Most new owners had considered acquiring the puppy one month or less. Some owners said they decided on the spur of the moment, and several had decided the week before getting the puppy. Sex and breed did not highly impact the decision-making process, but the emotional aspect of viewing the puppies played a large part. At the heart of the puppy behavior study is the impact of early intervention and counseling. Misconceptions and high expectations may prompt a new owner to give the animal to a shelter.
Puppies easily learn what to do.
Pet owners may not know how to properly correct behaviors and can become frustrated with the puppy when it is simply behaving normally. During the telephone interviews, new pet owners were asked to describe any problems they were having with their new puppy. Based on their responses, participants were offered advice on possible ways to modify undesirable behaviors. The researchers hope to prove that early, focused behavioral counseling will increase the likelihood of successful adoptions. If there is a positive impact from focused counseling for the owner, New added, sources of advice such as pet stores or animal shelters can be identified.