Choosing the right dog/puppy for you…
You may well have an idea in your head about which breed of dog you want to go for but is it really the right one for you? Its cute and cuddly and your friend has the same breed and hasn’t had any issues but does it still make it the right choice for you in your situation?
Does your friend have children? If not and you do, is the breed known to be good around kids? How much time does your friend have to walk the dog? Do you have the same amount of time to spare? If your lifestyle and living accommodation etc is exactly the same as your friends setup then maybe that breed is for you but do your own research, its crucial!
One of the best resources around is the Kennel Club this link will take you straight to the section on their site entitled: I’m looking for a puppy or dog. It’s not all about getting a pedigree breed there’s lots of information to help you make a more realistic assessment of what you can offer a puppy or dog and work out what you really want. Here’s a checklist to consider before buying a puppy/dog.
How much time do you have to walk your puppy/dog per day?
Do you have children?
Do you have a garden? If so what size is it?
Does anyone in your household have allergies to animal fur?
Dogs can vary in amount of grooming needed. How much time per day can you give to it?
Have you looked at the expenses associated with owning a puppy/dog?
How big is your home, compared to the size of the puppy/ dog you are interested in?
What size dog do you want?
Where will you get your dog from? Hopefully a breeder registered with the Kennel Club or one that you can go and check out to make sure its not a puppy farm! Please check out Lucy’s law on gov.uk website! Or a rescue from Battersea dogs home or the RSPCA.
It’s really important to read up on how to train your puppy and how crucial socialisation and habituation are in the initial stages of ownership. New dog owners, this could take up to 6 months of effort but it will all be worth it in the end. You will end up with a well-rounded, robust dog!
It’s essential once you have purchased your puppy you get it checked over thoroughly by your local vet before paying for vaccinations etc. By law you have 48hrs to return the puppy if its not healthy but I totally understand this will be heartbreaking to do. If you have done your research properly and you find a good breeder this shouldn’t happen.
There are plenty of rescue dogs looking for new homes which is important to remember and whilst its essential that people do take on rescue animals you do have to consider your prior level of experience. Rescue dogs come with their own set of issues, they may not have been socialised properly or abused, quite often you aren’t going to know for sure what they’ve been through so its crucial that you have enough experience and time to re-train it and care for it in the right way. All rescues are assessed properly by the charities that look after them. The charities work out the perfect type of home for each dog that is in their care. Rescue dogs might well take a bit more time and care but ultimately you will be saving their lives and giving them the home they truly deserve. Here are links to Battersea dogs home and more locally the Shoreham branch of Dogs Trust, RSPCA and Blue Cross.