A dog can be a great addition to any family – not only can they bring even more love and fun into your home, research also suggests that having a dog can be good for your family’s mental and physical wellbeing.
But how do you go about choosing a family dog? In this article, we are going to provide a quick guide to help you choose your first family dog. Read on to hear our tips.
Consider Care Involved
Having a family can be a lot of work, especially if you have younger children, so a dog on top of all that can be even more difficult. With that in mind, it’s important to give the decision some serious thought in order to ensure you have the time and energy to care for a dog before you commit to buying one.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that big dogs can take a lot more time to look after as they do need a lot of exercise, so a small dog might be a better option for many families. This way you can still have a family dog without having to find time to go for long walks like you would with a larger dog.
Look at Different Breeds
It’s a good idea to spend some time considering which dog breed might be most suitable for your family. One of the most popular family dogs for you to consider is a golden retriever as these dogs are smart, loyal and very friendly.
If you are looking for a smaller family dog then a popular breed that you can take a look at is a Bichon Frisé or even a French Bulldog.
Get Insurance
Regardless of what type of dog you get for your family, you will want to make sure you take care of it and provide it with everything it needs – including the right medical care if it gets ill or is involved in an accident.
While your children will be able to rely on the NHS, your canine family member won’t be so lucky, which is why insurance really is vital. From the moment you purchase your dog, you should protect your pet with pet insurance to avoid the huge bills at the vet if your pet becomes unwell or injured.
Carry Out Training
When you first get your pet, you will want to make sure you train it so it is obedient from a young age. Your family dog will need to be trusted as it will be around your children and will be living in your home as well as going on trips with you and the rest of your family. Regardless of what type of dog you choose for your family pet, you can get it trained to be obedient, however, it can take a while to train your dog meaning you will need to be patient and committed. You can usually get some tips online to help with any training for your dog.
Use This as a Guide
As you can see, there is a lot more involved than what you may think when it comes to choosing a family dog but, we hope we have made it a bit easier for you after reading this quick guide. Remember that you will need to deal with everything from looking at different dog breeds to finding the right insurance policy to carrying out training and more. Of course, once you find your perfect dog, you’ll be happy that you put in the effort to bring them into the family.
