Thinking About Getting a Puppy?

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I think there comes a time when a lot of families think about getting a puppy, usually the decision is based on the little ones being super enthusiastic and promising they'll look after it! I've been trying to convince Ben for about a year to let us get a pet for Abbie, he's not the biggest animal lover in the world so I think it's going to take a bit more convincing before he's even tempted, but I think Abbie would love it when she's a little bit older and can take him or her for walks and things!

But as with all pets, it is a massive decision and one that needs lots of talking about. Yes they are super cute and adorable but there are various things that need to be taken into account too, the last thing you want is to realize it was the wrong decision and then be put in the predicament on possibly giving it up! We already hear far too much about dogs and other pets being abandoned when their owners don’t want them, so it's definitely something we personally, would want to avoid!

With that in mind, here are a few things to take into account for those considering getting a new puppy..
Puppy-proof your house  Just like when you have a child, it’s important to make your house safe for your puppy. Get a child gate to keep your puppy to one room of the house to start with, until it becomes a little more house trained, you should also remove anything small that your puppy could chew and choke on, as well as any cords or cables they could either chew through or get tangled up in (they really are like having babies all over again aren't they!)
You might also want to remove anything breakable or valuable from that room, or at least move it out of reach. 
Find a good vet  You’re going to need to take your puppy to the vet a few times at least. Even if they’re in perfect health they will still need inoculations and such, so have a search for local vets in the area and choose one that you like. Speak to friends and family to see if they have any recommendations or pop in and see whether you like the look of the place. 

Pet insurance  This might not be something that immediately occurs to you, but pet insurance is absolutely vital and can end up saving you a fortune in the long run. Should the worst happen and your dog becomes ill or gets injured then vet bills can be extremely expensive, and so pet insurance can help cover those costs! Growing up I think every animal we had had to go to the vets at least one, even if it's just for certain injections and being flea'd, the price all adds up! Money Supermarket can help you learn more about this and find some cheap quotes  we used it for our contents insurance and car bits and found everything much cheaper so it's worth shopping around!
Do your homework  It’s important you know as much as possible about your puppy before you bring it home. Learn about that breed in particular – does it have any common health complaints? How big will it get? How good natured is it around children? You also need to learn about how and when you need to treat your dog for certain things, such as fleas. Your vet will help out with this, but it can pay to do some research beforehand and even stock up on supplies. This flea spray from Vet medic, for instance, will come in handy at some point!  Get them microchipped  Again, you can speak to your vet about this but it is definitely worth getting your puppy microchipped. Hundreds, if not thousands, of dogs are lost every year and microchipping can help them get recovered. Collars and tags are also important, but having a microchip just helps that little bit more. You can learn more about that here.
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