Welcome to All About Dogs
This post is here to help you make best use of this website. A dog is a commitment for many years to come, so think about what you want and plan carefully.
Choosing a dog:
If you want a pedigree dog see the list of dogs. This list will help you choose possible breeds. For example if you have younger children you might look for a breed with a score of 4 or 5 for ‘child friendly’. If you have no experience or limited time for dog training avoid breeds with a 4 or 5 for training. These numbers are only an indication and individual dogs differ in their character but you may well find there are many more suitable breeds than you expected. If you live in an area that is particularly hot in summer or cold in winter check how well the dog copes with extreme temperatures. Having selected some breeds you need to research those you are not familiar with, on the internet or by buying a few books about these specific breeds.
If you decide on a mixed breed dog you can easily find one at any dog rescue centre. The staff there will be able to give you an estimate of the dog’s character, size if not yet full grown, any health or behaviour issues, etc
Cost of keeping a dog:
If you are away from home you need to allow for the cost of boarding kennels or taking the dog with you. There will be vet’s bills for vaccinations and any treatments. A range of figures is listed here as a very rough guide. You will se that there may be a significant extra outlay when you first get a dog, also that the annual bills may be a lot more than just the cost of its food. The cost of food and grooming depends very much on the size of your dog and its type of coat:
| Low amount | High | |
| Purchase of dog | 0 | 1,000 |
| Spay/neuter | 35 | 200 |
| Bed, bowls, lead collar etc | 50 | 300 |
| Fence | 0 | 1500 |
| Training | 15 | 500 |
| Vitamins etc (1st year) | 15 | 75 |
| Shampoo, grooming etc (per year) | 10 | 500 |
| Food (per year) | 125 | 500 |
| Flea control, heartworm (per year) | 70 | 300 |
| Treats, chew bones etc (per year) | 20 | 250 |
| Vet (vaccine, treatment etc, per year) | 60 | 600 |
Once you have your dog, you need to look after it. He needs food, affection, training, and exercise. He needs to be vaccinated and he needs a bed, bowls, collar, leash etc. All these things are discussed in other posts in this site.
