Owning a dog can be incredibly rewarding but it is also a huge responsibility! In a recent article by Sainsbury’s Bank you can find lots of useful and important information on everything you need to know and consider before getting a new dog.

Future dog owners must ask themselves if they have the time, the money and the means to deal with such a long term commitment. The average dog has a 12 year lifespan and will need to be walked, groomed, trained and cared for on a daily basis. Expenses such as food, veterinary fees and pet insurance also need to be accounted for.

If the answer to these questions is yes then it is time to decide what type of dog would better suit the owner’s personality and lifestyle. Some owners might be better suited with an older dog rather than a puppy and there are plenty of breeds to choose from.

Once your puppy/dog is chosen it’s important to have all the essential items dog owners will need for their new dog such as a lead, a collar and/or harness, food and water bowls, grooming equipment, etc.

The article then moves on to some very useful tips on how to dog-proof your home:

• Hide electrical cables behind furniture/ tape to baseboards
• Remove all breakable objects that your dog might reach
• Place any household chemicals out of reach
• Remove poisonous/toxic houseplants
• Hide shoes in cupboards

An essential part of your new dog’s arrival is the way he or she is introduced to other family members. It’s important to include children in a puppy’s upbringing, regardless of whether there are any kids in your home or not and you should always insist that the dog approaches the child, rather than the other way round.

As for other dogs the ideal is to introduce them on neutral territory, such as out on a walk. You should not leave them alone together until they’re friendly and separate them if they start to fight. If there are cats in the household, the introduction should be made gradually and carefully. The cat must always be able to remove himself from the situation if he or she is not feeling comfortable.

If you are getting a puppy you’ll need to do some toilet training. Please remember to take your new puppy out as regularly as possible (puppies should be able to relieve themselves at least every two hours) and to give him or her lots of praise when they successfully poo/wee outside.

Other important considerations include:

• Identification – by law dogs must wear a collar and tag in public places, with their owner’s name, address and telephone number on it and microchipping will be compulsory from April 2016 in England, Wales and Scotland
• Check-ups, vaccinations and neutering – most veterinary practices provide health care packages that work alongside your pet insurance, helping to manage the costs of both check-ups and preventative treatments
• Choosing the right insurance – Policies vary when it comes to the level of cover they offer. It’s a good idea to research and compare pet insurance policies before you make a final decision.

To have access to the full Sainsbury’s article with all the information on how to prepare for a new dog please click on the link below:

https://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/library/default/pdf/preparing-for-a-new-dog.pdf

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Never leave you dog locked in the car during the warm season!

Most animal lovers have probably heard of this problem but talking about this and spreading the word around is the best way to save lives: canine lives.

Owners should never leave their dogs unattended and locked in their car during the warm season, even if the windows are left open or if they’re parked in the shade. The problem lies in the fact that many pet owners are not aware of how high temperatures can rise inside a locked car, how fast that can happen and how dangerous this is for a dog left inside.

Dogs don’t sweat like we do. They cool themselves mainly by panting. This means that if the air around them is too hot they are physically unable to regulate their body temperature which is exactly what happens when they are trapped in the car.

A car can become an incredible hot oven quite fast, even when it doesn’t feel that warm to us outside. If it’s 22 degrees outside, the temperature inside the car can reach an amazing 47 degrees within an hour. In a hot day a dog can die of severe dehydration and heat exhaustion in just a few minutes!

Unware owners that need to quickly pop into a store and leave their pet locked in the car in a hot day, can be condemning their pet to suffer an agonising death. It only takes a couple of minutes!

You may also wonder what to do if you ever find a dog under these circumstances. If you ever see a dog locked in a hot car call the police on 999, the Fire brigade or the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty line 0300 1234 999 and stay with the dog until help arrives. If you see that the dog is in severe distress call 999 and ask permission to break the car’s window. You can also alert the manager of any nearby businesses as it is likely for the owner to be somewhere in the shop.

An animal lover’s first thought would be to immediately break the window and remove the dog from that awful situation. However it is important to keep in mind that only the Police, the Fire Brigade or the RSPCA are allowed to break a car window to access a dog in distress. Members of the public will have to pay for the damage if they break the window without permission.

Have a wonderful summer and keep your dog safe!

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