When looking for a dog, either as a first time owner or experienced dog lover, you need to ask yourself a few hard questions:

1. Why do you want a dog?

2. Are you financially able to look after a dog?
It’s not just the initial cost to the breeder or rescue, it’s the vet bills and monthly food costs…not forgetting toys, treats and bedding…

3. Does everyone in the family want a dog?
If someone isn’t prepared to put in the hard work and be consistent with the training, it can potentially lead to all sorts of problems…

4. What dog breed do you want?
If you have a breed in mind, you really need to do some RESEARCH … is this breed suited to your lifestyle? For example, some people advertise collies as brilliant pets – and they are, if you are prepared to have a dog that is ALWAYS on the go, highly intelligent (yes this means they can become destructive if they are not mentally and physically stimulated), nippy (when small children run, collies can’t help but herd!) and generally rather demanding…Don’t get me wrong, I adore collies, and I have two of my own…but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them as the perfect family dog, just because they are portrayed as such in certain adverts!!

5. Do you want a big dog? A small dog? A non-moulting dog?
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH… it is incredibly important to know anything and everything about your preferred breed, their temperament, whether they are from working lines…and so on. It could save an awful lot of trouble in the long run if you are realistic about which dog breed would really suit your family life.

6. Where can you buy your puppy from?
Well obviously my first comment is: RESCUE!!!! There are hundreds and hundreds of beautiful dogs looking for new homes (have a look at DogPages and you’ll see what I mean!) and often young puppies that have been handed in or abandoned due to an accidental mating. These dogs are in desperate need of a loving forever home and there is nothing more satisfying than the first time you realise that your rescue REALLY LOVES YOU, no matter how afraid they might be or how traumatic their past is, because you have given them stability and, more importantly, lots and lots of love and affection.

I’m not suggesting that all rescues are suitable for first time owners but rescues will help you find a dog that will suit you as much as you will suit him!

Of course, you can have a look for a reputable breeder for your chosen breed but please be aware that even breeders can be dishonest (I know of one line that continues to breed from dogs suffering from epilepsy) and could even be puppy farmers…

I’m not discrediting breeders as I also know others who absolutely adore their dogs and will do their utmost to ensure that all pups go to a good forever home with reputable people (don’t be surprised if these breeders ask you to complete a questionnaire and grill you relentlessly about why you want one of their pups and how you will be able to take care of it! It shouldn’t put you off if you are serious about looking after a dog – if you ask me, these are the best sort of breeders!!)

If you come across a puppy farmer (ie, lets meet and I’ll drop the dog off to you on the motorway….no sorry you can’t see mum and dad…erm best to ring mobile…)then RUN…as fast as you can!!! The plight of the dogs suffering at the hands of these people is absolutely awful and I encourage anyone who isn’t familiar with puppy farms to have a look into it – I guarantee you will be sickened by what these poor dogs go through…and what happens to the excess ‘produce’…(have a look back at one of my previous posts to be enlightened).

And if you do suspect you’ve come across a puppy farm, a call to the RSPCA wouldn’t go amiss either!

7. Should you take your dog to training class?
Simple answer YES. It’s a great way to bond with your dog as well as good socialisation with other dogs and people in a different environment (plus you get to meet other doggy people and natter about all things dog!). If you do get a puppy, then training classes are ESSENTIAL. You can have a look for reputable clubs (if you come across a trainer preaching about dominance and alpha theory…again, leg it out of there as fast as you can!!!!) through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) and other recognised behavioural organisations.

This is not the be all and end all of what you need to take into account when searching and bringing home the new addition to your family, but these points should definitely be considered…in all honesty it could go on and on like…what are you going to do about holidays? Are you a full time worker? If so, who will come in and walk the dogs at lunch time or at least keep them company? …But we’ll save all that for another post.

In the meantime, Goodluck! and Keep up your Research! It will serve you well in the long run…and your dog too!