Some of the basic questions you should ask yourself when thinking about getting a dog are:

• Does your work or lifestyle allow you to give them time needed to a dog?
• Do you have enough money to support a dog?
• In ten years time, will you still be able to care for a dog properly?

The first point it probably the most important. A new dog needs lots of love and attention if it is to be happy. Do you have enough time to feed, exercise and train a dog? Not to mention spending time with it generally to form a strong bond. Dogs are sociable animals and hate to be on their own, so if your lifestyle means you won’t spend much time with the dog it may not be a good idea to get one.

Most new owners also don’t fully realise the financial cost of owning a dog. When doing the maths to see whether you have the money available you need to think about food, grooming costs, training equipment, toys and medical costs. Generally a dog will end up costing more than you budgeted for because of the small things like leads and toys, so make sure you remember that.

The last one is especially hard to answer as who really knows where they will be in ten years time? A lot can change in a decade, but it is important to consider that a new dog is likely to live for at least this long.

Training a dog can often be frustrating – not to mention tiring! However it is essential if you want your dog’s life to be a happy and fulfilled one.  Training should start as soon as possible and should be a daily event. If you don’t think you’ll have enough time to train or exercise your dog each and every day then that could be a problem.

Having a dog is great most of the time, but you must be prepared for the occasional inconveniences. They can be fantastic pets and wonderful companions but as an owner you must be willing to accept responsibility for the dog – through good and bad times.

This is a big question and shouldn’t be answered lightly. All breeds of dogs can take up a large part of your time. They need exercising, feeding, health care and not to mention a large amount of love and attention. Getting a brand new puppy can be even more time consuming as it involves a lot of training.
Until you’ve had experience living with a dog this can be a difficult question to answer, but there are a few general guidelines you can follow.

• Aim to put aside at least an hour a day to exercise the dog no matter which breed you get. The dog might need even longer than that if it is a large energetic breed.
• When you first get the puppy you should be aiming to do around half an hour training a day (split up into shorter periods).
• Every so often your dog will need to be taken to the vet which can take an hour or more.
• You should also remember that when you’re not around your dog will miss you! There isn’t much point getting a dog if you can’t spend any real time with it after all, so make sure you have enough spare time during the day to spend with the dog.

Spending time having fun with your dog is the best reason of all to get a new puppy, so if you have a busy schedule you should think carefully about whether you can devote enough time to your new pet.

2. Is my house big enough for a dog?

This is often overlooked, but dogs take up a lot of space! If you already have a cramped house getting a dog is definitely not going to help the situation.

This is where the right breed choice comes into play. It’s obvious that bigger dogs need more room in the house to be able to stretch their legs, so if you have a smaller house a smaller breed would be best. Of course if your house is overcrowded already then you’ll need to consider whether it is fair on the dog to keep it cooped up – and whether your family will be able to cope!

3. Can I afford a dog?

Another big consideration is whether you can financially support a dog on top of all your other commitments. It’s easy to underestimate how much a dog really costs, so here are a few of the things you’ll need to pay for if you get a new puppy.

• Dog Food
• Health Care
• Training Classes
• Toys and Equipment (i.e. leads, bowls, crates etc)
• Grooming (if required for your dog)

These can add up to a lot of money over time, so you need to be 100% sure you have the money available to care for a dog before you commit.

4. What do I want from a dog?

This is something only you can answer, but you should consider it carefully as it will affect which breed you get. There are many questions that you need to answer yourself personally. For example, do you have young children so need a small dog? Are you living in a flat? Do you live in the city or near woodland? Have you had experience training a dog or do you need one that is intelligent and easier to train? Do you have to have a pure bred? Do you want a house dog? Do you want your dog for protection?

Getting a new puppy is a wonderful time as long as you make sure you are absolutely ready for a pet in your life. I think that the love, effort and care you put into a dog is more than worth the reward you get form building up a wonderful relationship with your pet. However if you aren’t 100% sure you can support a dog then it could spell disaster for both you and the puppy. Try to answer the above choosing a puppy quiz honestly so you can gauge how ready you are to get a new puppy.

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