All the things I wish I knew before I got my first ever puppy!
Yes I know, you’ve probably heard the same old spiel before, are you ready for the responsibility blah blah blah! But responsibility aside, there’s so many other things to consider than ‘are you responsible enough,’ because to be honest I think it’s a bit insulting to call someone not ready for a dog irresponsible, I know plenty of people a lot more responsible than me who are NO WHERE near ready for a dog.
I was reading on the Kennel Club Site some frankly shocking statistics. According to one of their studies…
10% of puppy owners that they surveyed admitted that they bought their puppy on impulse.
40% said that they bought a puppy because of the way that it looked.
Only 10% reported that they bought a puppy after checking that it suited their lifestyle.
Wow. Just wow. So the buying the puppy on impulse question I would like to know a little more detail on the definition of ‘impulse’, if you had been contemplating getting a dog for a long time and but found one when you weren’t specifically ‘looking’ for one, then I don’t think that’s such a bad thing. It took me less than 24 hours to get prepared for Cooper, yes it was aided by lockdown, but if you worked part time or from home it could be easily worked around. If however you’d never thought about getting a puppy before and you also fall into the 40% of buying one based on looks, and therefore not checking that it suits your lifestyle, it’s all a bit of a recipe for disaster- both for you and the dog!
Again with the 40% based on the ‘way it looks’, if you’d already researched dog breeds, then yeah, of course you’re going to choose a dog on the way it looks. Yes there is an aspect of what puppy you bond with first as well- but from the human perspective a lot of the bonding will be based on the puppy’s looks- fair enough. But again, if is this partnered with the final statistic of not researching- recipe for disaster.
To be honest I think it’s pretty awful that people would even consider getting a dog without at least doing a bit of research into the breed that they’re buying into. I guess it’s a trend that’s got even worse over the years now that some dogs have become a fashion accessory as well as a pet. Every breed has it’s unique quirks and idiosyncrasies, some of which could be massively incompatible with certain people’s lifestyles. If you live in an apartment but want a Border Collie…well good luck with that!
The main question I think you need to answer is ‘what can YOU offer to the dog?’ It’s all well and good thinking about what a dog could do for you, but it’s a two way street and a dog needs a lot of love, attention and up keep.
DO YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND?
Dogs are priceless, but also extremely pricey. Check out the finance pages on here to find out more information on the costs of dog ownership and ways to save money. I wrote an article on how much Cooper had cost me after 2 months of having him. If you’re interested on gauging how much a mid-large breed dog will cost, it’s probably a good reference point!
DO YOU HAVE THE TIME TO SPEND?
Or if not, do you have the money to get in a sitter or put it in day care? Yes some dog breeds are okay being at home alone for long periods (see below article for recommended breeds), but it is not fair to constantly be leaving them alone, you are their companion as much as they are yours. Especially as a puppy, you really need to be at home with them full time for at least the first two weeks or so to settle them in and train them. With dogs you get out what you put in. You can’t expect to have a perfectly trained, sociable dog, if you’re going to leave them alone all the time.
DO YOU HAVE THE SPACE NEEDED FOR THAT PARTICULAR BREED?
Some dogs will function perfectly well in apartments or small houses, other dogs will go stir crazy and probably just eat your apartment or small house! Going back to the point of researching which breed is right for you, you need to take into account the practicalities of which dog is a good fit for your situation- and it’s not all about size! Did you know that a greyhound is actually a great dog to own if you live in an apartment? But a Border Collie which is half it’s size is one of the WORST dogs to have if you live in an apartment.
CAN YOU PROVIDE THE EXERCISE THE DOG IS GOING TO NEED?
This was the question that stopped me from getting a Border Collie. Dogs need to be both physically and mentally exercised- some obviously more than others. I am a very active person and run/walk anywhere from 5-10km daily and I wanted a dog that was going to be able to fit in with my exercise regime. There is a reason why elderly people tend to go for certain breeds of dog- some need less exercise than others. If you don’t have time for long walks or lots of outdoor play, getting a highly active dog isn’t a good idea.
It’s also something to consider that a lot of larger breed dogs are more susceptible to issues such as hip dysplasia, and as such, as puppies you are limited on how much you should exercise and walk them. For me I now split my walks, 2 shorter walks with Cooper every day, and then a walk for myself in the middle.
BREEDS THAT REQUIRE A LOT OF EXERCISE
ARE YOU HAPPY TO DEAL WITH THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, VOMIT, WEE AND POO?
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard the phrase, ‘they’re worse than a newborn baby!’ when talking about puppies- and to be honest I think it’s true! They cry at night, pee and poo all the place, and I’m sure at some point you’ll get the pleasure of cleaning up projectile dog vomit after your pup has eaten something that hasn’t agreed with them! (Horse poo, their own poo, fox poo, cat poo to name a few!)
Also unlike a newborn, they need to be watched CONSTANTLY, obviously you’re not going to leave your newborn unattended, but if you do pop out the room, you generally don’t have to be worried about your baby eating the furniture!
IS YOUR HOUSE SUITABLY PUPPY PROOF?
So you’ve worked out the appropriate breed for your property size and situation, but is you property doggy proof? Have you got plants? Check out which types as a lot of general house/garden plants are highly toxic to dogs! Got kids around? Do they leave toys lying around that a dog could potentially swallow and get stuck? Is your garden fully secure? Especially with small breeds, is there any holes that they could escape through- or for larger breeds, fences that they could escape over! There are so many things I had to change in my house, even down to getting the alarm company out to adjust our alarm sensors so the dog didn’t set them off when he was at home alone.
ARE YOUR FAMILY ON BOARD WITH IT?
If you have other family members in the house, are they on board with the idea and are they happy/suited for the choice of breed? From allergies to phobias, having someone in your family not getting on with the dog is always going to cause tension. Hundreds of dogs end up in shelters every year through no fault of their own after people realise that the dog doesn’t fit in with their family.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PETS YOU NEED TO CONSIDER?
Have a cat? Rabbit? Hamster? Another dog? You need to consider if firstly, your current pet is able to deal with having a new addition to the family, and secondly, if your new addition is going to be able to deal with the current family members! For example if you have a house rabbit, buying a small dog such as a Jack Russell which are bred to chase out small animals is probably not the best idea!
CAN YOU PROVIDE ALL OF THE ABOVE GOING FORWARD?
It’s all well and good thinking about your current situation, but your dog could potentially live up to almost 20 years old, in 15-20 years time are you still going to be able to manage it? Obviously no one can predict the future, Covid been a key example! But if you’ve got big plans to go travelling in a few years time or want to have kids but don’t want a child friendly dog breed, these are all things to consider.
