Avoid making a dog's ear of your pet choice
It's easy to persuade ourselves that we really want a dog.
Who wouldn't want a furry little friend to share a home with?
To shower with unconditional love and affection?
And to give us some back?
Unfortunately though, some people can end up being terrible animal owners because they hadn't taken into consideration how much money and effort is needed to look after it before they jumped in the deep end.
And unfortunately this can lead to pets ending up in rescue homes, desperately hoping someone will come along and give them the level of care it deserves.
What do you need to consider?
So what exactly do you need to think about before buying a new pet? Well, it may be more than you realise.
According to the Kennel Club, dog lovers hoping to bring a new canine into the family need to consider whether or not they can afford one. It predicts that caring for your new pet would cost around £25 per week - taking into account food, insurance and vet fees.
What's more, the organisation says that you have to be ready to commit to a dog for the rest of its life - which is an average of 12 years - and be prepared to exercise it every day for that period of time.
There are a number of other things for prospective pet owners to take into account that are separate from commitment and financial issues, the Pet Website explains.
It says that a dog must fit in with the current lifestyle and environment of a household - so thinking about the affect it would have on each member of the family - and other pets - is a great idea.
And if you have a job that means you're leaving the pet alone all day, a canine may not be ideal for you, the site advises.
Of course, it goes without saying that bigger breeds of dog will require more space in your home.
Living with an Irish wolfhound in your tiny bedsit probably wouldn't be advisable!
The buying process
When it comes down to the actual buying process, those purchasing either through a breeder or from a classified ad have been given a number of tips by the Dogs Trust to help reduce the risk of coming into care of a sick or badly-behaved puppy.
The organisation reveals that it's important to ask the breeder to see the pooch with its mum - "because temperament can be inherited".
In addition, people should check whether or not the pup has been inoculated.
"Puppies should be vaccinated at six to nine weeks of age and then again at ten to 12 weeks. They will become fully protected two weeks after the second vaccination. You will need to do this if the breeder has not," the body states.
Furthermore, the Dogs Trust says: "At eight weeks they should be fully weaned. If they are not, they could be younger than the breeder claimed."
Another important thing to look out for, the association advises, is how much contact the hound has had with other dogs, domestic animals and people, as "those raised in kennels away from the house will need more intensive socialisation training to ensure they can cope with daily life as a pet".
Quite a lot to think about, I'm sure you'll agree.
So, hopefully now you're on your way to becoming a great dog owner and more aware of some of the considerations required before taking that exciting step and bringing home you're new furry addition to the family.
It's easy to persuade ourselves that we really want a dog.
Who wouldn't want a furry little friend to share a home with?
To shower with unconditional love and affection?
And to give us some back?
Unfortunately though, some people can end up being terrible animal owners because they hadn't taken into consideration how much money and effort is needed to look after it before they jumped in the deep end.
And unfortunately this can lead to pets ending up in rescue homes, desperately hoping someone will come along and give them the level of care it deserves.
What do you need to consider?
So what exactly do you need to think about before buying a new pet? Well, it may be more than you realise.
According to the Kennel Club, dog lovers hoping to bring a new canine into the family need to consider whether or not they can afford one. It predicts that caring for your new pet would cost around £25 per week - taking into account food, insurance and vet fees.
What's more, the organisation says that you have to be ready to commit to a dog for the rest of its life - which is an average of 12 years - and be prepared to exercise it every day for that period of time.
There are a number of other things for prospective pet owners to take into account that are separate from commitment and financial issues, the Pet Website explains.
It says that a dog must fit in with the current lifestyle and environment of a household - so thinking about the affect it would have on each member of the family - and other pets - is a great idea.
And if you have a job that means you're leaving the pet alone all day, a canine may not be ideal for you, the site advises.
Of course, it goes without saying that bigger breeds of dog will require more space in your home.
Living with an Irish wolfhound in your tiny bedsit probably wouldn't be advisable!
The buying process
When it comes down to the actual buying process, those purchasing either through a breeder or from a classified ad have been given a number of tips by the Dogs Trust to help reduce the risk of coming into care of a sick or badly-behaved puppy.
The organisation reveals that it's important to ask the breeder to see the pooch with its mum - "because temperament can be inherited".
In addition, people should check whether or not the pup has been inoculated.
"Puppies should be vaccinated at six to nine weeks of age and then again at ten to 12 weeks. They will become fully protected two weeks after the second vaccination. You will need to do this if the breeder has not," the body states.
Furthermore, the Dogs Trust says: "At eight weeks they should be fully weaned. If they are not, they could be younger than the breeder claimed."
Another important thing to look out for, the association advises, is how much contact the hound has had with other dogs, domestic animals and people, as "those raised in kennels away from the house will need more intensive socialisation training to ensure they can cope with daily life as a pet".
Quite a lot to think about, I'm sure you'll agree.
So, hopefully now you're on your way to becoming a great dog owner and more aware of some of the considerations required before taking that exciting step and bringing home you're new furry addition to the family.
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