The first time we bought a dog, I asked my vet friend what breed he thought would be best-suited to our family. We settled on his recommendation: a relatively easy first dog for a family with young children, few inherited health complications and a dog that doesn’t shed much hair – the Maltese Poodle.

We bought Snowy from the same litter as a colleague of mine but as a first-time puppy buyer, I didn’t look into some of the important questions I should have asked the breeder and some things I should have considered before buying him.

Although it took a while to adjust to having a dog in our home, Snowy did settle and he became a wonderful addition to our family. He was very loving and we all adored him – especially our children. I’d never considered myself a ‘dog person’, but Snowy crept into my heart and he became a very special part of the family. I especially loved it when he gave me a hug. When I came home from work, he’d jump up and wrap his little paws around my knee.

He was very protective of us though and didn’t like it when friends or family came into our home – he would growl and bark, making for an initially awkward atmosphere. He also barked incessantly at the birds flying overhead, much to our neighbours’ annoyance.

For all his foibles though, we loved Snowy and were heartbroken when we relocated and had to give him away.

It’s been more than two years since we said our goodbye’s to our beloved Snowy and now that we’re settled in our new house, we’ve started looking into getting anther dog. For some reason, it feels like a much tougher decision this time round.

I’ve spent hours trawling through information about the many different dog breeds as I researched which dog would best suit our family needs.

I have though finally come to the conclusion that unless we want a robot for a pet, we will have to very seriously consider the cost of bringing a dog into our home again. Allowances will have to be made as we contemplate adjusting to a new member of our family.

Things To Consider Before Getting A Dog:

  • Financial Considerations. The cost of owning a dog goes way beyond the initial purchase or adoption and food. You may need to get pet insurance in order to help with medical costs later on.
  • Lifestyle Considerations. Every breed has a personality of its own and knowing in advance what exactly that is could save you a lot of trouble down the road. Puppy training is no joke – it takes patience and dedication.
  • Research the different breeds. Every breed has a personality of its own and knowing in advance what exactly that is, could save you a lot of trouble down the road.
  • A dog is a man’s best friend. Although it may take a bit of time to adjust to your new dog, he or she will soon be part of the family and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
  • How do you feel about moulting? Research how much each dog breed moults – if you don’t want to be vacuuming the house every day, you need to consider getting a dog that doesn’t moult as much, but every dog does moult. Also factor in how much time you are willing to commit to grooming your dog?
  • Is your home safe and dog proof? Making sure your home is a safe environment for a dog is crucial. This includes providing a fully-fenced garden to stop your pooch from escaping.
  • What is your living space like? Consider how they will live in your environment.
  • Consider the average lifespan of the breed. When you buy a dog you are making a commitment for, usually, at least the next decade of your life.
  • Who is going to look after your dog when you do go on holiday?

All things considered, don’t be put off ever getting a dog. Maybe it’s not the right time to introduce a dog into your family but that doesn’t mean it won’t ever be the right time. When you do make that commitment, you will not be disappointed. It may take a bit of time to adjust to your new addition, but commit to make it work and you won’t regret it.