Owning a dog can bring great happiness and is a huge privilege, but it's also a life-long responsibility. Dogs depend on us at the very least for food and shelter. If you are considering bringing a dog into your life you need to think seriously about the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Before getting a dog, please consider the following VERY carefully:


Can you afford the time to care for a dog? Most dogs do not welcome being left alone for large parts of the day and dogs are time consuming with daily walks a necessity for a healthy, well balanced dog. Do you have suitable accommodation? Dogs prefer a garden or at the very least their own space to relax in. In addition many rented properties will not permit pets, so check this out first. Flats are often unsuitable for dogs, especially if they are in communal situations, where neighbours may be affected by the presence of a dog. Do you have the willingness and ability to care properly for a dog? Dogs are not just cuddle machines! Problems can include health problems and behavioural issues, all of which may require time, care, money and patience to resolve. You need to make sure that your choice of dog is well suited for your lifestyle. For example, if you are athletic, you will probably not be happy with a dog that has a low energy level, and vice versa. Research the breed of dog you are thinking of carefully. All aspects of your family's life - hobbies, activities, personalities, schedules etc. should all be evaluated prior to getting a dog.


Are there suitable facilities near you to exercise a dog? A walk on the lead is better than no walk at all, but dogs love nothing more than to run free and play and this is only possible in specific locations, with supervision of course.


Dogs require a nutritionally balanced diet and this doesn't come cheap. Even the smallest of dogs have a healthy appetite. In addition to food costs, you will also need to visit the vet for vaccinations and emergencies and this can work out very expensive. To help you cope with such unexpected costs, pet insurance is available, but this too costs a monthly premium. Can your budget cope with these costs? Purchasing certain dog accessories is also essential in order to keep your dog healthy and happy. Accessories will depend on the exact breed, but things like brushes, beds and flea control all cost money. Dogs also have a habit of getting through a large number of toys (better than eating furniture!) and all these things can add up financially. There is often the necessary cost of training a dog.


Training is ESSENTIAL for dogs. The first training required will be toilet training. This will not only help to ensure that your home remains poop free, but also ensures that you comply with the law when out for a walk. The maximum fine upon conviction for a Dog Control Order offence (including failing to clear up after your dog) is £1000, and Fixed Penalty Notices may also be issued. Secondly, most dogs will benefit from puppy and socialisation training and learning the basics such as 'SIT', 'COME' etc. are important to ensure that you and your dog live happily together and you can control your dog when out and about. To assist in these and other matters, The Woof Book would recommend consulting a professional dog trainer.


A big decision. There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing both. Ensure you take your time in deciding and do as much research beforehand as possible. Puppies For some owners, the fun of choosing a puppy often turns into a nightmare when they are not prepared for the antics that new puppies can get up, resulting in the puppy going through the traumatic experience of being re-homed, so this is a big decision that cannot be taken lightly. You should not choose a puppy if the puppy will be left alone for longer than an hour or so at a time. Puppies are very demanding with feeding, toileting, training, companionship, play and tidying up etc. They tend to be little bundles of energy. Never buy a puppy from anywhere or anyone without being able to see at least one or preferably both the parents. 'Puppy Farms' are surprisingly common and should be avoided. Puppy farms are commercial operations with an interest in money over welfare. Puppies from these farms normally have major health and behavioural problems caused through a combination of poor breeding, bad sanitation, cheap food and bad handling. Puppies are taken from their mother and siblings far too early causing socialisation problems with people and other dogs, leading, in many cases, to long term problems. Puppy farms may be airy, bright and friendly places and offer convincing bogus pedigree certification, so be warned. Puppy farms also, in many cases, provide pet shops with dogs and thewoofbook.co.uk would recommend avoiding buying puppies from pet shops as well. Do not automatically think that if you go through the Kennel Club, that those breeders have all been personally checked or verified. This is not the case as no organisation can have the facilities, time and the ability to check the credentials of all the breeders on their books, no matter how good that organisation is. If you go to view litters of puppies never go from one litter to another without first changing your clothes and washing your hands as young puppies are vulnerable to infection and you may be carrying disease without knowing. Once you have found a puppy that you would like to take home make sure you ask when you will be able to collect it, puppies should not be separated from their mother before 7 weeks of age. Before bringing your new dog home, make sure your garden is secure. Buy a collar, lead, dog tag with your name, address and telephone number on it, bowls, bed, toys and treats etc. Check with the breeder what she/he is feeding the pups - a good breeder will supply you with some food to get you through the first hours of having your new puppy home. In order to further the socialisation that puppies receive whilst with their mother and litter mates, it is advisable to take your young puppy to puppy classes once they are home with you. Puppy classes allow a small group of puppies of a similar age to interact and play, teaching them valuable lessons such as not to nip and how to react to other dogs. Some puppy classes insist that puppies have had their primary vaccinations before attending whereas others just ask that they are in good health so it is worth checking before you go. Puppy socialisation classes are generally run by vets and dog trainers, both of which can be found here on thewoofbook.co.uk. Rescue Dogs One advantage of choosing an older dog from a rescue shelter is that you may have a companion that can go everywhere and do everything with you NOW. There's no waiting for a puppy to grow up. However some rescue dogs will be unsocialised and may need just as much attention and training as a new puppy, but the rescue shelter will be able to advise you of this. There are often fewer issues with house training and other destructive behaviour often seen in young puppies as they explore their world and learn boundaries. Other advantages of choosing a rescue dog include the fact that you already will be more likely to have answers to the questions 'How big will that puppy eventually be?', 'What kind of temperament will the puppy have?', 'Will the puppy be easily trained?', 'Will his personality be what you were hoping for?'. There is something intrinsically rewarding in adopting in a rescue dog, you are giving a dog a second chance in life, as in many cases someone else has either been unable to handle the dog or it became a burden or a nuisance and discarded. Whilst morally admirable and with many advantages as outlined above, choosing a rescue dog, however, comes with its own set of complexities including, in many cases, the lack of background information on the dog. Other issues may include an initial adjustment period, which can sometimes be difficult as the dog may need to learn to trust again or even for the first time. Separation anxiety, fear of noises and other issues are common. But in the majority of cases once past the first few months the dog learns to depend on the kindness of his new owners. Good re-homing agencies will have often worked with the dogs for some time and therefore know the dogs in their care quite well and will help to advise on the compatibility of their dogs and any potential new owner. They will also usually carry out a home check to help ensure that the dog is right for you and be able to give ongoing assistance to a new owner. Although no dog should be left alone for more than a few hours, an older dog from a re-homing centre or shelter may just be more tolerant, especially if their background is known and they come from a home where they have been left before.