in a snow bank. So there I was picking up the little bundle, setting her on her legs, and saying gently, “Now go pee.” She looked at me like I was crazy to take her out of her warm bed, and put her outside, so she went over and lay down in the snow bank again. I picked her up, and cuddled her, and she rewarded me with a puppy kiss. After a month, she made the connection, and even began asking to go out. It was worth all the sleepless nights because she was one of the few dogs I had been able to train to go outside.

Crating makes it so much easier to train a puppy. Especially if you can’t get up in the middle of the night to let them out cause you have to work. A dog will not sleep in its own mess, so it will do it’s best to go outside if it is crated. The crate for potty training shouldn’t be too large, because if it is, they will then just separate a spot to go in and lay in another spot. Crates are not meant for all day, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies cannot be left a crate longer than a few hours, because their bladders are too small to wait all day. The crate is mainly to prevent or contain accidents at night. During the day, they should be taken outside, about every two hours if they are six weeks old. After they get a little older you can expand the time. Take them out on a leash, and tell them to go pee or whatever command you want in that area. When they do as commanded either give them a small treat, or pet and praise them. They will connect the treat and praise with going outside. Do not give them the treat when they come in. They will make the connection of coming in with praise and treat, instead of going pee outside.

If you have to work, make sure you can get home to let them out a few times a day, or hire someone to do it for you. So think very carefully if you have time to devote to a puppy. Like I said earlier, they are babies. You have to teach them to be social, that’s not possible if they are crated 8 to 10 hours a day. If you come home tired, think, your puppy has waited all day for you. Hang in there and play with puppy first thing. Take her for a walk to do her business, and play. Greet her like you would a child, with a smile, and a cuddle. Gradually, introduce commands but not right when you get home. Puppies are all about the playing when you get home. I recommend an obedience class for puppies. Pet Smart, has them ongoing. If you can’t afford it, check a book out of the library, on dog training. Try to find one that teaches positive reinforcement. Hitting a dog or any animal is never acceptable. There are many books, DVD’s and even programs on The Animal Planet channel that will show you how to have your puppy become your best friend. My daughters puppy Holly, lived for 16 years, she was a constant companion for my daughter. My daughter moved away at 18, and Holly ended up staying with me. We decided she had only known one home, and to take her to an apartment, and to be left alone all day wouldn’t be good, so Holly stayed till she passed away with me. She never went potty in the house; I always felt it was worth the time I put in all those many years ago.

Beagle puppies for free the sign said. My father after dinner drove us to this farm, and pulled in where this sign was posted. It was a farm, and he worked with this man at the factory. I was seven years old. When I saw the puppies, all running about an enclosed area, and a squeal of delight escaped my lips. He was going to get me the puppy he had promised for my seventh birthday. I was let in the enclosure, not noticing the feces covered floor. A beautiful tricolor beagle puppy ran up to me, and put his dirty paws all over my jeans and t shirt. I didn’t even notice the smell, I was in love. Covered in beagle puppies, there were about ten of them, I picked out the tricolor that first ran up to me. I named her Skippy. The smell was horrible in the car, and my mother threw a fit about my feces covered pants, and squirmy dirty puppy in my arms. We both got a bath right then and there, we both hated baths. Beagle puppies for free, is anything but usually, and that is what my parents soon found out.

Skippy may have been home raised, as the man said, but she had been given no preventative shots, no flea preventative, and wasn’t dewormed. My mother, who was very knowledgeable about such things, took her to our local vet. She received everything aforementioned plus an appointment for being spayed. Approximately $150.00 later, our free puppy finally got the care she should have been having all along.

Now whenever I see any pet for free I am highly suspicious. Even the newspapers tell you not to advertise beagle puppies for free, because instead of a loving family adopting them, it may be a lab. Beagle puppies are used in labs because they have a lot of the same diseases, and problems as humans. So if you have puppies, first, get the mom spayed, and then screen possible adoptees carefully. If you have puppies, get them the proper vet care from day one. However, letting your dog have puppies, unless you are breeding pure breads is just not being responsible. Everyday, dogs are euthanized for lack of a home, why add more to this horrible statistic?

Skippy didn’t live long. Her bad start caused many problems and she died way before she should have. I have had Beagles live 20 years in my household. Skippy lived a mere five years. The Beagle puppies for free sign, was anything but free. Realize animals are never free. The cost of a dog per year can be as high as $500.00 if taken care of properly. Vets are not inexpensive, but a dog needs to see one at least every six months for flea prevention, shots, and check ups. Beagles in particular are very prone to ear infections, mine has one or two every year. So don’t be fooled into a sign that says Beagle puppies for free, there is no such animal.