Thinking about getting a puppy?

It’s a big decision. It’s almost as big as deciding to have a family. It will take a lot of planning and here are a few things to get you started.

 

Things to consider before getting your puppy

• Does anyone in your family have an allergy to dogs?
• Who will be responsible for the care of your dog? Is that person aware of the responsibilities?
• Do you have enough room?
• Do you have a garden? If so, is it secure?
• Do you have small children? If so, will you be able to manage it all? 
• How much time do you have to exercise a dog?
• How much time do you have to groom your dog?
• If you don’t have time, do you have a budget for a dog walker?
• Are you prepared for the financial burden of a dog? Quality foods, veterinary expenses, insurance, toys, training aids etc.
• Do you travel a lot? If so, what do you plan to do with your dog when you are away? Maybe a better option would be to foster dogs which enables you to retain flexibility whilst being able to give a lot of love and support to a dog needing a home.
• Are you aware that a dog can live for 18 years or more? How likely do you think it will be that you will move abroad or want to do significant travel during this time and what will be the impact of this on your dog?
• How old are you and what is the life expectancy of your new puppy? If you are very elderly, will you be able to exercise your dog and have you made plans in the event that your dog outlives you? If you are worried about this why not consider an older rescue dog? See Rescue Dog and http://www.waggytails.org.co.uk/.
   

How to decide which breed is right for you 

There are hundreds of different breeds of dogs and they all have different needs. There are even hypoallergenic dogs! So, if there is a history of dog allergies and you are still sure you would like to get a dog, do check for dogs which are less likely to cause allergies. There is an excellent website called http://www.dialadog.co.uk/. This site will enable you to think carefully about the best dog for you based on how much time you have to exercise your dog, whether you have children etc. Some dogs are very hard work and may not be at all suitable for you even though you are drawn to them. For example, if you don’t have much time for walking and you work all day then a Dalmatian may not be suited to your family. This breed needs a lot of walking (2 hours plus off lead per day for the average 2 year old) and is also very sociable and will not tolerate being left alone for 7 or 8 hours (in fact, no dog should be left alone for this long). Dial a dog enables you to tick boxes and will then offer you the best breed of dog for your personal circumstances.

However, if you do not have time for the basic needs of a dog, i.e grooming, walking, training, general care, then please don’t get one! This dog will be likely to end up in a rescue centre and you will be feeling very bad about it.

Please also note that there are dogs which are banned in this country, so, in order to avoid a very distressing future, please ensure the dog you get is legal in this country. Check the dangerous dogs act for up to date information.

 

What next?

Now you have decided which breed you would like, the really difficult bit begins! Where do you find a breeder? As a general rule I would suggest you look for a Kennel Club registered breeder, however, there are still puppy farm breeders who manage to sneak onto this list. Puppy farm bred dogs are best avoided. How do you know if you are at a puppy farm? Actually this can be quite difficult. However, you can check with local rescue organisations to find out about bad breeders as they will probably be aware. Puppy farms tend to breed more than one breed of dog and have larger numbers of puppies about. Often the conditions are not clean and you will not see the mother with the puppies. However, puppy farmers realise that many dog owners are now expecting to see the mother with their puppies so will temporarily put the mother with them for your visit. You will need to use your instinct.

 

Things to look for in a breeder

• Are conditions cramped? Can you see the puppies with the mother? If not, then there is probably a good reason and it might be best to walk away.
• Are the conditions clean?
• Are the puppies all heaped up together to keep warm?
• Are the puppies in the home and do they look comfortable with their surroundings?
• Are the puppies kept outside of the home, in a kennel or in a shed? If so, no matter how sorry you feel you should avoid buying a puppy as they are more likely to struggle with a home environment as they have had limited interaction, socialisation and habituation from an early age. These puppies are more likely to be anxious.
• What is the mother’s behaviour like? Is she aggressive? Has she been separated from the puppies for any reason? If the answer is yes, then it is probably best to walk away.
• Are you being pressured into taking the puppy away with you before they are 8 weeks old? If so you need to be aware that a lot of socialisation occurs between the mother and the other litter mates up until at least 7 weeks old.
• Do you feel the breeder will not let you have the puppy? If so, this is probably a very good breeder who wants to be sure their puppy will be well cared for. Don’t be put off by this, just go ahead and prove that you are the right person for this puppy.
  
  
  So, you have now done all your homework, you've found the breeder you are happy with who has agreed you can have the puppy (hard work isn't it?). What happens next?
  
  
  How to choose the right puppy for you from the litter

Some breeders will be very good and will assess the right puppy for you. However, generally the following guidelines maybe useful:

• If a puppy looks nervous then it’s probably best not to take that one.
• If a puppy is aloof to you on every visit then you may find this puppy will be difficult to motivate and build a relationship with. If you are an experienced dog owner you may decide it’s worth the risk and effort, however, if you are a first time dog owner, you may want to avoid this one.
• If a puppy chooses you, be careful. Sometimes if this is the first puppy out of the group to come up to you and is always the first puppy each time you visit, you could potentially find this is quite a pushy puppy and may be quite hard work. If you are an experienced dog owner you may feel that you are able to manage this, but if you are a first time dog owner then think about it carefully and make sure you have identified a dog trainer to work with at the earliest possibility.
• For the standard dog owners looking for a family pet then it is probably best to get a puppy which is not the first or last to greet you, looks confident and is friendly. Visit several times and make sure that this is consistent.
• Avoid taking on a puppy because you feel sorry for him or because he bullies you into choosing him!
• Make sure you collect your puppy not much earlier or later than 8 weeks of age. Before you buy your puppy make sure you do your research about which vet to appoint and book in the vaccinations.
  As soon as you know when your puppy will be vaccinated book onto a reputable puppy training class as soon as possible. The smaller classes tend to be the best but do get booked up quite early. Book several weeks in advance to ensure you are able to attend the class of your choice within the critical development period (first sixteen weeks).
• For information on what to look for in a training class see www.chilleddogs.com. 
  
  If you would like any more information please contact me.
  
  The above is intended for guidance only is is by no means conclusive.