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Home , Greenland dog, Lurcher, Otterhound, Prey drive

Table of Contents

Introduction...... 3 Mistake #1: Not researching the breed ...... 5 Mistake #2: Not choosing the correct for your environment...... 15 Mistake #3: Not choosing the correct dog for your lifestyle...... 18 Mistake #4: Not being seen as the “Alpha Dog”...... 20 Mistake #5: Not maintaining your dog's health...... 25 Mistake #6: Not considering Vet's Bills And Ongoing Costs...... 37 Mistake #7: Buying the dog as a gift for someone...... 4 3 In Closing:...... 4 6 List Of Dog Breeds In Their Groups...... 47

1 Second Edition: Revised And Extended

No part of this book may be copied or duplicated without permission by the author.

All images are property of Hazel Melville and www.dog-breeds- expert.com and may not be copied or duplicated.

©Copyright Hazel Melville 2013

2 Introduction

Thank you for purchasing my ebook on the Top 7 Mistakes People Make When Choosing A Dog :)

My name is Hazel and I run the website www.dog-breeds-expert.com. This is a website where I write about as many breeds as possible to try to give people a more informed view of specific breeds so that they can choose the breed that best fits in with them and their family.

3 Like you, I am a massive dog lover and it really upsets me to see so many put into shelters through no fault of their own. Often they are just not the perfect match for the family who chose them.

A heart-breaking estimated 6-8 million dogs spent their lives in shelters in the US in 2012! :(

Choosing to share your home and life with a dog is a big decision which affects the entire family – including the dog who you're going to be adopting!

I hope you find this little book useful in helping you make the correct decision.

4 Mistake #1: Not researching the breed

So you've decided to welcome a furry friend into your home – Congratulations!

Although this is a hugely exciting time, it also has a serious side. Choosing the right type of dog will bring you many years of enjoyment and happiness.

But choosing the wrong type of dog can turn Man's Best Friend into Man's Worst Nightmare!

All dogs are not born equal. And whilst it's true that the way you train your dog and how much socialisation you give him will have a massive impact on how he behaves, it is also true that certain dog breeds have been bred to carry out certain tasks. And sometimes it's difficult to break a few hundred years of evolution!

There are eight main groups of dog breeds:

 Sporting/Gun-dog

 Working/Utility

5 

 Toy

 Non-Sporting

 Herding/Pastoral

 Miscellaneous

It is essential that you know what type of group your dog belongs to as this will give you an insight into that breed's general behaviour.

For example, a dog belonging to the sight-hound group will often be slightly more challenging when it comes to recall as they have a strong and will bolt after prey in the distance (which you often cannot see as it's so far away!).

Terriers have been bred to catch vermin so they are not recommended in homes with hamsters, gerbils, rabbits etc. And working/herding dogs have been bred to do a job and so they often become destructive if left home alone all day as they need to keep busy to stay happy.

Once you know your dog's breed group and can try to think like him, it's easier to understand why he acts the way he does!

6 Characteristics of Groups

Gundogs

Gundogs were bred to help humans with and shooting. They can be narrowed down further into 3 groups – dogs used to flush out the game (usually ), dogs used to locate where the game were (Pointers) and dogs used to retrieve the game once shot ().

Generally Gundogs are lively with lots of energy. This makes them need a lot of exercise and they can become bored and a bit rowdy if not exercised enough.

They work closely with people so they are very sociable and eager to please. They are also highly trainable and usually get on well with children if raised with them.

Retrievers can be prolific chewers as puppies as they learn to use their mouth but generally have a gentler bite once they’ve learned how to use it properly. They adore playing with toys and chews!

Hounds

The hound group can be split down into two – and Scenthounds. Sighthounds include breeds such as and

7 Afghan who are elegant and graceful whereas Scenthounds tend to be more robust and stocky.

Generally this group have been bred to be intelligent thinkers so training can be challenging at times.

Sighthounds can be unreliable off leash as they have a strong chase drive will naturally bolt after anything they consider prey. Scenthounds can also be hard to recall if they get hung up on a scent and will show extreme stubbornness in leaving it against their will.

Scenthounds tend to have a deep voice but they don’t unless they have a reason to. They may also have a stronger doggy smell than other breeds.

Scenthounds need a lot of exercise to burn up their energy whereas Sighthounds need the opportunity to run – albeilt for not very long as they don’t have a huge amount of stamina. However, both groups can often come across as lazy as they tend to just mooch around not doing much if they don’t need to.

The Hound group in general are friendly and get on well with humans, however they have been bred to think for themselves so they can be happy with an owner who prefer to be less emotionally involved with their .

Usually not considered the best dog group to bring into a home with smaller animals such as rodents or cats due to their strong hunting

8 and chasing drive.

They also don’t tend to be too interested in playing with toys either although Sighthounds can be great backyard escape artists!

Pastoral

This group can also be split down roughly into two groups – Herders and Livestock Protectors/Guardians.

The Herder group have been bred to herd flocks or sheep, cattle or other livestock and the Livestock Guardians were bred to actually live out in the field with the flock to protect them from wolves and other predators.

Both groups of Pastoral dogs are intelligent, easily trainable and hardworking and they form close bonds with their owner. However, as expected, they also possess a high degree of independent thinking. For this reason, they need a lot of mental as well as physical stimulation otherwise they can become bored which can result in destructive behaviour.

Herders especially adore playing with toys but care may be needed when they are a puppy to make sure they are socialised properly. An inadequately socialised puppy can become jumpy at loud noises and can become quite nervous.

9 Livestock Guardians tend to have a more protective nature and can be a bit larger and stronger. They have to be socialised properly too otherwise their protective nature can verge on aggressive. They tend to have thicker coats than their herding cousins.

The Pastoral Group can have a strong chase drive.

Terriers

Feisty and full of character, Terriers were bred to catch vermin and for hunting.

Many were bred to “Go to ground” which involved digging out prey or following them down holes to flush them out. For this reason they are usually (but not always) smaller in size than the other dog groups bar the Toy group.

They are bossy, strong willed and many are excellent diggers…which can also mean excellent escape artists! They like to keep busy and can be rather rough and boisterous with some being a bit snappy with children if they get wound up.

Terriers have a strong hunting and prey drive and will go after small animals including cats and even cars so they are not recommended for homes with non-dog pets. Care is needed if they are to share their

10 home with another dog too though as they can show aggression to other dogs.

Terriers make excellent watchdogs as they are very alert, however they can also be pretty vocal which can be a bit annoying if you’re not used to a very “barky” dog.

But whatever shortfalls they may have, they certainly make up for in personality!

Toys

The toy breed is the smallest of the dog groups and has been bred as companion dogs.

They adore being made a fuss of and getting cuddles and enjoy having a close relationship with their owner. Most of their working traits have been bred out of them which makes them excellent pets although it does also mean that they can be a bit slower to train and learn new commands.

Their small size makes them ideal for first time owners although they tend to have a few health issues due to so much selective breeding. Although their size makes them suitable for apartment living, they do still need to be exercised and some breeds have a surprising amount of stamina and energy which needs to be burned off.

11 Generally friendly and eager to please, small toy breeds can become a bit clingy and possessive of their owners if not socialised properly.

Utility Dogs

This group is a kind of miscellaneous group which covers all the dogs who aren’t traditionally fitted into the other groups although they may show signs of other groups such as herding abilities or guarding abilities.

Covers a wide range from the to the Dalmatian to the Poodle so to be understood better each breed has to be looked at individually. There’s no “one cap fits all” with Utility Dogs!

Working Dogs

This group includes breeds who are used for search and rescue missions, guardianship/protection and for pulling sleds and other items.

They are extremely loyal but can become very over-protective if not socialised properly. They tend to be larger in size than most other breeds and can be very strong.

12 For this reason they are recommended for owners with previous experience and who can display strong leadership skills. It is essential that the owner must be seen as the Alpha and be able to control their dog at all times due to their size and temperament.

Working dog breeds are active and like to be kept busy with jobs.

(To see a list of some of the breeds which fall under these groups see the Appendix at the back of the book)

Breeders And Shelters

Another recommendation is to spend some time talking to breeders of the breed you have in mind or to other owners. I have a section on my website which interviews dog owners about their breeds. I put that section in as I thought it would give people a clearer understanding of what living with that particular breed involves. Plus I just love reading about other people's dogs and looking at their pictures! :)

If you're thinking of getting your dog from a shelter (good for you!) then having a chat with the shelter workers and volunteers will also help massively. These people spend a lot of time with the animals in their care and so they get to know their personalities and also, occasionally, they can tell you a bit about their background too.

13 Shedding

Another important thing to consider is how much your dog will shed. A surprisingly huge amount of hair can come off of a dog and this is going to get EVERYWHERE!

You'll find it on the floor, on the sofa (even if you have a “no pets on the sofa” policy!), on all your clothes, on your bedsheets (unless you keep your bedroom door shut at all times), in your mouth and even on dinner plates when guests come round.

You're going to have to learn to embrace the fur! Some people believe that fluffy dogs shed more than wire-haired ones and this does have an element of truth to it as fluffy dogs (although not all) tend to have double coats i.e. a soft fluffy undercoat which is shed twice a year.

However, wire haired dogs do shed too and these can weave themselves into fabric and be very difficult to remove. Keeping on top of grooming can help enormously with this and products such as a Furminator (available from Amazon and stores) can remove the maximum amount of fur before it starts falling out all over your home...and you!

Dangerous Dogs And Insurance

You should also check that your preferred isn't listed under

14 the Dangerous Dog Act and may have to to check with your household insurer on whether your dog is included under their cover.

Some insurers won't insure “high risk” dogs i.e. breeds they consider more likely to bite such as Alaskan Malamutes, breeds and Inu dogs. Some insurers won't even cover Great Danes or Dobermanns so check your home-owner policy carefully so you know exactly where you stand on this.

15 Mistake #2: Not choosing the correct dog for your environment

It doesn't take a genius to work out that a big dog needs a big house. But some dogs which aren't particularly big can also need a surprising amount of space, especially some dog with long wagging tails that can easily knock over ornaments and cups of tea.

Some dogs can quite happily live in an apartment or flat with no garden as long as they are taken out for walks several times throughout the day for toilet breaks and exercise. Smaller dogs are generally accepted as being better for apartments but beware that smaller dogs can also be quite yappy. And as people tend to live closer to each other in apartments, this might not win you any Neighbour Of The Year awards!

A few small dog breeds can also be a bit crankier than larger breeds so it's worth bearing this in mind if you have young children. Some little dogs just don't have the patience for life with little ones around!

On the flip-side, larger dogs can also be a bit of a hazard around very small children. Not because they are aggressive but often because they can accidentally knock over little ones when running around and playing.

16 And if you already have pets then this will also need to be considered. A breed which has a very strong prey drive will find life with rodents and cats (even roaming neighbourhood cats) challenging as not chasing them will go against their natural instincts and may be difficult to enforce.

There are also dogs who over-heat easily (usually breeds who can suffer from breathing issues such as , pugs etc.) and some who intensely dislike the cold (boxer dogs, ) so this also needs to be thought about beforehand.

17 Mistake #3: Not choosing the correct dog for your lifestyle

It's very important to consider your lifestyle when trying to choose the correct dog for you and your family.

Can you really commit 2 -3 hours every night in walking and throwing a stick for your dog? And not just in the sunshine either – dogs need walking 365 days of the year, come hail, rain or shine!

Even if you consider yourself an active person it's worth thinking about exactly what it is you do to stay active. If you play a lot of basketball or swim for miles in the local pool then this isn't the type of activity that your dog can join in with. And are you willing to take him out for a few hours for his exercise AFTER you've gotten home from doing yours?

Intelligent Or Simple?

A lot of people instinctively go for the most intelligent dog breeds as they think this is the best dog they can get. But bear in mind that with intelligence comes a whole host of other issues. As mentioned previously, the most intelligent dogs have usually been bred this way as a way of helping humans over the years. They may have been bred to be independent thinkers and so they resist being told what to do.

18 Other breeds such as Border and German Shepherds have been bred to carry out tasks and so they can become incredibly bored if left alone all day or not stimulated with toys and games. And a bored dog can quickly become a destructive dog.

Even if you aren't planning to leave your dog alone during the week then what about the weekends? Weekends are often spent shopping, visiting family and friends or even going out dining and partying. Can your furry friend attend these events with you too or are they going to be left behind?

And finally, although a large strong dog may be an attractive prospective to an elderly person living on their own, it might not always be the best idea.

Although the protection and guarding they can offer can be very reassuring when you live alone, there is also their size and strength to consider.:

• Would you be able to handle the dog if he saw something that he decided he just had to get a closer look at?

• And even if you could, supposing your doggy friend became ill or injured and had to be taken to the vets. Would you be able to lift him into the car or onto the vet's table to be examined?

Some dogs weigh more than some adults!

19 20 Mistake #4: Not being seen as the “Alpha Dog”

Having a rewarding relationship with your dog begins with training. You need to be confident that you have complete control over your dog at all times.

An uncontrollable dog can quickly become a dangerous dog, no matter how small they are.

You only have to watch movies like "Marley And Me" to see how much chaos and destruction a badly trained dog can cause...even if he is really sweet!

Being Seen As The Boss

It all begins with establishing yourself as the Pack Leader or "Alpha". Dogs don't think like humans so you need to approach things from their point of view.

Every pack has a leader and this has to be you otherwise your dog will call all the shots and walk all over you. Ideally, the rest of your family should be above the dog in status too.

This may seem a bit cruel and unfair but, coming from a dog's point

21 of view, this can actually be a good thing for them. If you consider what the Alpha dog would do out in the wild such as making all the decisions for the pack, being in charge all the time, finding prey and organising the hunting of it, fighting any challengers who arise in the pack and mating all the females (ok, some dogs may like this part!) then it can feel like a lot of pressure on the dog.

Many dogs who are untrained and badly behaved show quite obvious signs of stress at finding themselves as the Alpha Dog. Once they are shown and realise that they no longer are, the relief can be tremendous for them.

A lot of dogs feel happier when they know boundaries so they are sure of what's expected of them and don't have to try to work it out for themselves.

However, it can be difficult to think like a dog sometimes which can make training seem more complicated than it actually is. We end up with mixed results and sometimes have to resort to strangling choker leads to try to cut down on pulling, electric shock collars (!!!) or even hitting the dog out of frustration.

Positive Training Is The Key

Consistent training is essential and positive reward methods work the best - lots of praise when your dog does something correctly and

22 gently starting over again if they don't quite get it right. Hitting and shouting generally doesn't get results – it tends to just confuse and scare your furry friend.

I'm a big fan of Doggy Dan who is a professional dog trainer in New Zealand. He has been endorsed by the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) as his methods are gentle and effective and don't harm or scare the dog he is working with.

He also records all of the training sessions that he carries out for clients and uploads them on his website so that we can all benefit from them.

There are several good books available on as well as free videos on You tube. There will likely be dog training classes local to you too which you can take your dog to and learn how to work with and train him. Use Google to help you seek out the information you need.

Often training is a two-way street – we need as much training as our dog does sometimes! Although dogs might not understand our language, they can usually understand our energy.

So using rewards and making a happy fuss of them when they get it right will work much better than being angry, aggressive and violent when they get it wrong.

23 Being seen as the Alpha in your home is crucial to gaining your dog's respect and in maintaining a happy, healthy relationship. It is an essential part of owning a dog and should be treated with importance.

24 Mistake #5: Not maintaining your dog's health

Having a dog is a bit like having a child – they rely on you to feed them, water them, clean up after them and keep them in good health. But, unlike children, dogs don't learn to look after themselves the older they become. In fact, if anything, they rely on you more to look after them in their old age.

Feeding And Different Types Of Diets

Dogs need feeding twice a day – in the morning and in the evening (puppies need feeding three to four times a day) and there is a variety of available on the market to suit a range of budgets.

Some people choose wet dog food. Some choose dry kibble. And some choose a raw diet for their dog. The back of the food packet or tin should indicate how much your dog should be fed depending on their size.

If you are choosing wet food (this is usually the cheapest out of the three types) then please note that some very budget brands contain an amount of “filler” and very little nutrition which is why it can sometimes be the cheapest option.

25 Wet food can also attract flies in hotter weather, can sometimes smell quite strongly and could encourage gum disease if your dog isn't given hard items to chew on (this happened to us with Indy the cat. She nows eats more dry food which has cut down on the amount of plaque on her teeth).

Dry dog food comes in a variety of ranges too from fairly inexpensive to the more upmarket brands which have lots of added vitamins and minerals which help to keep your best friend healthy and glossy coated.

Dry kibble can be easier to store and is ideal for timed dog food bowls. Make sure there is always plenty of fresh water for your dog if feeding him dry food. We use a pet water fountain in our house for a fresh constant supply.

An increasing amount of people are choosing a raw diet for their dog. They are concerned about the sometimes low quality ingredients which can be found in some commercial dog food and believe that a diet of raw meat is more natural to what dogs ate before they became domesticated.

More and more companies are catching on to this and it is becoming easier to source raw meat for dogs online.

26 Bloating

Quite a few breeds of dog will scoff their food like they are on the verge of starving to death and haven't eaten for weeks – when, in reality, it's only been a few hours!

If your dog is one of those, you may want to find out more about Anti Gulp Bowls. When a dog gulps down his food rapidly, he can also gulp down lots of air. Usually this air will find a way to release itself (ew!!) but if it doesn't and it becomes trapped then the dog is in danger of bloating.

Bloating can be potentially fatal if not treated.

An anti-gulp bowl has a few little bumps or nodules in the centre of it (they can sometimes look like a doughnut ring too) which stops the dog from opening his mouth too widely. He is then forced to slow down as he cannot shovel large amounts of food into his mouth which in turn cuts down on the amount of air he ingests. You tube has a few good examples from people demonstrating them with their dogs to give you an idea of how effective they are.

Different Food For Different Life Stages

There are many different brands of wet and dry food which are aimed at specific times in your dog's life such as Puppy, Adult and Senior.

27 These aren't just clever marketing ploys to get you to spend more money – dogs do actually need different amounts of vitamins and minerals at various life stages, just like humans.

There are also specific foods for large breed dogs and puppies. Although they can be slightly more expensive, they have been specifically designed to aid larger breeds with their unique problems.

Large breed puppies need their growth rate to be steady and controlled otherwise it can put considerable stress on their young joints. Normal puppy food can have too many calories and encourage too much energy release.

Likewise adults need to have higher levels of glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM than smaller dogs to help maintain strong, supple joints and cartilage. They also need their calorie rate also restricted so they do not become overweight.

You can also buy hypo-allergenic food, food for dogs with sensitive stomachs and food specifically for working dogs to help them to remain calm, alert and attentive.

Other Required Maintenance

Your dog will need to be exercised to keep him fit and you'll need to clean up after him every time he goes to the toilet. He will also need

28 to be micro-chipped so that if the worst should happen and you become separated, there is more chance of you being re-united.

Micro-chipping is fairly inexpensive and worth it's weight in gold (at the time of writing this, it costs around £25/$40 although charities like Dogs Trust do it for a small donation). By 2016 it will be compulsory in England for all dogs to be micro-chipped (2015 in Wales).

Your dog may also need grooming and may even need to be professionally clipped by a dog groomer. If grooming your best friend yourself, you may want to invest in the previously mentioned Furminator.

Honestly, you will be shocked at the amount of hair they remove! They gently pull out all dead and loose fur from underneath and leave your pet looking sleeker and generally tidier looking. Once again, there are a few videos of them in action on You tube if you fancy witnessing it with your own eyes!

Fleas

A very important part of your dog's maintenance should be his flea and tick monthly treatment. Trust me, this is vital! Fleas are one of those things that you forget about until you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of a flea infestation. And then you will never, EVER,

29 forget to give your pet their treatment every 4 weeks!

Flea

We learned this the hard way – when we were petless we briefly took in a “stray” cat (who skulked back off home after about 3 weeks!) and it took us three months of being miserable, covered in bites and over £150 ($220) before we won the battle against the little blighters.

Fleas can be attracted more to certain people than others and unfortunately I seem to be one of the people they adore!

I can go to people's houses for a few hours and leave with bites. Even if they swear their pet doesn't have fleas because they've never seen one or they've never been bitten. When asked if they treat their pet

30 monthly with flea treatment, they'll often say no because “my pet doesn't have fleas!”.

Just because you haven't been bitten doesn't mean your home is flea- free. This is one of those instances when prevention is most definitely better than cure!

At the beginning of the month we treat our pet with FRONTLINE and I'm happy to say that in the two years that we've been using it we've never found another flea in our home or on our pet :) Another excellent brand is ADVANTAGE. They come in different doses depending on the size of your dog so make sure you buy the correct one.

Frontline and Advantage Flea Drops

It is possible to buy Frontline and Advantage online at places such as Amazon or Animed Direct for cheaper than at some stores and you can also set up a scheduled delivery service at these websites so you need never run out of treatments again. We have ours set to deliver a six months supply twice a year.

31 ****UPDATE OCTOBER 2013: There have been some views that groups of fleas are becoming resistant to Fipronil which is the active ingredient in FRONTLINE. ADVANTAGE uses a different active ingredient (Imidacloprid) so may be a better choice if you find Frontline isn't working as well as it should be. Some owners choose to alternate between the two brands so that local fleas don't build up a resistance to a particular active ingredient****

Please don't assume that putting a flea collar on your pet will be enough. Generally they are not powerful enough if your pet catches fleas although, according to my local vet, they are handy for keeping in vacuum cleaner bags to kill any fleas who get sucked up. I've also heard some people complain that they can irritate your pet.

There is also a huge difference in the effectiveness of different brands. I've found that cheaper brands either have no effect whatsoever or they actually burn my pet's skin when applied – not good!

Frontline and Advantage coat the skin and hair (Frontline sits under the skin in the oil glands) and distribute themselves throughout the body, killing fleas as it spreads. This means that as soon as a flea jumps on a treated area of your pet they will die. They do not have to feed first. Biting fleas are dead within 3-5 minutes and adults within an hour.

32 As the treatment distributes itself throughout your pet (aided by body movement), it kills 98-100% of all fleas within 24hrs. Both products kill the larvae and Frontline also kills the eggs. Females tend to lay around 36 hours after feeding but as all fleas should be dead within 24hrs, they won't have had time to mate and lay eggs before dying.

Worming

Frontline and Advantage don't have worming treatment included so you have to do that separately. Most dog owners worm their dog every 6 months or so although owners who feed their dog a raw food diet prefer to do it every 3 months. Drontal seems to be the worming tablet of choice.

Drontal Worming Tablets

Treating An Infestation

If you are unlucky enough to suffer a flea infestation then you have my deepest sympathy! Resist the urge to banish your pet outside into the garden for being a flea-bag. Fleas will always choose your pet over you

33 so if you remove the pet then the fleas will have no option but to begin biting you instead.

So treat your pet immediately with a good quality flea treatment. This will kill the adult fleas on your pet (and the eggs/larvae if you choose to use Frontline or Advantage)

Spray your pet's bedding, your carpet, sofa, curtains and any other fabric area where your pet frequents with a good quality spray (we used Acclaim). You may want to get a spray which kills the flea eggs and larvae too as these can easily fall off your pet but please bear in mind that the active ingredient in a lot of flea treatments is permethrin and this is TOXIC to cats. You may also want to wash your pet's bedding although there are some views that suggest fleas can survive a ride in the washing machine unless it's at a very high temperature.

A flea's life cycle goes from egg > larvae > pupae > adult, a process which can happen in as quickly as 3 weeks. The eggs are laid on your pet in clusters of around 20. A female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day and 2000 in her lifetime!

The eggs take anything from two days to two weeks to hatch depending on conditions. They love warm, humid environments. Larvae emerge from the eggs and live off of pre-digested blood (flea droppings) which are around your home and other organic debris and

34 dust. Within 5-20 days they spin a cocoon and hatch a few days, weeks, months or even years afterwards. The cocoon keeps them safe and they will stay in there until the environment is right for them to emerge.

The cocoons are sticky and bury themselves in the carpet. Ideally, the developing fleas are awaiting vibrations (like a pet walking past), an increase in carbon dioxide (a pet breathing nearby) or body heat.

You can encourage the eggs to hatch and the fleas to emerge with a daily vacuum as these vibrations are similar to a pet walking nearby. Vacuuming daily also sucks up the little critters and any you miss will hopefully jump onto your pet and die.

Fleas mate after their first meal (your pet!) so it's best to try to catch them before they bite your pet to break the cycle of even more eggs being laid.

So to summarise:

 Treat your pet immediately.

 Spray pet bedding, sofa, carpets etc. with a good quality spray such as Acclaim, Indorex or something similar.

 Vacuum daily and empty the bag into the outside bin. I've seen fleas climb back out of the vacuum with my own eyes!

35  Repeat in 2-3 weeks when the next lot of eggs may have hatched.

Your dog will also need a series of vaccinations when he is a puppy and an annual booster. This is essential to stop him from catching all sorts of diseases when out and about. Many of these diseases can be fatal.

36 Mistake #6: Not considering Vet's Bills And Ongoing Costs

It's inevitable that your dog is going to become ill or injured at some point in his life. And, unfortunately, there's no free NHS for doggies! So having appropriate insurance is essential as vet's bills can quickly become very expensive.

The average price of treatment to repair a dog's broken leg was £560 according to Thornside pet insurance claims in 2008. That cost rose to £776 in 2011 and continues to rise each year.

In fact, a study by Good Housekeeping and Churchill Insurance in 2010 put the cost of owning the average dog for 12 years at a staggering £30,000!

This included food, vets bills, micro-chipping/ID tags, grooming, toys/accessories, kennels and insurance.

Buying food in bulk as well as carrying out your own flea and worming treatment instead of having the vet do it can save you money.

And having pet insurance could potentially not only save you thousands of pounds, but stop you from having to make that painful

37 decision of having to have your dog put to sleep if you cannot afford his treatment.

Pet insurance is a bit of a minefield and here in the UK there are three main types:

 Basic Annual Cover/Per Condition With A Time Limit

 Mid Level Cover/Per Condition

 High Level Cover/Lifetime

Basic Cover:

The cheapest cover tends to be the Per Condition With A Time Limit policy which pays for a particular illness for a certain amount of time (usually 12 months) and has a cap on how much you can claim in vet fees. Once you've reached the time or vet fee limit you begin paying for the remaining treatment yourself.

You cannot claim twice for the same condition. However, if your dog contracts a new condition then you can claim for that.

Mid Level Cover:

This policy has a limit of fees/treatment but there is no time limit per condition. So you can claim up to the financial limit of a condition then claim again the following year and continue claiming each year if

38 needs be although your premium may rise.

Once again, a new condition means a new round of claims and care.

Lifetime Cover:

This is the most expensive cover because it's pretty comprehensive. The amount you can claim is higher (sometimes as much as £9,000 per year) and can include extras such as dental work, advertising if your pet gets lost/stolen and burial fees.

There are two types of Lifetime policies – Per Condition Per Year and Lifetime Policy. The Per Condition Per Year is similar to the above Mid Level Cover in that you can claim the same condition up to it's limit every year (it's usually a higher limit than the mid cover).

For example, if your dog is allowed £3000 per year for his diabetes and the actual vet fee to treat him is £2638yr then you will never have to pay for his treatment, only the insurance premium.

The Lifetime Policy is usually a lump sum amount which you can claim up to throughout your pet's life. For example you may be allowed to claim up to £40,000 for your dog throughout his life. Go over this and you have to foot the rest yourself.

It is essential that you take the time to work out exactly what you

39 need from the insurance policy. There's no point paying for extras which you think you'll never need. Also make sure that the excess you pay when you claim is a level you are happy with.

Most insurance policies last for 12 months and then need to be renewed. Please be aware that some insurers can refuse to renew your policy. If this happens, or if you want to change insurers, then a few companies wont let you claim for pre-existing conditions that your pet already has before you take out a policy.

This is also one of the reasons to get your pet insured BEFORE you need to claim!

It may take a bit of time to find the right policy and read through all the small print so that you know exactly what you can claim for, how much you can claim and for how long. Each insurer differs and they can offer a range of different policies so there can be a lot to compare.

Some things you might want to check are:

 Is your dog's breed covered? (sometimes Dangerous Dogs, High- Risk Dogs and Working Dogs aren't)

 Is your policy void if you don't have your dog vaccinated annually?

40  Is kennel care covered for when you go on holiday?

 Is there a dog age limit?

 Does it cover accidental damage/third party? (see paragraph below)

 Is a multi-pet policy cheaper if you have more than one pet?

 Are pre-existing conditions covered? (some are, so sometimes it can be cheaper to switch insurers though you might need to search for them!)

Accidental Damage/Third Party Cover:

Dogs aren't covered by Public Liability unless they are insured. This means that if your dog causes damage to someone's property or runs out into the road and causes the driver to swerve and crash then you can be sued. With no cover, you'll have to pay for it out of your own pocket.

Some home insurance policies cover this but you need to check your policy carefully to make sure so that you know exactly where you stand.

An alternative is to apply for Third Party Cover via someone like the Dogs Trust. They charge £25yr for membership through which up to £1 million can be claimed if your dog (or dogs, there is no doggy limit!) damages a person, property or another dog. You will have to

41 double check that your breed is eligible though as some aren't. And this is third party cover only – it doesn't include any vet fees for your pet.

With basic cover for a healthy dog available from £20mth it's a relatively small amount to pay for peace of mind. Especially when you consider that in 2008 a survey revealed that almost 20% of dog owners had to use their credit card when an unexpected vet bill popped up. And a terrifying 4% had to miss a mortgage payment/utility bill to cover the cost!

Suddenly that figure of £30,000 for owning a dog for 12 years doesn't seem so outrageous after all!

42 Mistake #7: Buying the dog as a gift for someone.

You've probably heard the old adage “A dog is for life and not just for Christmas”.

This is so true.

Owning a dog (or any pet) is a huge commitment. You are responsible for another creature's mental and physical health and happiness. A dog is completely reliant on you for everything – what he eats, how often he eats, when he can get outside, who he lives with, how often he can play, how he should behave etc.

You have to step up as the leader and be someone who your dog loves, respects and is grateful to be a member of “The Pack” with.

You owe them that much at least.

And it's not just you who needs to feel this way. Every member of your household will have an impact on your dog (and the other way around) so it has to be the correct decision for everyone.

For this reason I always think buying a pet as a surprise gift for

43 someone is a total no-no.

When you do this, you've broken the six fatal mistakes listed previously in this book as you've not allowed the new owner to consider these issues before deciding that opening their home to a new dog is the right thing to do...for everyone involved.

Even if you are buying the dog as a gift for a member of your own household, you must be sure of the reasons you are doing it. You will have to work out beforehand who is going to look after him, feed him, clean up after him, how you'll pay for his upkeep and who will take the time to train him properly.

Living Doll?

Pets are not toys. They are real animals with feelings and needs. They get grumpy sometimes like humans and need their own space to get away from everyone and chill out (like your average teenager...but with less loud music!).

On the flip side, they do not teach children responsibly either. This comes with age naturally as the child matures. If you're not careful, you may be left as the one who trains, walks, feeds and cleans up after the dog.

It is a big responsibly owning a pet as you have their happiness and

44 life in your hands. They might just be part of your life for a relatively short 10 years or so. But YOU are a part of their life for the WHOLE of it. You are their everything.

It can be a lot of hard work too.

But ask any dog owner and they will tell you that it is also a hugely rewarding relationship which is unlike any other you have.

Having someone sitting at the window with their tail wagging furiously eagerly waiting for you to come home, those large expressive eyes, unconditional love and someone who almost jumps out of their skin with happiness every time they see you makes it easy to see why dogs truly are Man's Best Friend.

45 In Closing:

Thank you for purchasing my ebook. I hope you've enjoyed it and found it useful in helping you through the steps of choosing a dog. If you'd like to spread the word or if you have any comments then please consider leaving a review on Amazon – thank you.

I hope you enjoyed Charry's input too! He is my dad's labrador and is just the best :)

If you have decided that sharing your home with a dog is the correct next step for you then please upload a picture of your new furry friend to my website www.dog-breeds-expert.com under the appropriate breed – I'd love to see a picture of him!

Good luck with your search for your new best friend!

Best wishes,

Hazel www.dog-breeds-expert.com

46 List Of Dog Breeds In Their Group:

Gundogs

American Cocker American Water Spaniel Braque Italian Brittany Chepsapeake Bay Curly Coated Retriever English Flat Coated Retriever German Shorthaired German Wirehaired Pointer Golden Retreiver Hungarian Vizsla Irish Red And White Setter Irish Setter Irish Setter Spaniel Italian Spinone

47 Kooikerhondje Labrador Retreiver Large Munsterlander Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retreiver Pointer Spanish Weimaraner Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Hounds

Afghan Hound American Basset Fauve De Bretagne Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petite and Grand) Deerhound

48 Elkhound Finnish Grand Bleu De Gasgogne Hamiltonstovare

Pastoral

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Australian Cattle Dog Australian Shepherd Bearded

49 Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) (Groenendael) (Laekenois) (Tervueren) Bergamasco Shepherd Briard Collie (Rough and Smooth) Estrela Mountain Dog German Shepherd Hungarian Kuvasz Hungarian Puli Komondor Maremma Sheepdog Polish Lowland Sheepdog Pyrenean Mountain Dog Pyrenean Sheepdog Samoyed (Cardigan and Pembroke)

50 Terriers

Airedale Terrier American Staffordshire Terrier Australian Terrier English Cesky Terrier (smooth and wire) Glen Of Imaal Terrier Irish Terrier Kerry Blue Terrier Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier West Highland Terrier

51 Toys

Affenpinscher Australian Silken Terrier Frise Bolognese Cavalier Chihuahua (longhaired and smoothcoated) Chinese Crested English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan, Manchester Terrier) Griffon Bruxellois Havanese Japanese Chin King Charles Spaniel Lowchen Maltese Miniature Papillon Pekingese Pomeranian Pug Toy Fox Terrier (American Toy Terrier)

52 Utility Dogs

Akita Inu Boston Terrier Bulldog Canaan Dog Chow Chow Dalmation French Bulldog (Klein)German Spitz (Mittel) Japanese Lhasa Apso Miniature Schnauzer (Standard) Poodle (Miniature, Standard and Toy) Shih Tzu Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Terrier

Working Dogs

Alaskan Malamute

53 Beauceron Bernese Mountain Dog Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Bouvier Des Flandres Boxer Dobermann Giant Schnauzer Great Dane Dog Hovawart Leonberger Neapolitan Mastiff Newfoundland German Pinscher Portuguese Water Dog Rottweiler Russian Black Terrier St Bernard Tibetan Mastiff

© 2013 Hazel Melville

All Rights Reserved

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