Q2A

Got an enquiry ........

i want a dog and mum said i could have one of my 18th if i looked after it and wondering
what need to consider before buying a dog and what type of dog should i go for??????

This is our reply.......

Hi dog lover, thanks for your email.

Having a dog can be a great addition to your life: they are always pleased to see you, love
to spend time with you, and can be really good company. We hope the amount of
information in our reply doesn't put you off having a dog, but it does illustrate the big
responsibilities that come with dog ownership.

We found the following websites very helpful for our reply if you'd like to do some research
of your own:

http://www.rspca.org.uk>

http://www.animalshelter.org.uk>

Here are some of the things that we feel you need to think about before getting a dog:

# Big or small? Think about the size of your house, and how many people live there. Also
small dogs can live a for a long time so think about where you might be in say 15-20
years' time

# Puppy or mature/trained? Have you the time to spend training a puppy - including toilet
training?

# Pedigree or crossbreed? Temperament can vary between breeds depending on the
purpose they were bred for. Also some pedigree dogs can come with health problems
which are particularly associated with their breed. Very important to carefully check out all associated health issues to make sure you are prepared for this.

# Rescue or from a breeder/owner? A rescue dog will have been checked by a vet, will
have had all its vaccinations, will have been neutered, and will have been micro-chipped.

If you buy from a breeder/owner will you get to know enough about the dog's history? Beware of dogs being sold by illegal puppy breeders for cheaper prices as these may have been mistreated or inbred and could have health oe behavioural problems. Also, they may not have the necessary vaccinations.

# Male or female? Temperament may vary

# Neutered or able to breed? If it's able to breed, a female dog will need to be closely
watched when they're in season unless you intend to breed

# Long or short coat? A dog with a long coat will need a lot of grooming

These are some of the likely costs of owning a dog; depending on the breed, it could
average out at up to £25 per week:

# Buying your dog: a rescue dog will cost less than a pedigree and may not have as many inherited health problems as certain breeds do. Although of course you may not know the family or life history of rescue dogs.

# Food, and food and water bowls

# Toys, chews and other treats

# Bed and bedding

# Shampoo

# Lead, collar, name tag

# Pooper scooper or plastic bags to pick up poo

# Regular worming, tick and flea treatments

# Vet bills/health insurance

# Kennels when you go on holiday, if you are unable to find a reliable friend or relative to be a "dog sitter".

# Travelling harness/crate

# Body warmers/waterproofs

# Depending on the breeed you may need brushes/combs for grooming

# You might need to pay a dog walker if it will be home-alone while people are out at work etc.

# It may be that you might like to take your dog to obedience classes or a clinical animal behaviourist

Spending time with your dog is important because they are very social animals and need
company. If you are the person who does most of the caring your dog will form a very
strong bond with you. It's recommended that a dog is not left alone for more than 4 hours
at a time. They also need regular exercise, regular play, and regular opportunities to poo
and pee even when the weather's bad!

If you're interested in a rescue dog your nearest centre is:

# The Destitute Animal Shelter, Northolt Drive, Bolton. BL3 6NJ. Telephone: 01204
526486, open 11.30am - 5pm Monday to Saturday

If you're interested in a pedigree dog, you can find breeders through the Kennel Club's
Assured Breeder Scheme:

# The Kennel Club, telephone 0844 463 3980, open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Website:
http://.www.thekennelclub.org.uk

We hope you find the information in our reply helpful. Please email us again if you think
we can help, with this or anything else.

Best wishes from q2a.

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