Dogs are for life and not just for Christmas.
The average lifespan of a dog is 13 years so make sure you are ready for the lifelong commitment and responsibility of owning a dog before getting one, not just at Christmas, but all other times of year too.
Be sure you’re doing the right thing by asking yourself the following questions:
1.Can I afford a dog?
The average lifetime cost of owning a dog is around £16,900 but could be higher or lower depending on the breed, size and health of your dog.
By August 2022, The Dogs Trust had taken 15,000 calls in 2022 from people asking about the process of rehoming their pet. This figure is up 54 per cent from last year.
Many people underestimate the costs (and hidden costs!) involved in having a dog when you decide to bring a dog into the family. It’s not just the initial outlay costs - caring for a dog for its entire life isn’t cheap. Even the healthiest dog will need food as well as regular flea, tick and worm medication. And what about the cost of a dog walker while you’re at work? Or kennels while you’re on holiday? Training and possible behaviour support?
Even the smaller items you need such as collar, travel / car carriers, brushes, toys and a harnesses and lead all add up over time. That’s before your annual vet check ups and insurance costs. As your dog gets older, it may need medicine, holistic therapies such as hydrotherapy, massage or physiotherapy, or veterinary procedures which can be expensive.
Can I afford a Puppy? Click here to read our blog and discover all the costs involved in dog ownership from the initial financial outlay and ongoing expenses.
2.Who will care for it on a daily basis?
Dogs are social animals who do not do well with long periods of solitude, does your work schedule allow you to be home? Dogs have a lot of energy and need regular stimulation, both mental and physical. Getting a dog may teach children responsibility, but they can also quickly lose interest in the day-to-day routing of feeding and exercising. Who will you be relying on to help you if or when you need it?
3.Does its personality fit your lifestyle?
It’s important to think about breed when considering welcoming a new dog into your home. You need to find a suitable breed for your lifestyle and surroundings. You must do your research to learn more about specific breeds to understand which would best suit you and your family’s lifestyle. Things to consider include; How big does the breed grow? Does the breed moult, shed or need regular grooming? What were they bred to do? Consider the exercise and stimulation needed? Don’t just google general information, speak to people already living with your preferred breeds or a professional to help you consider all perspectives.
4.Do you have room in your home?
Dogs need plenty of stimulation and exercise because when dogs get bored they can become destructive and prone to chewing. If you don’t have a garden where your dog can roam freely, make sure you’ll be able to take it on regular walks, let it run around the local
dog field, or otherwise give it the mental stimulation it needs. Some dogs require more stimulation than others which is very important to bear in mind when choosing a dog breed.
5.Will a new dog fit in with your other pets?
Just because we love all our animals doesn’t mean all our animals are going to love each other. It’s important to have realistic expectations when introducing a new dog or puppy to a resident pet. It may take several weeks or months for other pets in the home to get used to a new addition, so patience, consistency and managing of expectations is required. Slow introductions help prevent fear and aggression problems from developing. It may take time but most dogs are accepting of other dogs and often welcome new companionship, there are some that do not get on living with other dogs, so consider this possibility too.
6.How will you deal with training and behaviour issues?
As Potter Paws motto goes… ‘
Training is for life, not just for puppies.’ Training is an investment and dogs need training and reinforcement in order to become great family members. No dog is going to come into your home and behave perfectly immediately, it takes lots of time, patience and consistency to reach your goals. We would always recommend enrolling in
Puppy Class and investing in on-going training to give your dog the best chance to get things right from the off rather than waiting until you’ve already got issues and potentially needing a bahaviourist later on to fix them.
7.What kind of grooming does it require?
Dogs and especially long haired breeds require a lot of maintenance to make sure their coats don’t become matted. This can mean spending up to 20 minutes a day brushing. It is recommended long-haired dogs need a bath every 4-6 weeks, complemented by a haircut every 8 to 12 weeks. Dogs may need frequent ear-cleaning and nail-clippings too, so it’s likely that you’ll need to take them to a professional groomer. The more you brush your dog at home the longer you can go between visits to the groomer.
8.What will happen when you go on holiday?
Should you take your dog on holiday with you?
Click here to explore the considerations to make when thinking about taking your dog on holiday. What about on the occasions when it just isn’t possible to take them with you? Considering a lot of us prefer our dogs to most people, it’s perfectly understandable that we care about their welfare and well-being when we aren’t with them. I am in the very lucky position that I don’t need to rely on anyone to look after my dogs regularly, just on rare occasions, when I have a trusted few family/friends to look after them. For those without the luxury of family and friends to rely on, you’ll need to find a trusted person or Kennels to take care of your dog.
Read our blog on how to find that perfect walker/groomer/boarder. Not only do you need to find the right care, but you also need to factor in the cost this adds to your holiday!
If you are considering welcoming a puppy to your family or preparing for your puppy's arrival,
So, you're getting a puppy is a pre-recorded webinar designed to support potential and new puppy parents. Giving your dog the best start as a member of your family begins from the moment you decide you’d like to introduce a dog into your home.
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Potter Paws is a dog training school in Buckinghamshire.
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