#presspaws before you buy a dog

To mark 35 years of their ‘A Dog is for life’ campaign, the Dogs Trust have launched their #presspaws campaign to get people thinking about whether or not they could look after a dog.

In the run up to Christmas some people may be thinking about buying a dog as a present for their family. As long as you know that you can give that dog the love, affection, effort and attention he or she needs, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Before you decide to buy a dog you need to think honestly about whether you can give a dog what they need.

Time and effort

If you buy a puppy you will need to spend a lot of time and effort training and socialising your dog.

Even if you buy a WKD Trained Dogs pre-trained dog or a trained dog from a rehoming center, you will still need to give him or her lots of attention.

It’s not just the first few weeks or months you need to think about; if you can’t give a dog the love and attention they need throughout their life, you shouldn’t get a dog.

What breed is right for me?

If you know that you can provide a dog with everything they need you next need to look at which breeds will suit your circumstances and lifestyle.

You may be drawn to a certain breed but you that breeds requirements may not suit your circumstances.

When choosing a breed you need to research how much space and exercise they need, whether you can afford their monthly costs and afford any vets bills.

There are also other things you need to take into consideration such as breeds that get on with children or other pets, or maybe you need a hypoallergenic breed.

Buying your dog

Once you know you can give a dog what they need and know what breeds are right for you, next comes the exciting part: choosing your dog.

The Dogs Trust has some helpful tips about buying a dog on their website to ensure you buy from a reputable breeder and buy a happy and healthy dog.

If you decide you can give a dog what they need, we wish you the best of luck with your new furry family member!