Buying a Dog

Man's best friend always looks so natural and easy to live with - but is this the reality?

Before buying a dog, it is important to do lots of groundwork, research and preparation. The single most important thing to remember is that once you buy a dog, you only get out what you put in. In the vast majority of cases aggressive dogs or behavioural problems are a direct result of how the owners have looked after their dog.

Questions you should ask yourself before buying a dog include: -

1 - What is the main reason we want a Dog?

2 - Are we ready for the responsibility of keeping a Dog?

3 - Do we have sufficient time to spend with our Dog?

4 - How will it interact with other family members and/or pets?

5 - Can we afford a Dog?

6 - Where should we buy a Dog from?

1 - If your reason for getting a dog is because they look cute, your friend/a celebrity has one or you are the type of person who easily loses interest, then perhaps a Dog would not be ideal for you. If on the other hand you are ready for the commitment and highs and lows this journey will bring, then go for it!

2 - Owning a Dog is a huge responsibility. Not just to the Dog itself, but also those around you. Having an out of control Dog or one who is aggressive or constantly barks, can put a great strain on your relationships. How many times do you hear of people complaining that their neighbours dog barks all day long whilst they are at work? This is the responsibility of the Dog Owner to control. Don't be put off by this, if you take the right steps from the moment you are introduced to your Dog then this need never be a problem.

3 - Most Dogs want a routine and whilst the amount of time on each will vary from breed to breed, the activites will remain the same. These can be broken down into: -

Sleep/Rest Food/Drink Exercise Play Love

The order is not necessarily in importance, but if you can give a regular sleep and eating pattern it will help any new Dog settle into its surroundings. Exercise is an absolute must, if you are not prepared to take your Dog out 2-3 times per day in all weathers then you may find they become bored, restless or agitated. Encourage exercise with their play and give them sufficient love without being over-the-top. If you give too much love, your Dog will begin to think it is in control of you and it has to be the other way round.

4 - If you have young children or are expecting a baby, then please think carefully about the type of breed you want. Make sure you have enough time to spend with both your Dog and family, so neither feel neglected.

5 - Dogs can be very cheap or very expensive to look after - a lot depends on the 'luck of the draw' when you buy your Dog. I would certainly recommend Pet Insurance as soon as you buy your Dog. Once they become an integral part of your life you will want to do anything to help them should they become ill so this should keep any medical problems financially covered.

6 - You have to decide whether you want to buy a puppy from a breeder, a Dog out of the local ads or a Rescue Dog from your nearest centre. There are pro's and con's with all of these and we will be covering them in our Blog shortly.

I hope that you reach the right decision when you are Buying a Dog and that our article has been of help to you.

Having many years experience of Owning and looking after Dogs, we have now set up a Blog at http://www.owningadog.co.uk to share these experiences with you.