for healthy happy puppies
Owning a Dog
With so many different breeds to choose from it is important to research thoroughly. We have put together a brief summary of each breed group with a brief description of the typical characteristics. For a more detailed description of a particular breed of dog take a look at our breed profiles. The profile will provide you the basic information on the breed.
It is important to consider the following before buying your new puppy:
Do the entire family agree to getting a new dog?
-
Do you have enough time to dedicate to your new arrival. It is important to remember that a new puppy will require a vast amount of attention during the first few months.
-
If considering a heavy coated breed, do you have the time and money to dedicate to grooming? It is important to take the professional grooming costs into consideration when budgeting for your new puppy.
-
If you have children, are they old enough to respect the puppy without teasing or hurting the puppy.
Costs
Keeping a dog can be an expensive task, when considering which breed is suitable for you take into consideration the associated costs:
-
Food
-
Worming/flea treatments and routine vaccinations
-
Pet insurance
-
Essentials such as beds, collars, leads treats and toys.
Living Space
When deciding upon which breed is most suited, to is essential to consider the available space (home and garden and access to exercise areas) for the puppy, if space is limited then large breeds can be ruled out.
Exercise
A very important factor to consider, are you able to give your new dog sufficient amount of exercise? Exercise can help keep your dog happy and content. When considering which breed is most suitable for you, think about how much exercise you are able to give it. Some breeds have extremely high energy levels and will require a great deal of exercise and others can get by with a short walk. Take an honest look at the time you could spend when choosing a breed.
Grooming
Do you have enough free time to spend grooming your dog’s long coat so that it remains matt and tangle free? Or do you have enough spare money to take your non shedding breed to be professionally groomed every two months or so? All the factors must be considered. Even breeds which have lower grooming needs still need there eyes, ears and nails looked after.
Experience with dogs
It is not necessary to have had past experiences with dogs before buying one; it is just that certain breeds would not be recommended for a first time owner. If you have owned dogs before think about their qualities and characteristics you liked about them. If you already have an idea of some breeds which you think may be suitable for you, don’t forget to think about what they were originally bred for. There are very few breeds which were actually developed to be pets. Most breeds were bred to herd, hunt, guard and perform other jobs which you may not expect from a pet. It is also important to consider the temperament of the breed you are considering – temperament can also be linked to the dog’s original purpose.
Getting a dog also means getting all the responsibilities that go with it, a dog can live to between 10 and 20 years, depending on factors such as the breed, health and size. Getting a dog is a long term commitment. You will be responsible for its health, ensuring that it is vaccinated, treated for the prevention of fleas and worms and for its overall health. You are responsible for your dog’s behaviour, ensure that your dog is well trained and can be kept under control at all times.
Training
The ease of training can vary greatly between the different breeds. Certain breeds of dog such as the hound and terrier group have been developed to work independently and will therefore require firm and persistent training. Other breeds such as many in the Pastoral group were developed to work closely with humans and will be easier to train.
Energy Levels
Some breeds naturally have higher mental and physical energy levels. These breeds have been developed to carry out high energy tasks such as chasing vermin and game or herding. Breeds with high energy levels need to have the energy appropriately used or they are likely to become over weight and develop behavioural problems which are usually caused by boredom. It is important to note that breeds like this require a great deal of patience and skill during training. We recommend that the best approach to training these dogs is start the training process early and socialisation.
