My family would love to get a dog, but I have three children ranging in age. Which dog would be best suited for my family?

Ann

This is quite a difficult question as it is subjective in nature, but I’ll do my best to answer. With very small children it is not always a good idea to get a dog – partly for the child’s safety but also because looking after a dog can be extremely demanding on your time.

If your children are old enough to get a dog but still young, then you obviously want a good-natured and calm dog. Here are some of the best dogs for children in my opinion:

• Beagle
• Golden Retriever (probably not the best dog for first time owners)
• King Charles Spaniel
• Labrador Retriever (again probably not the best dog for first time owners)
• Pug (great for first time owners)

All of these dogs are in general well-natured and patient with children, so should make great family pets. There are other considerations you should take into account before deciding to get a dog – read more about them here.

All the best,

Richard

I’m thinking of getting a new dog but I’m not sure if I have enough time/money. How can I find out?

Esme

First of all, if you have any doubts about whether getting a dog is the right thing to do then it probably isn’t a good idea. You need to be fully committed to a dog from the moment you get it. It’s a much better idea to wait for a while until you are certain you can look after a dog and give it the care it needs.

Things you need to think about are:

• Can I financially afford a dog? (Not just the purchase fee, but also food, toys, equipment, grooming and medical care)
• Do I have enough time for a dog? (Dogs need care throughout a day, not just at one or two times during it)
• Can I provide enough exercise for the dog? (Dogs need daily exercise throughout their life)
• Do I have the time to train the dog?

There are many more considerations before getting a dog, but these should get your started. You need to be sure you can provide for all the dogs need before you get one.

All the best,

Richard

Hi Richard, is there a “best” time to get a dog? If so when is it? I’m thinking of getting a dog over Christmas but have heard lots of bad things about this.

Allen

In most cases there is not a general “best” time of year to get a new dog – it depends on your own situation.

When your dog is a puppy it requris the most attention, so you should try to get it when you have the most free time to devote to it. This can help with establishing a training routine and building a bond with the puppy.

I’d advise against getting a puppy at Christmas or any other big holiday though. Although we all enjoy Christmas, it can be a more stressful time than we realise. This is definitely not the right state of mind to be in when you get a new dog.

Hope that helps!

I’m considering getting a new dog, but don’t know whether I am too old. Do you think anyone is ever too old to get a dog?

Margaret

I don’t think there is a defined age when you shouldn’t get a dog, but as you get older there are certainly some considerations you should take into account.

The main problem is not your age now, but in 10-15 years time. Will you still be able to give the dog the exercise and attention it needs then? The average dog will live to over 10 years, so this is something you should consider carefully.

If your physical condition prevents you from giving your dog the regular walks it needs to stay healthy then this could also be a problem.

However there is certainly no reason why anyone should not consider getting a dog. If you feel you can care for it properly (including financially) for its entire lifetime then they can provide great companionship.

It really doesn’t come down to age, but your own physical condition and circumstances.

Apart from your age related to concerns, you should also take the choosing a puppy quiz.

Hope that helps!

Richard Cross

I want to know when is a puppy full grown, and when I can change the food from puppy food to adult dog food.

Thanks!

This depends on the breed of dog you have and how large the breed of. Knowing when is a puppy full grown exactly is almost impossible to tell, but as a general guideline:

• Most dogs of a small and average size are fully grown between 1 and 1.5 years, although the time varies for individual dogs
• Larger dogs may continue to grow for longer, up to two years in some cases. Again this depends not only on breed but on the individual dog itself.

Remember that although a puppy may stop growing, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it is at its most mentally mature stage.

If you are wondering when you should switch from puppy to adult food, it is usually at around the one year mark although you for bigger dogs you might want to wait a bit longer. Your vet will be able to advise you on when to switch for your specific breed of dog, which makes all the difference.

Knowing when is a puppy fully grown is not an exact science, and there are many factors involved. Don’t worry too much about the exact time they are fully grown, just the general age when they require a change in diet.

I’ve heard blueberries are poisonous to dogs, is this true? What other foods shouldn’t a dog eat?

Chris

This is a surprisingly common question, as many different foods can be dangerous for dogs even if we don’t expect them to be. Things like chocolate and tea for example can be extremely poisonous for a dog to eat, even in small amounts, so you should always be careful.

But are blueberries safe for dogs? The short answer is yes, in moderation. A few blueberries eaten on a walk isn’t going to harm your dog, but if he eats too many you might find he gets diarrhoea. Like most things, blueberries are good in moderation but should not form a large part of your dogs diet.

So in short, as a treat blueberries are safe for dogs. Just don’t give them too many.

There are other foods that aren’t safe for your dog, and you should be careful not to leave these lying around the house.

Some of the more dangerous foods for dog include:

• Alcohol
• Onions and Garlic
• Chocolate
• Salt in large quantities

To provide your dog with the best possible diet you should try to make sure it has a balanced diet. This can include treats, but on the whole should be made up of a high quality dog food. Cheaper dog foods usually contain much more filler than meat and hence aren’t that great for your dogs health.

There’s been quite an uproar about dog food recently actually, with one site claiming that most store bought dog food is actually damaging to dogs health. I like to make home-made dog food whenever possible, and you can find out more about how to do this at here.

I’ve heard that Parvo is a common disease amongst dogs. What are dog Parvo symptoms and what are the effects of a dog getting Parvo?

Carrie

First of all, you should try to make sure your dog gets all his Parvo immunisations. The virus can be stopped in the majority of cases by getting the dog vaccinated at the right age. Once Parvo has been contracted there is almost nothing you can do, but if you see the following symptoms make sure you take your dog to the vet immediately.

Canine Parvovirus usually exhibits the following symptoms within 6-10 days of contracting the virus.

• Vomiting – causes dehydration in the dog
• Diarrhoea – again causes dehydration. The diarrhoea is also often bloody
• The dog will become lethargic and not his usualy self
• The dog may also run a fever

Because the dehydration of the dog can cause death, you should immediately take your pet to the vet if you see these symptoms who’ll try to re-hydrate the dog and give it the essential electrolytes lost.

As always, if you are in any doubt as to your dogs health you should contact a registered vet immediately.

Thanks,

Richard Cross

I’ve heard that electric dog collars are very effective when training a dog, but are they humane? Do they hurt the dog, or just shock it? Should I use them?
Alex

This is one question that is sure to cause much debate amongst dog owners, so I’ll try to give both sides of the story.

The benefits of the electric collar is that you can administer punishment for bad behaviour to a dog from a large distance. I’m usually an advocate of the positive training method so I don’t think this is the best way to go about training a dog, but there is no doubt that it can work in some cases.

On the downside, it is difficult to tell how painful the electric shock is to a dog. This is why some people think it is inhumane. The shock can also have the effect of the confusing your dog and disorientating it which isn’t going to help your training at all.

In some cases the electric collar is used by owners who’ve tried everything else and still can’t get their dog to be obedient. If the bad behaviour is putting the dog at risk, then it could be considered much more humane to use the electric collar than to not. An electric shock is much better than being run over for example.

I think that electric collars aren’t necessarily inhumane, but aren’t the most efficient way to train your dog. Ultimately it is the owners decision though.

All the best,

Richard Cross

We love our dog a lot, and it has really been a great addition to our family. Now we are thinking of adding a second, but will it be too much work? And will the first dog mind?
Rachel

This really depends on many different factors. The main thing is, can you spend enough time with your new dog while not neglecting your first?

Your new dog will require training, exercise and all the other things that go along with getting a new pet. Some of the things you can do with both dogs at the same time – but others like training will have to be done separately. There is also the monetary cost of getting a second dog that should be considered.

Getting a second dog can be a wonderful addition to the family, but it should be thought through properly. You should at least ask the following questions to see whether it would be right for you.

• Do I have the time that each dog deserves?
• Can I afford to have two dogs?
• Will one of the dogs not get the care that it needs because we have two?
• Can me and my family cope with a new energetic dog? This may be a no if your current dog already has a lively temperament
• Who will be responsible for taking care of the dog?
• Will my first dog lose some dog the attention it gets from the family?

These are just some of the factors that can affect your decision, so make sure you consider your options carefully.

Thanks,

Richard Cross

What’s the best way to train reliable off-leash recall for a terrier with hunting tendencies? My dog is proving very difficult to train, and it is becoming a big problem.
Fiona

Hi Fiona,

That’s a tough one, but definitely possible. You’ll have to be patient though and build things up slowly. Reliable recall is one of the most important things to teach a dog because of the safety aspect. Here is how I would try to do it:

The main problem with off-leash recall is that dogs quickly learn that once they are called back their play time is over. The first few times the dog will come to you, but after that it soon realizes that if it doesn’t come to you then it won’t be put on a leash and hence it can play (or hunt in this case) for longer.

Because of this, you need to make the dog think the being called is beneficial for it, rather than a chore that signals the end of playtime. This is going to take longer if the dog already thinks of being recalled as a problem, but any dog can be re-trained no matter how set in their ways as long as you’re patient.

So how to do it? First of all, take your dogs favourite treat with you to the park. Every so often call the dog and make it sit for its treat. This will show the dog that coming to you when called is actually enjoyable and doesn’t always mean that the fun is over.

Of course, you are going to have to leave at some point, but if you can make even leaving the park fun by providing treats when your dog gets in the car for example then that shouldn’t be a problem.

Before long, you’ve got a dog that loves being called back to you if all goes well. With each dog you might have to adapt the strategy, but you’ll know what your dog likes better than me. The main thing is to reward your dog every time he does come back.

Thanks,
Richard Cross
TheDogClinic.com