So you want a puppy?

Without exception every family want to see their new puppy settle quickly and enjoy a harmonious relationship with all members of the family, from the oldest to the youngest. But getting a puppy can be quite different from the idea of having a puppy, so at Doodledoos we are interested in educating our puppy customers in researching as much as possible prior to taking the plunge.

#1: Pre-purchase Research

According to a survey conducted by the Kennel Club, over a third of people looking to buy a puppy do NO pre-purchase research at all. In addition, The Kennel Club reported that 20% of all puppies die or fall ill in the first year of life and 30% of dog owners are worried about being able to keep their pup due to spiraling cost of living.

Taking on a new puppy is a serious business and requires considerable thought and thorough investigation.

A new puppy addition to the family can have a negative impact on the family dynamics, make extra demands on those who work from home and can drain the family finances, especially if more veterinary attention is required than anticipated.

We highly recommend that our customers do as much pre-purchase research as they possibly can.

So what does pre-purchase research look like?

• Reading: There are many many dog-related books and magazines we can recommend. (Edition Dog Magazine, How Dogs Think by Stanley Coren, Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezie by Steve Mann, Puppy Separation Anxiety by Julie Naismith, Puppy Kindergarten by Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods - to name but a few.

• Courses: We highly recommend Pupstarts Puppy Pod Programme which offers new owners training and support. Yes, customers need training too!

• Webinars: One Mind Dogs, Easy Peasy Puppy Training

• Youtube clips: There are so many! A must listen to is Meet your Dog by Kim Brophey (listen here) or read her book.

• Interact with other dogs: Borrow my Doggy is an excellent organisation that will help you test the waters. Having a dog live with you in your home is very different from patting a few dogs in the park and thinking you can manage. Until you have a dog living in the home with you, you won't be able to understand what is involved. Helping a friend or neighbour out by looking after their dog for a day or two is a great introduction to dog ownership. Get involved and let others know that you are keen to help them and to learn at the same time.

#2: ASD - What is an Australian Service Dog?

First and foremost I can tell you what an ASD is not - and that's a Labradoodle - see my website for the differences!

The ASD is a therapy dog. Used for assistance purposes to provide help and support for both carers and those being cared for.

The ASD is a companion breed. They just long to be with you. They crave your company and will make sure you are kept an eye on at all times - even in the bathroom!

The ASD hates being alone. They are not suited to homes where the family is out of the house most of the day. Even if you work from home, you will need time to give your pup the opportunity to do what it enjoys most - being with you!

Every puppy is different, even within the same breed, though typical breed characteristics (as above) mean you can expect a 'needy' dog.

#3: Pros and Cons to puppy ownership

The Pros are obvious. Fun, cuddles, long walks in the countryside, the challenge of training and of course the pride when strangers stop you in the street to tell you how wonderful your dog is.

The cons are a bit more complex. It depends on how you picture puppyhood. New Research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has shed light on how children and caregivers experience life with a puppy and it reveals that despite the many benefits, more than a third of families found raising a puppy harder than they imagined. Managing puppy behaviour and an unequal distribution of responsibilities were the main areas of concern.

Many families think a dog will 'complete' their family. Sometimes this is the case, but often the restrictions involved in owning a dog, can outweigh the pros.

If you enjoy holidaying abroad often, you may have to find kennels or boarding for your dog - this needs careful consideration because not all dogs are suited to a kennel environment. If you work full time away from home, then the ASD is not for you. Even with Doggy Day Care options, the ASD really only wants to be with YOU and while it's not particularly healthy for a dog to have constant access to their owners, being home alone is not the ideal either. If you enjoy spending several hours at the gym, shopping and lunching with friends, then your dog needs to either be able to come with you, or you will need to arrange for puppy to spend time with a neighbour or relative once a week in order for you to keep the social life. Another 'con' is that the ASD needs to know her expectations - what's coming up next. They love routine and I swear they can tell the time! At 7pm on the dot, our Mogg rings the bells on the patio door to go outside for a drink and a play. She does this without fail every night - it's what she loves to do. If you have a busy household with lots of after-school clubs, friends round unexpectedly, coats and keys jangling menacingly, ready to leave the house for yet another appointment/club/playdate, then ASDs can become extremely anxious. They don't know what's happening and when - and that's something that can cause anxiety and stress.

#4: Stress

Dogs need to do what they were designed to do. Yes, believe it or not, most dogs are designer dogs. Sheep dogs were designed to herd, Labradors and Spaniels were designed to retrieve, Dobermans were designed to guard, Terriers were designed to scout the ground for vermin. If a dog is inherently programmed to do a job, then it needs the opportunity to do things that replicates these roles if necessary. Not all want to follow on in their ancestors' steps, but most will have the capacity to do so. If a dog is not allowed to do what it inherently was created to do, then frustration can set in. Dogs keen to explore, sniff and dawdle along the daily walk will feel frustrated if they are interrupted from such natural enjoyment. Some dogs have greater frustration levels than others and maturity plays a role in helping dogs to develop a greater understanding of the rhythms of daily life. If the dog becomes frustrated on a daily basis however, their stress levels increase and relaxing becomes more and more difficult.

Finding ways to release stress, is the key that can unlock the door to many behavioural problems. It's vital that you have time to provide healthy outlets for your dog so I cannot stress (pardon the pun) enough the importance of being able to understand your dog's needs and allow them the opportunity to express their inherent abilities and leanings. Think of it like a child that loves to paint and draw but is steered instead towards pursuing mathematics and science - it just doesn't work!

The ASD is a wonderful dog for a first time pet owning family, but by evaluating what you can offer the ASD in terms of companionship, time and dedication, you will be half way there to establishing if it will work or not.