So, you are thinking of getting a puppy. What a wonderful thing to be considering! Bringing home a puppy is exciting, fun…. and a tad overwhelming! I have been a puppy trainer in Horndean, Hampshire for many years and want to share with you the top 3 questions I think you need to ask yourself before you commit to bringing home that bundle of fluff.

Am I ready to commit to a puppy and its subsequent life stages?

Dogs go through 12 life stages (Kelly,S).Wait, what…12?! If you're planning on buying a puppy at 8 weeks old (Stage 5) you need to anticipate having your dog right the way through to seniority (Stage 12). For the purposes of this blog I won't discuss all of the life stages…(do not worry!)…just the ones that, in my professional opinion, you need to have an awareness of.

What happens in the puppy stage?

Puppy parenthood can undoubtedly be full of joy for the simple reason that puppies are just utterly brilliant. Fact. You will also quickly discover you are the most popular person in the park/pub/your friendship group because everyone loves puppies!

But ask any puppy parent and they will tell you there are times which can challenge even the most patient of people! *I am emphatically nodding here*

As a puppy training specialist, biting, chewing and toilet training are the three main things people ask for my help with. There are no quick wins with any of these (sorry!). They all take an investment of your time, a whole lot of patience, and dedication. But you will get there if you get the right advice and implement that advice - pinky promise.

What are the signs of adolescence in dogs?

Then, there is adolescence - Stage 9. This is a period that lasts from 6 months to 2 years (depends which books you read). This period can be defined as “Transitory changes in risk taking, mood, irritability and conflict with parents collectively known as adolescent-phase behaviour" (Asher et al., 2020). To put it into context, here are the things you can typically expect to see…

* Decreased response to established cues from caregivers. Suddenly their recall cue isn't quite as solid as it was in puppyhood!

* Heightened intensity of breed-specific behaviours (more on this shortly!)

* Increased independence from caregivers (totally relatable to human teens isn't it?!)

* Increased seeking of novelty, food and social contact. Your teenager who may have been shy in the past is now rushing over to dogs in the park. Yikes!

The good news is as adolescence goes on, the challenges should be shorter lived but please get a trainer (like me!) or a behaviourist involved at the right time. If you work with me, I promise to be your biggest cheerleader (metaphorically speaking…I don't own any pom poms!) and help you come out of the other side unscathed!

What happens when a dog is very old?

If you are privileged enough to have a dog past 7 years of age, then you need to be aware of biological problems, (e.g. declining sight and hearing) and possible cognitive and arthritic problems. They are likely to need less exercise and will need to toilet more frequently.

4 questions to ask yourself before you get a puppy:

Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? Are you planning to have children, move to a new place (or even a new country)?
Might your job or working hours change?
Where do you live? In a flat or a house with a garden? Are you in the city or the countryside? Do you have a lot of space in your home or is it on the small side? Be aware that some breeds of dogs will need a larger area.
Are you prepared to handle any health or behavioural issues that might arise with your dog?

What breed of dog is right for me?

Many people end up with a dog that doesn't fit their lifestyle because they chose a breed based on appearance or didn't do enough research. While a dog's personality is influenced by their genetics, environment and upbringing, breed-specific traits often persist (and often come to the forefront in adolescence, as previously discussed). For instance, Terriers like to dig (bye bye well-maintained lawn), and Border Collies have a strong instinct to herd animals, people, or even cars.

Here are some things to consider:

What is the history of the breed? What job were they originally bred to do, and what traits has this resulted in? Can you give them an appropriate outlet for this?

Does the breed have a tendency to suffer from certain health conditions? (Visit www.dogbreedhealth.com for more information)
How much exercise does this breed need? Can you realistically make time for that?
How much mental stimulation does this breed require?
What activities does this breed enjoy? Are these activities that I enjoy too?
How big is a dog of this breed likely to get? Do I have the space for them, and am I strong enough to handle them on a lead?

What is a realistic budget for a dog?

Crikey….Owning a dog can be expensive! Depending on the breed, dogs can live between 8 and 18 years (shout out here to Billy, my Step-Brother's JRT who is 18 and still going strong - LEGEND!), so you must ensure you can afford their care for their entire life. Review your budget thoroughly to see if you can manage the ongoing (and emergency) costs of dog ownership. These expenses include (this is not an exhaustive list!):

Food
Toys
Bedding
Annual booster vaccinations and regular flea and worm treatments
Neutering
Vet visits for illness or injury
Fees for kennels, dog walking, or boarding/pet-sitting if needed
Insurance
Training sessions or classes. Training is a lifelong commitment! (Read that again!)

According to Battersea, on average, it costs about £2,000 per year to take care of a dog (Wowzers, that is a lot of money!)

Generally, the bigger the dog - the bigger the cost. Food and vet bills are based on body weight - so keeping and caring for a larger dog is more expensive.

What to look for when buying from a dog breeder

If you are one of my lovely puppy-owning clients you will know that one of the first things I ask you is if you liked your breeder, what information and support they gave you before and after getting your puppy and what your general 'feeling' about them was.

I ask this because there are a shocking number of breeders who are only interested in money and not in the well-being of the dogs. This disregard leads to disease, lifelong health issues and poor social skills.

Here are my top tips when choosing to get a puppy from a breeder.....

First and foremost- please trust your gut instinct!

A good breeder:

Will want to know about your lifestyle and what you can offer the puppy.
Will allow you to observe the mum. You want her to be confident and happy. You also want the puppies to be with her for approximately 8 weeks.
Will tell you about the dad and why he was selected as a sire.
Will show you relevant health history and certificates of the lineage of both parents.
Will give you the necessary paperwork (inc. microchip documentation - this is a LEGAL requirement).
Will let you ask as many questions as you need!

Is it easy to adopt a rescue dog?

A good rescue centre will want to know about

Your lifestyle (are you out at work all day? What time you will have available to walk your dog)
The size of your home and the outside space you have
May even want to do a home visit (if you want to rehome a greyhound, like me, you need to have 6 foot fences so rescue centres like to check this!)

Meet lots of dogs - try not to focus on a particular breed but think about character traits that you like.
Be honest - try not to paint a picture of your life that is different from reality. There will be a dog out there for you - it may not be the first dog you see - but make sure they are the dog best matched to your situation.

If after you have reflected on this and you have decided getting a puppy is the right thing for you then big yay! I am so excited for you! *I am doing a little happy dance right now*

If you found this blog helpful and would like to work with me, then I offer a personalised 1:1 session, called Perfect Puppy Preparation.

Preparing you for life with a new puppy, East Hampshire — Barker and Hound Dog Training

This session is designed to empower you with the knowledge, skills and confidence you need to set your puppy up for success. During this 90 minute personalised session, we'll delve into your specific concerns and goals. Whether it's what to buy, how to set up your home, toilet training or handling night times, I've got you covered. My approach is all about your pup's unique needs and your specific lifestyle.

You are also welcome to join my private Facebook group and new dog and puppy owners! Barker & Hound: A group for new dog and puppy owners! | Facebook (Pretty please: answer the joining questions!)

Best wishes,

Sarah-Jane :)

Psst - fancy a freebie? Click on this link to download my exclusive guide to bringing home your puppy!

The surprising things you might not have considered before getting a puppy!