Everyone has heard the term ‘ A dog is for life and not just for Christmas’ and that really is worth bearing in mind when choosing the right new dog for you and your family.

This is not a guinea pig you are taking on, a dog will be there with you for many years and will need a lot of looking after. It is essential that when you are choosing the right new dog for you that you bear this in mind.

How much of my time does a dog need?

Before you take on a new dog, you should consider details such as how much time you have available to exercise the dog?  (big dogs need much more exercise) , do you have children in the house? (then a puppy may be better than a rescue dog who’s background you can not be sure of), do you have experience with any particular breed of dog?  (it might make training it easier for you), what is your financial situation? (big dogs eat more food and can cost you lots of money).

Do I really want new dog

You must also consider whether you REALLY want a new dog or if it is just a passing fancy. Too many dogs get abandoned a few months later when their owners realise just what they have taken on, and the commitment involved. If you are not SURE you want a new dog and can commit to looking after it properly then don’t have one.

I lost one of my dogs a couple of years ago, he had a stroke and had to be put to sleep. But he was 19 YEARS OLD! so he had been given a good long crack at life and enjoyed it right up to the end. Other breeds of dog may last just 10 years or less, but either way you will be committing to years of your life with the dog. If you can’t commit to that then don’t get a new dog.

This is Pepsi, who lived to be 19 years old:

These are my 2 current dogs, both well behaved and (eventually) well trained:

If you do decide that you want a new dog, and are sure that you are choosing the right new dog for you, then the next step is getting them trained as quickly as possible. The link below will help you there. It saved me a lot of time and money having this information and I’m sure it will also help you.

Click here for full new dog training details