Owning a Dog for the First Time: Should I Get a Puppy?

In this guide

It’s a genuinely important question, and it’s easy to let the sheer cuteness of a puppy override every other consideration.

Yes, a puppy can bring some of the best moments of your life, but the commitment is real: plenty of attention and effort will be required, especially through that first year.

During that time you’ll effectively watch your puppy race through the canine equivalent of infancy, toddlerhood, curious childhood and rebellious adolescence, all compressed into a fraction of the years it takes a human to do the same. It’s worth being ready for the ride if you’re saying yes to this.

Before going any further, it’s worth mentioning that an adult dog might actually suit your lifestyle better, and lead to a happier match for both of you.

Step one: be honest with yourself

Draw up an honest list of the pros and cons a puppy would bring into your life, then go with whichever side is longer. The obvious pros are fun, affection, companionship and exercise. The cons can include broken sleep, mess, damaged furniture, illness and worry. As with most major life decisions, it comes down to whether the hard work will be worth it, and only you can answer that honestly.

Where to get a puppy

There are really two responsible routes. Your local animal welfare charity is one, rehoming close to 10,000 dogs a year, so finding a suitable puppy there is rarely difficult. An Irish Kennel Club registered breeder is the other.

Sourcing a puppy outside these two channels often ends in heartbreak, sometimes a sick puppy that has to be put to sleep not long after arriving home.

Never buy a puppy online. Doing so supports the puppy trade, an industry documented in “The Dog Factory”, a film by an award-winning investigative journalist (a link appears at the end of the original post). It’s a difficult watch: puppies and their mothers treated as though they feel nothing, confined for days, fed through automated systems, as if incapable of fear, love or loneliness.

Choosing a puppy: dos and don’ts

Do think carefully about what kind of puppy fits your life. Energy levels vary hugely, some dogs are happy with one short walk, others need two or three long ones plus regular off-lead time, which may mean a trip to a dog park until recall training is solid. Coat type matters too, fluffy breeds demand more grooming time or money than short-haired ones. Consider allergies (non-shedding breeds exist), and size relative to your living space, a St Bernard and a small flat are rarely a good match.

Do think about temperament and drive. Is the breed a natural herder, hunter, or lap dog? Understanding this in advance matters, because a dog whose instincts go unmet tends to develop destructive habits out of frustration.

Do be realistic about cost. Food, bedding, toys, accessories, vet bills, pet care while you’re out, training classes and grooming all add up, you’re essentially taking on a dependent.

Don’t let emotion completely override logic, some heart in the decision is fine, but sense needs to prevail too.

Don’t get a puppy if you’re about to move house or jobs, or facing any other major life change, a puppy deserves to be the priority during its first year.

Don’t buy online, ever.

Journalist Sam Poling’s 2015 documentary “The Dog Factory” investigated the puppy trade directly, difficult viewing, but a strong argument for choosing your source with real care. Charities such as the SPCA and Dogs Trust, along with other animal welfare organisations, offer further guidance.

Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.