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Hints and Tips on Getting a Dog |
When considering buying a dog, you must ask yourself these questions:
- Can I afford a dog?
- Do I have the right environment for a dog?
- Do I have time to look after a dog?
- What breed of dog is the best for me?
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1. Can I afford a dog? |
Unfortunately people tend to buy dogs as a spur of the moment thing without taking into consideration the actual all round costs of owning a dog. This is why there is such a large adoption rate. The expenses you can occur by having a dog are:
One-Time Costs
- Cost of Dog: Actual cost of purchasing the dog.
- Leash and collar: These tend to need to be replaced - especially if you have a puppy that chews through them!
- Food and water bowls.
- Doggy bed: It is best to buy High-quality beds as they tend to last a long time; then if the cushion wears out, they can easily be replaced
- Puppy shots: Puppies will require several sets of shots to protect them until their immune system is fully developed. Once they are adults, they should only require an annual booster.
- Spay/neuter surgery: It is reccomended you spay/neuter your pet as this can prevent unwanted pregnancies and homeless pets.
- Permanent identification. It is important to have your pet microchipped just in case he or she gets lost. Microchipping is a quick and painless process done by injection.
- Grooming Accessories: Such as Brush/comb, nail clippers.
- A kennel. Purchase a high-quality kennel for your dog to become a custom to.
Recurring Costs
- Dog food (dry/moist): Dry kibble is best for their teeth and health, but occasionaly add moist food for variety and a healthy diet.
- Treats: This can include dog cookies, jerky treats, rawhide chews, and so on.
- Toys: It's always good to have a toy or two lying around for your dog to play with. Keep rotating them around, so they never get bored with the same toys. Eventually they will wear out and need to be replaced.
- Annual booster shot: Every year once your dog has matured into an adult, he or she will need an annual shot to keep healthy.
- Heartworm medication.
- Flea or tick medication.
- Registering Fees: Check with your council to see if you need to register your dog.
- Kennel care: If you have to go away unexpectadley or on vaccation call a few local kennels to get an idea of what they charge per day. Or better yet, take your dog with you. There's plenty of pet friendly holiday accomodation.
- Grooming. Budget for a half dozen trips to the vet or groomer for bathing, brushing, shaving, or nail clipping if you don't plan to do this yourself.
Other Costs
- "Destroyed-by-the-puppy" expenses: If you have a puppy, it is practically inevitable that it will destroy something. This can range from shoes, sofa cushions, to carpets and walls!
- Unforeseen medical expenses, including dental care. Like people, our pets can sometimes get sick or require dental care. And yes, sometimes it can be serious and require hospitalisation or specialised treatment. If you are worried about these types of costs, you may want to look into purchasing pet insurance for peace of mind.
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2. Do I have the right environment for a dog? |
Every dog breed is different with regards to environment needs. For Example large active dogs require a large amount of space and would not get enough exercise within the confines of a house or apartment. Other pets, if provided with enough exercise and environmental enrichment (toys, human interaction, etc) may not require as much space. It is therefore necessary to consider whether your home has adequate space for a pet. You will also need to consider whether there is a suitable and secure place in your house or yard to keep your pet when you are not there and whether there is a suitable sheltered location for a kennel for your pooch.
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3. Do I have time to look after a dog? |
The amount of time that you need to spend with your pet will depend upon its breed, temperament and age. There are some general guidelines about the amount of time that dogs need daily with regards to human interactivity and exercise. A dog is not a suitable pet if all of the members of your household are away from home for more than eight hours a day. Some dogs get bored or anxious when they are left alone and although some of their boredom and anxiety can be alleviated through toys and training they still require a few hours of daily attention and to be exercised. It is extremely important to remember that walking your pooch is crucial to allow your dog with an opportunity to investigate and explore as well as for exercise purposes.
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4. What breed of dog is the best for me? |
Findmeapuppy.com.au has put together a breed selector quiz to help find the breed that best suits you and your lifestyle. All you have to do is answer all the questions and then submit the quiz to find out what breeds are available for you. This Quiz should only be used as a guide and further research should be taken into consideration when allowing for purchasing a dog.
Complete our Breed Selector Quiz
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