Getting a dog is one of the loveliest decisions you will ever make, and also one of the biggest. Before you fall for a face on a rehoming website, it is worth sitting down and asking yourself, honestly, whether your time, your budget and your day to day life can stretch around a dog for the next ten to fifteen years. This checklist is here to help you answer that properly, not to put you off. I meet a lot of dogs and owners at the salon, and the happiest pairings are almost always the ones where someone thought it all through first.
Do you have the time?
Dogs are not low maintenance, and any advert that says otherwise is fibbing. A typical day includes at least one or two decent walks, feeding, play, training and simply being around for company. Puppies and rescue dogs in particular need someone about for large chunks of the day, especially in the early weeks.
Ask yourself honestly:
- How many hours a day would my dog be left alone? (Most dogs should not be left more than about four hours at a stretch.)
- Who covers walks and care when I am at work, ill or away?
- Am I happy to plan holidays and weekends around a dog?
Dogs Trust has a genuinely useful self quiz, Should I get a dog? 10 questions to ask yourself, that is worth doing before you go any further.
Can you afford it?
This is the part people underestimate most. Beyond the price of the dog itself, there is food, insurance, preventative vet care, equipment, grooming and the vet bills you did not see coming. According to the PDSA, a dog can cost at least £6,200 over its lifetime, and considerably more for some breeds.
Worth knowing: Set aside a rainy day fund or take out insurance early. A single emergency operation can run into thousands, and no one wants to be choosing between a credit card and their dog's health.
Does a dog suit your lifestyle?
Be realistic about the life you actually live, not the one you imagine you will live once the dog arrives. A flat with no garden, long commutes and a love of lie ins does not rule out a dog, but it does rule out certain dogs. A high energy working breed in a low energy home is a recipe for a frustrated dog and a chewed sofa.
Think about your activity levels, your home, your family and whether you want a couch companion or a hiking partner. The Royal Kennel Club's are you ready for a dog guidance notes that only a small fraction of people check whether a dog actually suits their lifestyle before buying. Do not be one of them.
Coat and grooming: the bit people forget
As a groomer, this is my soapbox. Every coat type comes with upkeep, and the cuddliest looking breeds are often the most demanding. Doodles, Cockapoos, Poodles and many terriers need professional grooming every few weeks plus daily brushing at home, or they matt painfully. Double coated breeds moult heavily and need regular deshedding. Factor grooming into both your time and your budget before you commit, not after your dog is already matted.
The whole family needs to be on board
A dog is a shared responsibility. Everyone in the home should want the dog and understand their share of walks, feeding and mess. If you have children, other pets or a partner who is unsure, sort those conversations out first. Fostering can be a brilliant low commitment way to test the water, as Dogs Trust and many rescues offer it.
Frequently asked questions
How much time does a dog really need each day?
Plan for a couple of hours across walks, feeding, play and training as a minimum, plus company for most of the day. Puppies and unsettled rescues need far more attention in the early weeks.
Can I have a dog if I work full time?
It is possible with planning: a dog walker, doggy day care, or a family member who can break up the day. What matters is that your dog is not left alone for long stretches, day after day.
Which dogs are lowest maintenance for a first time owner?
No dog is truly low maintenance, but a calmer, medium energy dog with a simple coat is kinder on a beginner than a high drive working breed or a high upkeep curly coat.
Is it cheaper to adopt than to buy?
Usually, yes. Rescue adoption fees typically include vaccination, neutering, microchipping and a health check, which softens the upfront cost compared with buying a puppy.
Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. If a new dog is on the horizon, we are always happy to talk through what their coat will need before you choose. Ask us about grooming your future pup.