Choosing a dog

However, owning a dog is very similar to raising a child in that they both require a great deal of care, attention, love, discipline and most importantly, time and companionship.  What is important to bear in mind is that dogs are ‘pack creatures’ with an emphasis on hierarchy.  A dog will view it’s owner or owners as it’s ‘pack’ and  each member of that family will have been assigned his/her own place in that hierarchy.  This is something you need to be aware of as the dog will have its own place in that pack along with everyone else. 

It is important that you make clear to your dog that you are the ‘pack leader’ or alpha male.  If you do not then there is the risk of your dog taking over which can cause problems, especially if you have children.  Most dogs interact very well with children but you will need to choose a breed of dog which is known to be good with children.  It is important that you instruct your children on how to behave around the dog, ensuring that they treat him/her carefully and responsibly.  Ensure that the dog knows its place in the pecking order, which is at the bottom of the ‘family pack’.  This is very important and must be adhered to.     

Note:  dogs are not humans and you must not apply human standards and modes of behaviour to them.

If you decide to purchase a dog you then have the choice of whether to get a pedigree or a mongrel.  Pedigrees can seem very attractive but they can be prone to a range of health problems which are very often genetic or specific to an individual breed.  This can mean more trips to the vets and greater expense in the long run.  Mongrels tend to be a lot hardier and so are less likely to have any health problems as compared to a pedigree. Most pet insurance policies place strict age conditions for certain pedigrees.

Dogs vary in the amount of exercise they need with smaller breeds requiring less exercise than larger breeds. 

You will need to purchase a range of dog care items such as feeding and drinking bowls, bedding, toys and a collar and lead.  It is a good idea to have your dog microchipped in case he/she is stolen or gets lost.  You will also need to factor in the cost of routine veterinary care such as annual check ups, worming and flea treatments, spaying or neutering and vaccinations. 

In addition, if you go away on holiday or are away from home for some other reason then you will need to include boarding kennels fees.  Another option is to arrange for someone to come and look after your dog whilst you are away though this needs to be thought about carefully.  It is important that this person is someone that your dog knows and trusts. 

Dogs are very sociable animals and even though they can manage fairly well on their own they can become bored if they are left alone for too long a period of time.  The danger with this is that they can then indulge in destructive or anti-social behaviour.  You will need to think about this, especially if you are out at work all day. 

Dogs can live, on average up to 15 years, though some do live longer than that. This means a substantial commitment on your behalf to caring for a dog for that period of time.  This means you need to look at your lifestyle, time, commitments and reasons before making a decision on whether to have one or not.  You will also need to think about whether you want a puppy or an adult dog.  There are advantages and disadvantages in both cases.  A puppy will grow up with you plus you will own him/her for all of his/her life.  On the other hand you will need to housetrain him/her and teach him/her discipline and obedience. A puppy is also prone to a range of illnesses, similar to a baby or young child and so will require treatment as well as vaccinations.

An adult dog is likely to be housetrained and obedient (hopefully) and will be past the ‘puppy illnesses’ stage.  However, he/she will have been used to another owner and so may find it hard to adapt to another.  Dogs tend to be very loyal to one person and so will find it difficult to transfer that to another owner.  There is also the risk of them coming with some ‘additional baggage’ as in events that may have happened to them with their previous owner.  This is especially likely with rescued dogs, which may have experienced some problems in the past, such as abuse, and so find it hard to trust another owner. 

If you decide to go ahead and buy a dog then there are several options open to you.  If you want a pedigree than you need to find a reputable breeder and these can be found through dog clubs or advertisements for sale.  A reputable breeder will be registered with a breed club and will let you see the dog’s parents and will provide the relevant documentation. 

You can buy a dog from a dog welfare organisation such as the RSPCA or the Dogs Trust.  Another possibility is buying a dog from a pet shop though this can be risky in that they may have come from an unlicensed breeder or as a result of an unwanted pregnancy.