Choosing a Dog or Puppy

As the saying goes: "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas".  Whilst a dog is man's best friend, man is not always a dog's best friend. Last year alone, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home welcomed 8,313 unwanted or abandoned dogs through its doors.

Before jumping feet first into dog ownership, paws and ask yourself seriously if you are willing to give the dog a home, love it and care for it for the rest of its life - this may be 15 years or more.    If you're sure a dog is the right pet for you, take time to do as much research as you can to help you choose the right one as you want to make a perfect match and there is so much choice.

Before making a dog a part of your family, there are a lot of things you should consider, many of which are the same things you should contemplate when choosing a partner:-

A puppy or an older dog? (A 'Toyboy' or a 'Sugar Daddy'?)

It goes without saying, a puppy is more boisterous and needs more exercise, house-training and may well delight in chewing your best Jimmy Choos.  On the plus side, a puppy may not yet have developed bad habits and will be easier to train (you can teach an old dogs new tricks, but it will just take longer).  An older dog, on the other hand, is likely to be calmer, less energetic and doesn't need as much exercise and therefore may be a better companion for a person who is not quite a spring chicken himself.   

A male or female dog?

The choice is yours.  However, if you have two dogs, members of the opposite sex generally get on better.  Just like humans however, if promiscuous behaviour occurs, it is the (un-neutered) female that gets left holding the puppies!

Size?

This decision's easy.  Large dogs need larger spaces to live in, so a Great Dane weighing 150 lb and standing 7' high on its hind legs would not be a good idea for an elderly lady in a one bedroom flat with no garden, nor would it suit a home with toddlers that could easily be flattened by an over-exuberant mutt.  It also goes without saying that a large dog costs a lot more to feed and needs a lot of exercise (you want a dog that you can take for a walk, not one that walks you!).  Vet's bills can also correspond to the size of the dog.

Personal Hygiene

Long-haired dogs may need daily grooming, may shed all over your furniture and often get matted (the price of a short back and sides at the grooming parlour rises in proportion to the size of the dog).  Long haired dogs with oily skins can also develop unpleasant doggy pongs!  If there are asthmatics in the house who are allergic to dog hair, certain breeds (such as poodles) may be the answer.  Large dogs may slobber excessively, and then there are our flatulent friends (I once had a meal at a friend's house where the dog sat under the table trumping away - it over-powered the aroma of the dinner and put me off my food!).

Good with children, the elderly and other pets?

Like humans, different types of dogs have different temperaments.  Dogs brought up with older children may not tolerate small toddlers, such as grandchildren, particularly ones that accidentally tread on their tails, bash them on the head with toys while they're sleeping, try and take their bones away from them, or make too much noise. Some dogs may also be wary of teenagers, particularly if they've had a previous bad experience (I can sympathise with that one!).

If you have a cat or other pet, consider their feelings when introducing a canine intruder into the home.  A cat and dog that have been brought up together may rub along in perfect harmony, but an older cat may take umbrage to an interloper infringing on its owners and territory, and may even decide to live outside rather than share its ‘personal space'.  Small pets may also be seen as interesting ‘playthings' to a dog that's interested in anything that moves.

Breed?

Like husbands or wives, breeds differ in looks, temperament, behaviour, skills, training needs, noise and energy levels, exercise requirements and health problems.  Whilst pedigrees cost a lot more to buy, you can tell, more or less, what your dog will look like when grown, how big it will be, what its personality traits will be and what health problems it may be susceptible to.  On the other hand, owning a mongrel with questionable parentage, can be an exciting adventure as you don't know exactly how it will turn out (a bit like a blind date!).  On the whole, pedigrees will cost more in vets' bills (don't parts for a Lamborghini cost more than a Corsa?) but the running costs will be the same. 

Responsbile breeders will not breed from a dog which has a health problem in its breeding line, and in future, with DNA screening for hereditary problems and selective breeding,  faulty genes will be able to be removed from the gene pool.

Cost

To keep your dog in the way it would like to become accustomed you will need to buy:-

Collar, lead, dog basket, bedding, kennel, food bowls, toys, food and treats, routine medications including flea and worm treatments, routine vaccinations, microchip and neutering.

Add to that vet's bills or optional insurance, kennels when you go abroad, dog obedience classes, dog walkers (if you can't do it yourself) and grooming parlours.

And don't forget clothes to keep your dog warm, dry or just fashionable, and then there are birthday and Christmas presents - it all adds up!!

The Benefits

If you invest time, money and love in a dog, you will be rewarded a hundredfold.  Your four-footed 'best friend' who will shower you with a rapturous welcome every time you step through the door, will never complain if you come home late or have been drinking and will think every word you utter is pure genius.  Your dog will never moan, nag or complain but will admire, worship and adore you through thick and thin, from its puppy 'honeymoon' period to its twilight years for as long as its tail shall wag.