What a puppy is not

• A puppy is not a toy.
• A puppy is a living creature that has a need for love, kindness and proper care for the rest of its life – not just sufficient rest. It needs to be fed often when young. Young pups are especially vulnerable to broken bones and other injuries from careless treatment.
• A puppy is not a teaching aid.
• A puppy should never be obtained to try to instil a sense of responsibility in children. It’s unfair to place a defenceless animal’s well-being in the hands of children. Feeding, grooming, housebreaking, and discipline training of a pup should be the responsibility of adults.
• A puppy is not cheap.
• The purchase price or adoption fee for a pet is a mere pittance compared to the cost of veterinary care for routine and emergency treatment, licensing fees, food, equipment and toys and grooming costs over the dog’s life.
• A puppy is not self-cleaning.
• Dogs neither groom themselves nor clean up after themselves and, therefore, impose an additional workload on the household.
• A puppy is not a puppy forever.
• But they do need your love and care forever. Be sure you understand the commitment involved before succumbing to the charms of a cute, cuddly puppy. 

(Author unknown)