If you tell people you’re thinking of getting a dog the first thing that will come to mind is ‘your getting a puppy’. That indeed might be the case however, you could be thinking of providing a home for a mature or rescue dog.
Which ever route your taking it is exciting when you’re thinking of getting a dog. In the excitement it can be easy not to put sufficient in to everything you need to consider and take into account.
The last thing you going to want is to be rushing around on the day your new dog arrives trying to sort out things you could have done before hand.
Here’s a list of some of the key things to consider and prepare for –
- It’s always said but worth repeating because there are way to many abandoned dogs – A Dog Is For Life. If you’re not prepared to commit to a dog for its whole life please don’t get one!
- Where are you going to get veterinary services from? Ask friends who have dogs to see if you can get recommendations from them. A good vet isn’t necessarily an expensive vet but is definitely an asset to you and your dog.
- Are you going to take out Pet Insurance to cover unexpected vet bills? If you are, do some research before you get your dog.
- Will the dog be left on its own for long periods of time? Dogs are social animals and need companionship and interaction with you and other dogs. Some dogs can suffer from separation anxiety that can have adverse behavioural effects. Puppies need more social contact with their owners than mature dogs. All dogs need to be able to relieve themselves and shouldn’t be forced to hold it for more than 6 hours. Puppies will need to relieve themselves more frequently. If you are going to have to leave your dog for regular extended periods you should be considering engaging a dog walker or using dog day care.
- Where is the dog going to be able to access within your home. Some people are happy for their dogs to have free run of the house upstairs and downstairs. Others choose to limit the dogs range indoors for example downstairs only. Start the way you intend to go on.
- Where will your dog sleep, what do you need to purchase before to facilitate your choice before your dog arrives? Some people are happy for their dog to sleep in the bedroom which is fine. It is however worth bearing in mind that if you go down that route then, at some point in the future expel the dog to sleep elsewhere you might have issues with howling and barking to deal with!
- What are you going to feed your dog and do you know there are different dietary requirements depending on the age of your dog?
- How much food is your dog going to need and what will it cost? Feeding dogs can be expensive especially if you’ve got a big dog.
- Toys! If you’re getting a puppy and don’t want your possessions chewed to bits you’re going to need to get toys for it. Even older dogs benefit from having a few toys though they’re far more likely to be happy having a bone from the butcher to gnaw on.
- Grooming – are you going to do it yourself or pay to have it done? If you do it yourself you’ll need to get the scissors, nail clippers, shampoo, combs and brushes. You might also need to read up on how best to groom your breed of dog. Whether you do your own grooming or not you’ll also need a supply of towels to dry your dog. In the winter our dogs need hosed down and dried off everyday after their walk.
- Get your dog collar, lead, name tag, water bowl and food bowls before the big day.
- Are you going to train your dog yourself or are you going to get help either by joining a group or engaging a dog trainer?
- If your getting a puppy do you know how much exercise it’s going to need? Over exercising puppies of large breeds can give rise to joint problems. The Kennel Club suggest as a general rule five minutes per month of age, twice a day. If in doubt consult your vet.
Finally, make sure your dogs vaccinations are up to date (or planned), make sure its chipped, don’t forget the poop bags and enjoy your new dog.
