You love dogs, but don’t know what breed to get? You’re a new pet owner and want some tips on how to care for your furry friend? Whatever your need or concern, this blog post will equip you with all the information you need before getting a new dog!
In order to make sure that both people and pets are happy in their relationship, it’s important to ask yourself these 10 questions before getting a new dog. Whether it’s your first time owning a pup or your fourth time owning one, these are essential questions to ask before making the commitment.
Follow our guide below and find out if now is the best time for you to bring home an adorable furry friend!
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Getting a New Dog
1. Can I commit and provide a suitable home for this new dog, for the next 10-15 years?
Buying a new puppy or dog, a second dog or adopting a rescue dog comes with great commitment.
You need to consider the life span of a dog’s life. Are you ready to become a dog owner?
You need to be sure you have the means, time and money to look after a dog for a minimum of 10 years.
2. Can I afford vet bills, food and dog accessories like beds, collars and leads?
As a responsible pet owner, you must ensure your new pup has all their immunization shots. Throughout their life, they will need regular checkups too.
Large dogs can be prone to hip dysplasia, which can be costly and sometimes require surgery.
A senior dog may need care from a vet or medication.
Female dog de-sexing can be a little more expensive than males.
You need to consider these costs before getting a dog. Consider if something happens unexpectedly, it could require a trip to the vet.
You also need to make sure you can afford puppy food, dog food, toys, collars and harnesses.
3. Will my new dog fit into my lifestyle and schedule?
If you work full time and are hardly home, taking care of a puppy or a dog that is prone to separation anxiety is a very important thing to consider.
This could be the difference between having a well-behaved dog that is okay on its own or a dog who destroys your yard or escapes. You should also consider how often you travel.
If you and your family often go away, it would be unfair to always leave your pup in kennels or with people they are not familiar with.
Think about this, and if you’re happy to change your holiday destinations to suit doggy travel.
4. Can I walk this new dog at least once a day?
Different breeds have different exercise requirements but they all need to be walked for at least 30 minutes a day. Consider if you have the time and ability to do this.
In ten years, will you still have the time and ability to do this?
5. Is my backyard big enough, safe and pet friendly?
It would be heartbreaking to bring home a dog, only to have them escape or injured.
Making sure your backyard is a safe space and your dog getting out is very important.
You should also consider the size of your backyard compared to the specific breed of dog you are interested in. If you have a small backyard, it may not be suitable for a Labrador Retriever, but a less active dog, like a Malteser or Whippet, will love it!
6. Do I have the time and patience to train a puppy?
A well-behaved puppy is a fantastic addition to your family, but only if you have the time and energy to put into training.
This includes housebreaking, learning to walk on a leash and learning to follow basic commands like sit and stay.
Ensuring your puppy is well trained will keep them occupied and safe and keep you as their owner happy.
7. Can I afford pet insurance and dog training?
Dog owners don’t always pay for pet insurance and dog training but it is certainly something we recommend.
Dog training is important and will keep your dog safe, stimulated and well behaved. Doing this through paid training by a reputable trainer can be some of the best and effective ways for your dog to learn. We have dog training guides that can help you get a great start with your new dog, young or old.
As mentioned earlier, vet bills can be costly. If you have the funds to invest in good pet insurance, you can save lots of money if something does happen to your dog!
8. Do I have the means to socialize my puppy?
Puppy socialization is very important and can take time. Socialized dogs are safe to take everywhere as they are not scared of strangers or other dogs.
Do you have enough time and resources to take your new puppy to a dog park, dog swimming spots or to a friend’s house who also has dogs? If you are bringing home a new pet from an animal shelter, you’ll strongly need to consider the time and patience it may take to socialize them.
An adopted dog can take longer and be harder to socialize as you never know what they have been through and experienced.
9. Do you have a trusted, ethical and good breeder?
Buying from a responsible breeder instead of a pet store, puppy farm or puppy mill is the ethical way to add a new addition to your family.
It means your puppy’s parents were looked after and not treated poorly to make pup litters. Your puppy will be healthy and strong, and the breeders weren’t breeding simply to make money.
Finding a reputable breeder is important so your dog does not incur expensive and painful health issues that need the services of a veterinarian.
If you want a purebred dog, it is worth checking if the puppy breeder has registrations to prove the dog is the correct dog breed.
If they came from an unscrupulous breeder, this could mean you are not getting what you pay for in your perfect dog.
10. Do I have adequate food, bedding and toys ready?
Before bringing home a large dog, make sure they have a place to sleep and feel safe, have enough food and toys. Your new dog may need a kennel to shelter in for the night.
If you have bought a small dog or an older dog, they may like to sleep inside to avoid the cold.
Leaving their parents can be a bit scary! This is the same for a shelter dog, who has likely had their own space to sleep before and will want it again!
We hope you found these questions helpful, it is a big responsibility to enter dog ownership, whether it is your first or second dog.