Let's not beat around the bush: owning a puppy is hard work! Here are 5 questions you need to ask yourself before taking the leap
Question number 1: can I afford a puppy?
It's important to remember that owning a dog is not cheap! Depending on the breed they can live for between 8 and 18 years, so you will need to be sure that you are able to cover the cost of their care for their entire life. Make sure you have a thorough look at your budget and calculate whether you can afford the regular (and emergency) costs of owning a dog. These costs include:
Food
Toys
Bedding
Poo bags!
Annual booster vaccinations and regular flea and worm treatments
Neutering
Vet visits in case of illness or injury
Fees for kennels, dog walking or boarding/pet-sitting if needed
Insurance
Training sessions or classes
The PDSA estimates that the average monthly cost of owning a dog in 2022 ranged from £54 to £75, plus an initial cost of between £383 and £494 (not including the cost of purchase/adoption). And that was a year ago: the cost of everything, including veterinary treatment, has shot up since then.
Question number 2: do I have time for a puppy?
When you first bring a puppy home, they will quite literally take over your life! Gone are the days of popping out for a spontaneous afternoon with friends or even going on long runs or to the gym. For the first few weeks and months a puppy needs full-time supervision and care, which for some people means taking time off work. You will also have to take time out of your day for:
Toilet training
Exercise (when fully vaccinated)
Training and socialisation
Play time
Feeding (3 times a day to begin with)
When you first bring your puppy home you won't be able to leave them alone in the house at all: remember they have just been taken away from everything they have ever known and dropped in a scary new environment with a bunch of strangers! Time spent alone can then be introduced gradually as they start to settle. However, even adult dogs should not be left alone for more than 5 hours (and this should be the exception).
So if you work a full-time job and there will be no-one else at home during the day, a dog might not be for you. If you are only out of the house for a couple of days a week, however, you could potentially hire a dog walker or send them to day care on those days (bear in mind that not all dogs will enjoy day care). Don't forget though – this costs money too!
Question number 3: what breed is right for me?
Many people end up with a dog who doesn't really fit with their lifestyle, simply because they chose a breed based on looks or didn't do enough research! Of course, a dog's personality is shaped to a certain extent by their environment and upbringing; but there are still breed-specific traits that are likely to be expressed regardless. For example, Dachshunds are likely to bark a lot and Border Collies are likely to want to herd animals/people/cars etc.!
Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself:
What is the history of the breed? What job were they originally bred to do, and what traits has this resulted in?
Does the breed have a tendency to suffer from certain health conditions? (Visit www.dogbreedhealth.com for more information)
How much exercise does this breed need?
How much mental stimulation does this breed need?
What activities does this breed enjoy? Are these activities that I enjoy too?
How big is a dog of this breed likely to get? Do I have space for them and am I strong enough to handle them on the lead?
If possible, try and meet some dogs of the breed you are interested in. You can do this by visiting dog shows or by contacting local breed associations and asking if you could meet some of their members' dogs. I also highly recommend reading Meet Your Dog by Kim Brophey – this is a fantastic book that discusses each of the breed groups and their history and characteristics, as well as their pros and cons when kept as family pets.
Question number 4: who will I buy my puppy from?
Once you have chosen what breed your puppy will be, the next important step is finding a reputable breeder so that your new family member grows up to be a fit, healthy and well-adapted adult. For purebred or pedigree dogs, choose a breeder who is a member of a breed club and who registers all litters with the Kennel Club. Although this in itself is not a guarantor of good health, it does mean you have an organisation to inform in case of complaints. Ask to see the five-generation pedigree certificate of the dog before agreeing to purchase; if the same name appears more than once on the pedigree it is a sign of a high level of inbreeding, which can sometimes be a predictor of health problems. If you are buying a named crossbreed (e.g. Labradoodle, Cockapoo, Sprocker) they should ideally be registered with a relevant club (e.g. Cockapoo Club of GB).
While it is not always possible to predict what health problems a dog will experience in their life, there are a number of checks you can do yourself to make sure you are more likely to end up with a strong, healthy puppy with a good temperament. First and foremost, you should check that the breeder has performed all of the relevant health screening on the parents of the puppy, and ask to see the documentation. When seeing the puppies for the first time they should be playful and eating well. Check that their eyes are clear and bright, there is no diarrhoea and their coat is clean. Make sure you see the puppies interacting with their mother and in a home environment where they have had a chance to be properly socialised with humans and other animals. Ask the breeder if they have a socialisation programme and if so, what it entails. Ideally you should meet both parents to make sure their temperament is sound. Never accept a puppy who has been taken from their mother at less than eight weeks old.
You are strongly advised not to purchase puppies via local newspaper ads or websites such as Pets4Homes and Gumtree. These channels are favoured marketing outlets for disreputable breeders and puppy farms, and you may find yourself with a dog with numerous health and/or behavioural issues (or even a dog of a different breed than the one you thought you were getting!). A good breeder will ask you lots of questions to make sure you will provide an appropriate home for one of the puppies. They will also advise you on which puppy in the litter is most likely to suit you and your lifestyle. All reputable breeders should offer to take the puppy back and rehome them if necessary, no matter the reason for them being returned. To this end, it is strongly advised to buy from a breeder who uses the Puppy Contract and Puppy Information Pack produced by the RSPCA and the British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation. The contract and more information can be found at www.puppycontract.org.uk. Always visit two or three breeders before making a choice if you can.
Question 5: am I ready to commit to a puppy?
Young or old, we've all heard the Dogs Trust advertising slogan: a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Yet for some reason, this message doesn't seem to be hitting home. In 2022, Dogs Trust alone rehomed more than 10,000 dogs – and that's just one rescue organisation among many. Many of these dogs are being relinquished because their owners can't afford them, or simply don't have time for them anymore; but the thing is, there is nowhere else for them to go. Every rescue organisation in the country has filled every last available kennel and foster home, and the sad truth is that many perfectly healthy dogs are being put to sleep for no reason other than that they are unwanted.
So have a sit down and a really good think: where do you picture yourself in 5 or 10 years' time? Is there a place for a dog in that future? Are you planning to have children, or move to a different place (or even a different country)? Is it likely that you will change job or working hours? How do you think a dog would cope with those changes? Are you willing to stick with it if your dog ends up having health or behavioural issues? I would encourage you to do some real soul-searching before making any decisions. After all, when you buy a puppy you are taking another creature's life into your hands, and that is not something that should be taken lightly.