Which dog is right for me?
Anyone who wants to buy a dog should not decide overnight. Several factors, such as your budget, your home, your free time and your experience with dogs, are worth thinking about before you choose a puppy at the kennel. These factors also determine which dog suits you.
Some factors to help you decide which dog suits you:
What if you have little space?
A garden isnot necessarily neededif you want to buy a dog. Some dogs settle in perfectly well in a house without a garden, or even in an apartment.
The most important traits to look at arethe instinctsof the dog. The size of the dog matters less.
Take the Pinscher, for example. Although this dog stays fairly small, it is a German hunting dog with a lot of energy. A Pinscher is best kept where it can move a lot.
A French Bulldog, which is larger, has a much calmer energy level.
Do you really have little space? Then avoid dogs with a strong hunting instinct, such as hounds and scent hounds, or shepherd and herding dogs. Atour kennelyou will get the right advice on this.
For people in small spaces,small dogsare often a better choice, although this is not always the case.Medium-sized dogscan also be suitable, depending on their temperament.
How much time ‘can’ you spend on your dog every day?
Of course, the above is only a guide. If your dog rarely has to stay alone and you spendseveral hours a day activelywith it (walking, playing, …), even a Pinscher can settle in an apartment.
The time you can spend on your dog is therefore avery important factor. Before you decide tobuy a dogat the kennel, keep in mind that the animal (depending on the breed)can easily live 10 years or longer. Your life can change a lot in that time.
If you are single now, for example, there is a good chance that within 10 years you will have a partner and perhaps children. You may then have less time for your dog. So think about whether youcan teach your dog to be alonewhen your situation changes.
How much time ‘must’ you spend on your dog every day?
Not every dog needs the same amount of exercise and challenge. In general,smaller dogs need less exercise, provided they are not hunting dogs, hounds or herding dogs.Hunting and working dogs take up the most of your free time. A Border Collie, a true herding dog, only feels warmed up after 2 hours of exercise. The Newfoundland, which easily grows twice as large, prefers to do everything at a calm pace and is happy with one walk a day.
For specific breeds such as theBeagleit is important to knowhow much exercisethey need.
Some dogs also need more mental than physical challenges. Bij hondentoebehorenin de dierenwinkel vindt u speelgoed op maat. Some dog breeds also need a lot ofcoat caresuch asthe Chow Chow. Take this into account as well when you want to buy a dog.
What if this is your first dog?
It does matter whether this is your first dog or not. Training your dog is a must, whatever its breed, size or age.Some dog breedsare not easy to handle, however, andneed a strong, experienced leader. That isthe case with herding dogs, among others,such as the Border Collie, butalso with many hunting dogssuch as the Small Münsterländer, which would rather follow its nose than its owner.
Dogs that are suitable as a first dog include thePomeranian, thePoodleand theGolden Retriever. These breeds are easy to train and easy to live with.
For families with children, it is important to choose achild-friendly family dogand some people preferdogs that bark little.
What budget should you plan for a dog?
Buying a dog is not a one-off cost. At the kennel you payon average between 600 and 2500 euros for your dog, but after that you still have to budget for food and care. How much you spend on food depends on the weight and size of the dog. For a dog of about 35 kilos, count onabout 570 euros of food per year. For medical careof a dog you payon average 206 euros per year.
Het is belangrijk om gezonde voeding te geven en ook na te denken over hondenverzekering om onverwachte kosten op te vangen.
If you also want tohave the dog neutered or spayed, budget foran amount between 250 and 400 euros. Much depends on the anaesthetic: the dose, and so the price, is higher for a larger dog. For more information, read our article onspaying or neutering dogs.
Another important consideration is whether you want to buy a puppy oradopt a dog.
The Woefkesranch team is happy to give you further advice on buying a dog that really suits you. It is essential to knowhow to recognise a good dog breederbefore you make your choice. Do you have a question? Call us on +32 15 75 59 42 orfill in this contact form.
