Choosing a dog
Are you considering getting a dog?
Dogs make great friends and companions for those with the time, energy and dedication to devote to them, but remember that getting any pet is a long-term commitment.
If you’re thinking of getting a dog then it’s worth doing your research beforehand to make sure that a dog is the right pet for you, and that you are aware of what a dog needs from you emotionally and financially.
What do dogs need?
- Training – for behaviour, play, socialising and walking on a lead
- Companionship – to be with other dogs or people and not to be left alone for too long. A dog is not a good choice for people who are out all day
- Daily exercise – walking and playing
- Plenty of space
- A balanced diet
- A constant supply of fresh, clean water
- A bed, blanket, bones for their teeth and toys to play with
- A secure garden to play and exercise in
- Regular vets’ treatment – injections, worming, flea treatments, teeth checks and neutering, and to be taken to the vet if they are ill
- Never to be left in a car in warm weather, even with the window open
- A collar, identity tag and micro-chip
- Kenneling if you go on holiday
- Dog insurance – find out more
If you are ready for a dog, then you need to think about the breed that is best suited to you, and where you should get your dog from. You should also consider getting dog insurance for your pet which will help with any vets’ fees, and cover you for public liability if your dog causes any kind of accident.
What type of dog should I get?
- If you have children then you should find out which breeds of dog are better with children, like a beagle, a collie or a retriever. Visit: www.dogbreedinfo.com/children.htm for more information
- If you don’t have a lot of space then you shouldn’t go for a big breed of dog. Choosing a smaller dog like a terrier or a small spaniel will best suit small spaces.
- If you are not willing to brush your dog every day, then choosing a short haired or curly haired breed that won’t need brushing as often
Where should you get your dog from?
If you are getting a puppy, then make sure it’s from a licensed breeder who will have been inspected by a vet and a local authority officer. This way you are helping to stamp out puppy farming, where dogs are cruelly bred on mass for profit and are often separated from their mothers far too early, before they are fully weaned or socialised.
Alternatively, why not try your local dog recue centre, RSPCA or Blue Cross, where you can give an unwanted dog a new home. All of the rescue dogs are fully vaccinated and checked, and will only be re-homed when they are ready, and with a new owner whose needs match the dogs.
Finding a puppy
- Make sure you buy your puppy from a licensed breeder. Your local council, vet or animal welfare officer should be able to recommend a breeder. Local, licensed, small breeders will have bred their puppies in a comfortable home environment
- Make sure you see a puppy with its mother - this will give you a good idea of background, health, eventual size and temperament
- A puppy should be at least eight weeks old before it leaves it’s mother
- A puppy should have received it’s first vaccinations in it’s immunisation programme before it leaves it’s mother and you should be given a certificate for this
- Do a check to see if the puppy is healthy – check that there are no fleas or parasites, that it doesn’t have runny eyes or a runny nose, and make sure it has pink gums and clean teeth
- The sale should be conditional on a full check from your own vet
- Ask for a diet sheet from the breeder, so you know how the puppy has been fed. It will be upsetting and stressful for the puppy to leave it’s mother, so eliminating any additional stress caused by unfamiliar food will ensure the puppy settles more quickly
Don’ts…
- Don’t respond to advertisements offering lots of different breeds for sale. This is a sign of puppy farming
- Never buy a puppy from someone at a car boot sale, table top sale or pet shop. These puppies may have been bred on a puppy farm
Useful dog websites:
www.rspca.org.uk
www.bluecross.org.uk
www.dogbreedinfo.com
www.dogfriendlybritain.co.uk
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