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SO, YOU’RE THINKING of getting a pet? It’s understandable, particularly at a time like this when many of us are working from home, isolated from loved ones, and reassessing how we live our lives.
When you’re walking within your 5KM radius, you’ve probably noticed an increase in people walking dogs. Dog ownership, in particular, has increased greatly since Covid-19 hit almost a year ago.
Getting a new pet can be one of the most joyful experiences and when it goes well it can bring years of happiness into our lives. But, owning a pet is not something anyone should do half-heartedly or without proper research.
I’ll be outlining below the top 10 things to consider if you are thinking of getting a pet, or if you’ve just taken one into your home. It’s important to remember that we won’t always be living in Level 5 and eventually people will have to return to the office, kids will go back to school and you will still have a duty of care to that pet.
1. Plan ahead and be realistic
A pet can be a wonderful life companion, and welcome addition to any family: research shows that pet owners enjoy more contented, healthier lives, and children that grow up with pets become more self-confident and socially adept.
With more folk working from home due to the Covid lockdown, there’s less impediment for many to take on a pet, and in particular, a new dog. The demand for puppies has soared, leading to increases in puppy prices, rising from around €400 to over €2000 for common breeds like labradors.
Amid the enthusiasm for the joy of owning a dog, it’s easy to forget that this is a 15-year commitment, which carries an annual cost of at least €1000, not to mention a significant commitment of time and energy.
So you need to be ultra-realistic when considering taking on your first dog. Cats, and smaller pets, need less input, but it’s still a serious decision, not to be taken lightly.
2. Choose an ethical source
Illegal puppy farmers and other dubious sources have taken advantage of the shortage of supply of puppies. Read the Petfix Club checklist before searching for a new puppy, to ensure that you are buying from the right type of seller.
Search local rescues first: “adopt don’t shop”, remembering that rescue dogs can make equally good pets. Visit www.petbond.ie, a website dedicated to helping people find well-matched pets from ethical sellers.
A group called the Irish Pet Advertisers Advisory Group (IPAAG.ie) has been established to set a standard for online advertisers to follow, and it’s hoped that progress will be made on this in coming months.
3. Manage the pet’s arrival carefully
The process of leaving their family and arriving in a new home is a natural part of life for young animals but there is some unavoidable stress. Be gentle and calm, bring some bedding and food from their original home, and settle into a regular routine from the start.
4. Get a vet to check your pet
An early visit to your vet makes sense. First, some pets have hidden issues (such as heart murmurs or hernias) and it’s best to spot these as soon as possible so that if by misfortune, the animal has to be returned to the breeder, you can do this before your heart has been completely won over by your new pet.
Second, if your pet is healthy, your vet will give you good, sensible advice on the essentials of caring for your new furry friend.
5. Ensure vaccine cover is complete
Puppies and kittens need proper protection against some life-threatening viruses before they go out and about in the world: this means two vaccinations in most cases, with the last one given at 10 – 12 weeks.
The breeder may have arranged for the first vaccine to be given, but a second one (and sometimes a third one) needs to be done by your own vet. Your vet will advise on this, and it’s critical that you do not expose your new pet to risk before this has been done.
6. Use safe – but not excessive – parasite control
Pups and kittens need to be treated for worms repeatedly, as they pick them up from their mothers. Adult dogs and cats need regular worming and flea/tick prevention too. Ask your vet, or use the Petfix Club parasite planner to find out what you need to do.
7. Focus on socialisation, behaviour and training from an early stage
A well-behaved animal makes life easier for both you and your pet: engage with online resources, and aim to spend at least fifteen minutes a day training your pet, ideally for their whole life.
8. Choose your pet’s food wisely
Gradually change your new pet onto a diet that you have chosen: ideally, one that includes transparent, high quality and highly digestible ingredients. We do offer a range at PetfixClub.com that is hypoallergenic, complete food for all breeds and sizes.
9. Don’t forget home dental care
The ideal is to use daily toothbrushing for the front teeth, combined with clinically proven dental chews to keep the out-of-reach back teeth free from plaque and tartar.
10. Educate yourself from a trusted source
You don’t need to go to a vet every time your pet has a hiccough, but be aware that Dr Google Vet can be misleading. Get your information from somewhere you can trust, such as Petfix Club.com.
Dr Pete Wedderburn BVM&S MRCVS is well known as a media veterinarian with regular national tv, radio and newspaper slots. Pete is known as “Pete the Vet” on his busy Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, regularly posting on topical subjects and real-life cases from his clinic in Bray. He has recently launched an interactive website for pet owners, at www.petfixclub.com.
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There is no love purer than that between a dog and the dad who never wanted one in the first place.
@Bold Underline: True true
@Bold Underline: all those promises.. I’ll feed her, I’ll walk her, I’ll train her, I’ll pick up after her.. Lucky if those promises last a week..
A dog is for life.. Not just for lockdown! But one thing for sure.. They give the love back in heaps. Great companions to have.
@Hank Schrader: have always had dogs would not be without them. Great company especially now with the lockdown going for walks except my dog takes over the new sofa and snores his head off I have just about enough room left to sit and watch TV
@Mary Oliver:
@Mary Oliver: On my 4th Labrador… All I have to say is.. the hair. Its everywhere, no matter how much we hoover. But great dogs and brilliant with kids.
@Hank Schrader: lovely for you to have a lab la great dogs especially with children but as you say except for the shedding. My Tibetan doesnt shed luckily.
Most important one ….clean up your dogs mess when out please.
@Darren Byrne: that’s a lot less important than not going to a puppy farm
Found a Kitten cold and shivering under next door neighbour car…..she now lives with us …is that how it works ? lol
@Stephen East: It can be a great way for it to work – well done for your kindness.
A dog loves you more than it loves itself.
How much is that doggy in the window? 2000 euro, rough rough
My Ex bought me a Husky for Christmas 6 years ago, we are completely inseperable BUT i can guarantee there are many people who would of put her in the pound, they are hard work, well, most dogs are. Please be wise and do your homework, the reward will pay off in the end, I cant imagine my life without her now even when she is driving me mental lol She is also keeping me sane..ish during the lockdowns ;)
I’ve actually signed up to the service and have found it brilliant! I haven’t owned a dog before my Labrador and we have since inherited a Rottweiler so needless to say found ourselves a bit out of depth with minding them and settling them together so it was great to have the site so readily available! They also have loads of access to some lovely Irish companies ☺️ Different people place different value on things and for us this turned out to be invaluable. The amount of access to services and the fact that you can ask the vet any question at anytime saves us a €40 vet visit each time. Added bonus of course is being able to support an Irish business during these challenging times.
Hoping that dog owners are reading this because I have a word to of warning. Our beautiful cockapoo has to have most of her ear removed tomorrow. An elastic band that groomers use somehow got into her ear and all it took was three days and the blood supply to her ear was cut off. I will never know how I didn’t spot it! I am always diligent about cleaning ears and brushing her. Anyway try as we have and the vet too she will loose most of her ear tomorrow. There is sites on google that explain this better than me.
Pete the vet, does he know Postman Pat I wonder.
Hoping that dog owners are reading this because I have a word to of warning. Our beautiful cockapoo has to have most of her ear removed tomorrow. An elastic band that groomers use somehow got into her ear and all it took was three days and the blood supply to her ear was cut off. I will never know how I didn’t spot it! I am always diligent about cleaning ears and brushing her. Anyway try as we have and the vet too she will loose most of her ear tomorrow. There is sites on google that explain this better than me.
@Margaret O Neill: thats sounds awful, I hope she makes a speedy recovery and doesnt give you the deaf ear…sorry for the joke, just trying to be light hearted :)
@Anthony Edward Healy: That’s horrible!!! Why did the groomer put an elastic band around her ear? Poor thing I hope she makes a speedy recovery and is up and about in no time.
@Rachel O’ Meara: My comment was for Margaret above, sorry Anthony.
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