< Back


PETSTOP'S HINTS FOR NEW DOG OWNERS

If you are considering whether or not a dog is the right pet for you, or if you have just got your first dog, these hints should help you. Whilst the rules of basic dog care are the same for all dogs, no other animal species has been bred in such a variety of shapes, sizes and personalities, and hence these handy tips may vary with the individual dog.

Space & Exercise

All dogs need exercise. However, whilst an active spaniel may need a walk of at least an hour each day (and preferably more), a chihuahua may be happy to just play in the garden. Be careful to choose a dog whose exercise requirements match your own. If you want to take your dog hill walking with you, don’t buy a pug! Likewise, don’t get a big active weimaraner in the mistaken belief that it will ‘make’ you get up off the sofa and get some exercise. Be realistic as to the amount of walking that you will be happy to take with your new pet and choose a breed accordingly.

Similarly, choose a dog to fit your space. Many toy breeds are perfectly happy to live in an apartment, but a St. Bernard will definitely require a spacious garden. Is your dog to live indoors or out? If your dog is to live permanently outside, make sure that you pick a hardy breed. As a general guide, the toy breeds have been bred to live inside and will be miserable if banished to the garden. The gundogs and working breeds have been bred for a life outside, although, of course, all dogs enjoy stretching in front of the fire if they get half a chance.

A Dog-friendly Garden

It is vitally important that your garden is well fenced and totally escape-proof. Too many happy dogs have unhappy ends under the wheels of a car. If you are a keen gardener, avoid breeds that love to dig or very big dogs that can flatten your flowerbeds. If your garden is your pride and joy, discuss breed choice with other dog-owning gardeners.

A Place To Sleep

Your dog will require its own safe place to sleep. Outdoor dogs will require a kennel with a blanket or bed inside. Be careful to position the kennel so that the prevailing wind and rain does not blow in. You may want to consider making an enclosed dog run around the kennel, especially if you live in a country area, or if your garden is not well fenced.

Indoor dogs will need their own bed. Choose its location with care. An ideal spot is out of the way, where the dog can retire to relax. Beds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from the basic to the designer. Choose a bed that is easily washed and of a correct size for the breed. The Petstop staff can help you to choose a bed of the right size.

Dog Fashion

Every dog should have a collar and lead. The range of styles and colours available is enormous. There are also a variety of other options that may help with training problems. Dogs that pull may benefit from a choke chain, although in untrained hands this can be a very severe aid. A rope choke lead is a kinder option, but likewise it must be used correctly. A ‘Halti’ is useful for strong dogs. This operates like a horse’s headcollar. It has the advantage that if a dog pulls, the ‘Halti’ will turn its head so that it no longer faces whatever is tempting it. Some owners prefer a harness to a collar. Harnesses really only work with small dogs; big dogs merely find it easier to haul you up the street in a harness. Be warned, it is harder to control a dog in a harness, although many toy breeds appreciate them. If you use a dog seat belt in the car (a sensible idea), then the seat belt must be attached to a harness, not a collar.

Other accessories for the fashion conscious dog include coats and T-shirts. Dog coats may be purely ornamental, or they may actually serve a purpose. Dogs that are walked in all weathers may benefit from a weatherproof waxed coat in heavy rain. Likewise, very old dogs may appreciate a warm coat in winter, as do some of the daintier breeds such as the Italian Greyhound.

A Friend For Life

All dogs need companionship. Ideally, no dog owner should ever go to work! This, of course, is not very practical, and many of the best dog owners go to work each day. However, if you are planning to be a working dog-owner, get two dogs so that they have each other for company while you are out, and when you come home, be prepared to spend time with your pets. If you work hard, and then play hard, and only touch base to sleep at night, a dog is not the best pet for you.

A Healthy Diet

Dogs, like all of us, require a healthy diet. A diet consisting only of scraps and leftovers will not suffice. There are two main types of commercial dog diets – complete dry foods and canned food with mixer. Both types are produced in a number of ranges. Just remember that you get what you pay for. The cheaper diets may not give your dog a glossy coat. The premium diets are likely to have different recipes for dogs of varying sizes and ages. Puppies need a higher protein level than adult dogs, as do nursing bitches or working dogs. The Petstop staff will be happy to discuss all the various diets available.

Plenty of Water

All dogs should have clean water to drink available at all times. This is especially true if your dog is fed a dry diet, if there is a heat wave, if it is a flat-faced breed, or if she is rearing puppies.

A Healthy Coat

Every dog needs to be groomed regularly, however a long-coated breed will need daily attention whilst a smooth coat will only require a quick going over once a week. Pay attention to ears and nails too. If you do not fancy yourself as a hairdresser, stick to a medium or short-coated breed. Incidentally, having a short-coated breed does not mean that your house will have less dog hairs in it. Many short coated breeds have very dense coats, and short hairs are actually harder brush off clothes and furniture than long silky hairs. If hairs in the house are a major problem for you, choose a non-shedding breed such as a poodle, a wheaten terrier, or a hairless breed.

A Steady Routine & Some Training

Routine is important to a dog. Try to feed and exercise your dog at set times each day. Every dog needs some training. No one likes a delinquent canine, besides which, your dog will be happier if it is trained and knows its boundaries. Training also strengthens the bond between dog and owner.

Your first training challenge is to house-train your puppy. This is not as difficult as some people imagine, but do be prepared for accidents for the first six months to a year. Teach your pup to know its name and to come when called. Basic training may only consist of sitting when requested, walking easily on a lead and returning immediately when called. Many dogs and their owners want to progress further and some even enter obedience competitions. Enquire at your local Canine Club if you think that this might appeal to you, or if you wish to attend basic training classes.

Identification & Registration

If you are buying a pedigree puppy, make sure that you get a pedigree, a change of ownership form signed by the breeder, a vaccination record, and a microchip certificate. All puppies registered with the Irish Kennel Club must be microchipped. In fact, any one can microchip any dog – pedigree or mongrel, and it is a sensible idea. The vet will inject a very tiny microchip under the skin. This chip, when scanned, has an individual number. If your dog is ever stolen or strays, this chip will enable a rescue organisation to trace you. It can also provide proof of ownership should it ever be disputed.

Your dog should also wear an identity disc on its collar. Have your telephone number engraved on the disc, but not the dog’s name. Supplying a name can assist dog thieves.

Health Care

Your new puppy will need to have a complete set of vaccinations before it can be taken out to meet other dogs. The breeder should have started the course of shots before the pup arrives. If your new dog is a stray or rescue, its vaccination history will be unknown. Assume that it has not been vaccinated and get him done. Every dog needs to be treated for worms on a regular basis. Worms can pass nasty diseases to humans, especially to children, so a worming programme is vital. Young puppies need worming every two weeks. Adult dogs need to be wormed 2 or 4 times a year. Discuss a suitable schedule with your vet when you take your new dog to be vaccinated.