Getting a puppy is all fun and excitement but also a life changing decision that should be made with lots of considerate thought considering the responsibilities that comes with being a dog owner - I personally refer to myself as a dog mama, read that bio again ;)
Being a dog parent/owner of a pooch who admits to not doing much research as a first time dog mum, I thought I'd put together this quick and handy guide covering the very basics. Please do bare in mind though that just like parenting humans, being responsible dog owners is never ending and you will continue to learn with each step of your pooches life, they are the most wonderful loving, loyal pets to have but do come with a lot of responsibility.
1: Do Your Research On Dog Breeds!
This is so important! So many people are quick to buy certain breeds based on their looks, with no understanding of how much responsibility raising each breed needs, with needs varying based on the breed. I'm not just talking about temperaments to how many times a day they need walking and how much they need feeding, but also things like their average life span, their general health and how much hair they shed - something I never even considered and now I have a house covered in dog hair! Which is ironic considering my dream dog if I had a bigger house would be a Chow Chow! The main important thing for me though was making sure I got a dog from the list of family or more child friendly dog breeds.
2: Use Reliable breeders:
Once you've done your research and decided what breed of dog you want, you'll next want to find a reliable breeder. Thankfully with dog owners in my close circle, I was told this useful information from the day I announced a puppy would soon be completing the missing part of my family. I was advised to look for a local Award Winning Dachshund Breeder as I wanted a Dachshund puppy and when they've won awards you know they're going to be good. Using reliable breeders helps trace parents and even generations of family tree lines with good dog breeders giving the right level of care to their dogs and puppies. They'll also know what kind of food is best to feed the pups and how much they need a day, as well as how often they should be walked, played with, how much sleep etc.
3: Take Out Insurance Straight Away:
Hopefully you'll never need to make a claim on the insurance but it's important you take out pet insurance unless you can guarantee you can cover emergency vet bills should such a situation occur. I have been stung in the past by having to fork out hundreds for emergency vet visits with no insurance, I've also sadly seen many desperate pet owners seeking help for emergency vet funds in various ways. I know many insurance companies and vets have policies where you may need to pay an excess fee before the insurance kicks in but this will be a lot lower compared to the full vet fees/charges that will total up.
4: Go To Them Puppy Classes:
Puppy classes help with so much, from training that will help both you and your puppy bond quicker, to the things that will help your pup all by themselves - things that are important like interacting and socialising with other dogs. Classes will also help your puppy learn basic obedience training and other essential demands - and maybe you'll avoid incidents like I had with my pup - like when he puppy chewed my sofa up!
5: Consider The Forgotten Pups:
Please do consider a rescue pooch if you can. I know rescue puppies/dogs aren't always ideal solutions for everyone, but if you can, please do consider rescuing a dog (or any other pet) from an animal shelter/charity. So many pets are abandoned for multiple reasons or dumped at birth. Some dogs have been in shelters/fosters for years and would love a loving, caring and stable home to call their own to live out the rest of their days in happiness.
I hope this is useful for those considering getting a puppy, and for anyone considering getting a pooch - do it! I can't imagine life without my dog - even if I do moan about the dog hair on a regular basis!
Until next time,
Jada x
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