sign in sign up
<<
Home , Guide dog

The Saga guide to getting a

• What breed is best for you? • Buying a • Rehoming a rescue dog And more... Welcome Owning a dog can CHOOSE be hugely rewarding THE RIGHT and many people coming up to retirement BREED will be looking forward to finally being able to What to consider In this guide we own the dog they have WHAT’S introduce you to the key always wanted but when getting a dog characteristics of the never had the time for. INSIDE seven dog groups that Not only do retirees A dog is a huge commitment, be a good idea to insure your breeds fall into, have the time needed to 03 Choose the right breed with many breeds living for dog. If you do plan on getting including information on care for a dog properly, 4 Gundogs up to 15 years or longer. insurance, it is best to do it exercise and grooming 5 Before you decide to get a early: a puppy is cheaper to but can also 6 Pastoral dogs dog, answer these questions… insure than an older dog. requirements (including provide companionship, 7 shedding) and life span. exercise and even be 8 Toy dogs Do you have time? Will you be able to This is designed to help a great way to meet new 9 Utility dogs Even the smallest dog will manage a dog? you narrow your search people through the 10 Working dogs need exercising and time A small puppy can grow 11 Mixed breeds dedicated to training, rapidly. When choosing and find the right dog dogwalking community, socialising and caring for it. a breed consider how large for you. Once you’ve training classes or fun 12 Buying a puppy and strong it will be, and decided on a breed that dog shows. It’s little Finding a reputable breeder – and the puppy Do you have the space? whether you will still be suits you, research it wonder that research farm warning signs to beware of Some breeds need access to able to handle it 10 years thoroughly and carried out by Saga a large garden while others down the line. familiarise yourself with found that one in five 13 Rehoming a rescue dog are suited to life in a flat, but The benefits of a rescue dog all dogs need exercise. If you What happens when you any health issues people plan on getting don’t have a garden, is there go on holiday? associated with it. a in retirement! 14 Bringing your dog home a park or common nearby? Is there someone at home to Remember that every We have put this guide For more How to dog-proof and prepare your home look after your dog when together to help you in information before your dog arrives, and how to transport Can you afford a dog? you’re away? If not, find out dog is individual your first steps to on caring for him safely back to your place As well as food, you’ll need to how much a local kennel or and, while you can use your dog, visit budget for inoculations, petsitter costs. their breed as a guide, choosing a dog. It saga.co.uk/ 15 When your dog arrives home worming and possibly a dog will have its own includes information on pet-tips Top tips to make your dog feel at ease medical treatment. Can you How much upkeep can points to consider, afford the vet’s bills for you cope with? personality and is not an overview of the 16 Useful links any emergency operations Some breeds require regular guaranteed to conform different dog groups and Find out more about dogs your dog may need? grooming, while others need to what is considered hardly any. How much time do tips for welcoming ‘normal’ for that breed. Saga’s How to choose a dog in retirement guide offers practical tips for buying Do you need insurance? you want to spend brushing your new furry friend into or rehoming a dog, including an overview of different breeds, what to look out If you’re nervous about your dog? Are you willing to Which breed will be your household. for when buying a puppy and tips for welcoming your new dog into your home. unexpected vet’s costs it may pay a dog groomer? right for you...?

2 SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/ How to choose a dog in retirement How to choose a dog in retirement SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS 3 All about Gundogs All about Hounds

Need-to-know stats Need-to-know stats

EXAMPLE: Labrador EXAMPLE: Beagle AVERAGE WEIGHT: 30kg (4st 10lb) AVERAGE WEIGHT: 11kg (1st 10lb) EXERCISE: At least EXERCISE: More than two hours two hours a day a day GROOMING: Once a week GROOMING: Once a week LIFE SPAN: 10 years + LIFE SPAN: 10 years + SHEDS: Yes SHEDS: Yes

riginally bred to remember that they are Other breeds ounds were bred need a patient owner who is Other breeds find and retrieve working dogs, so require to hunt. There are willing to put in time and game, gundogs are plenty of exercise and SMALL BREED: Cocker two types of effort to train them. SMALL BREED: Dachshund intelligent and stimulation. Most breeds live LARGE BREED: Italian Spinone within this group. Hounds require a lot of LARGE BREED: Irish Wolfhound Oobedient. They are often used for more than 10 years, so if HSight hounds, such as the exercise and are suited to big as assistance dogs because you are buying a puppy you GOOD Whippet or Afghan, use their homes with plenty of space. they are easy to train and need to think carefully about FOR NOT keen vision and speed to They also need a securely make excellent companions. how able and willing you will SHEDDING: capture their prey. fenced garden to stop them Gundogs love the outdoors be to take your dog on long Irish Water Scent hounds, such as the running off after anything and are very active, so are walks and play ‘fetch’ in Spaniel Basset, Beagle or Foxhound, that catches their interest best suited to large houses a decade’s time. use their sensitive noses to – rabbits, squirrels or even GOOD FOR with big gardens and readily Popular gundogs include follow their prey’s scent over nextdoor’s cat. NOT SHEDDING: accessible open spaces. They the English Springer Spaniel, long distances. Examples include the Basenji are ideal family dogs. Hungarian Vizsla, Golden Highly intelligent, hounds Bloodhound, Rhodesian When considering , Weimaraner and have a mind of their own and Ridgeback, Greyhound, a gundog, it is important to English . can be quite stubborn, so they Saluki and Pharoah Hound.

4 SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS How to choose a dog in retirement How to choose a dog in retirement SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS 5 All about Pastoral dogs All about Terriers

Need-to-know stats Need-to-know stats EXAMPLE: AVERAGE WEIGHT: 36kg (5st 9lb) EXAMPLE: Border EXERCISE: More than two AVERAGE WEIGHT: 7kg (1st 1lb) hours a day EXERCISE: Up to an hour a day GROOMING: More than once GROOMING: More than once a week a week LIFE SPAN: 10 years + LIFE SPAN: 12 years + SHEDS: Yes SHEDS: Yes

he pastoral group and active, so need to be Other breeds erriers are known escape artists – they will need Other breeds includes herding physically and mentally for their feisty a securely fenced garden. dogs, which were stimulated. Sporting SMALL BREED: Cardigan Corgi and energetic Terriers tend to be smaller SMALL traditionally bred to activities, such as dog agility, LARGE BREED: Pyrenean personalities. They than other breeds, making BREED: Tcontrol groups of sheep or competitive obedience or Mountain Dog Twere originally bred to them suitable for smaller West Highland cattle. Accustomed to flyball are all ideal for GOOD hunt vermin, so they may not homes. Don’t be fooled by White Terrier working in the fields and these breeds. FOR NOT get along well with other their size, however, as having space to run around Although pastoral dogs SHEDDING: smaller pets. they will still require plenty LARGE BREED: in, pastoral dogs are best tend to have hardy Hungarian They love digging for their of exercise. Bedlington suited to houses with big weatherproof coats, they still Puli (right) prey, so are probably best Examples of terrier breeds Terrier (right) gardens and plenty of open require regular grooming. kept away from your include the Scottish Terrier, spaces nearby. Examples include the vegetable patch – unless you Staffordshire Bull Terrier, GOOD Pastoral breeds can be Border Collie, Old English want it dug, of course! Norfolk Terrier, Fox Terrier, FOR NOT protective of people and Sheepdog, Rough Collie, Terriers are also good at Airedale Terrier, Parson SHEDDING: property, making them good Pembroke Corgi and squeezing through small Russell Terrier and the Sealyham guard dogs. They are agile Lancashire Heeler. spaces, making them great Dandie Dinmont. Terrier

6 SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS How to choose a dog in retirement How to choose a dog in retirement SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS 7 All about Toy dogs All about Utility dogs

Need-to-know stats Need-to-know stats

EXAMPLE: Pug EXAMPLE: French Bulldog AVERAGE WEIGHT: 7kg (1st 1lb) AVERAGE WEIGHT: 12kg (1st 12lb) EXERCISE: Up to 30 EXERCISE: Up to an minutes a day hour a day GROOMING: Once a week GROOMING: Once a week LIFE SPAN: 10 years + LIFE SPAN: 10 years + SHEDS: Yes SHEDS: Yes

oy dogs were bred as for homes where they Other breeds he utility group And were originally Other breeds companion or lap will be left alone for is composed of bred as water dogs, meaning they long periods of time. GOOD FOR breeds that do and were commonly used in GOOD FOR are usually very Highly intelligent, NOT SHEDDING: not fit easily into duck hunting. NOT SHEDDING: Tfriendly and make good toy breeds are great Chinese Crested Tother categories. The breeds in this group Miniature family pets. Their small size at learning tricks Utility means ‘fitness for vary widely in size and makes them suitable pets and can make very SMALL BREED: purpose’ and the group characteristics, but they will for people who live in flats obedient pets. Chihuahua (left) contains a variety of breeds all require daily exercise and SMALL BREED: and smaller houses. Examples include the originally bred to do a specific regular grooming. For more German Although toy dogs tend to Cavalier King Charles LARGE BREED: job rarely needed today. information about the need far less exercise than Spaniel, Australian Silky Löwchen For example, Dalmatians individual breeds, visit the LARGE BREED: larger breeds, they will still Terrier, Yorkshire were once trained as fire Kennel Club website: Akita (right) need a daily walk. Terrier, Pekingese and dogs. They would run in front thekennelclub.org.uk. Toy breeds crave Pomeranian. of the -drawn fire Other examples of utility companionship and love engines to clear the path and dogs include the Shih Tzu, attention, so are not suitable guide the to the fires. Bulldog and Keeshond.

8 SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS How to choose a dog in retirement How to choose a dog in retirement SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS 9 All about Working dogs All about Mixed breeds

Need-to-know stats Need-to-know stats EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: Boxer AVERAGE WEIGHT: Depends AVERAGE WEIGHT: 25kg (3st 13lb) on parents EXERCISE: At least EXERCISE: At least two hours two hours a day a day GROOMING: Once a week GROOMING: At least once a week LIFE SPAN: 10 years + LIFE SPAN: 12 years + SHEDS: Yes SHEDS: Sometimes

ogs in the working With a long life span Other breeds ixed or crossbreeds aware of the traits it could but that didn’t moult. group were (usually more than ten years), are just that – dogs potentially inherit. However, genetics can be traditionally used as it is important to consider GOOD FOR NOT SHEDDING: that have been In recent years, so-called unpredictable and many guard and rescue how you will be able to Giant Schnauzer bred from parents ‘designer dogs’ have become people were disappointed Ddogs. Working dogs tend to manage a large, powerful dog SMALL BREED: Bullmastiff Mof two different breeds or popular. These are the result because their Labradoodle be large, so are better suited in the years to come. parents that are a mixture of of crossing two different didn’t inherit the ’s to big houses with equally big Popular working several breeds. pure-bred dogs to create coarse coat. gardens. They also require dogs include the When buying or rehoming a hybrid with the aim of Popular crossbreeds so far a lot of exercise, so owners Dobermann, a crossbreed, it is important giving it the desirable traits include Labradoodle need to be active. Rottweiler, to remember that you cannot from each breed. (Labrador + Poodle), Puggle Although working dogs can Great Dane, predict which characteristics When first (Pug + Beagle), Cockerpoo be incredibly obedient, Siberian Husky the dog will inherit from each became popular, it was (Cocker + Poodle) and their size and strength can and Bernese LARGE parent. If you know the mix commonly thought that they Schnoodle (Miniature sometimes make them Mountain Dog. BREED: of breeds present in the dog, would be ideal pets for people Schnauzer + Poodle). unsuitable for homes with St Bernard it is advisable to research who wanted a dog with the smaller children. them all, so that you are temperament of a Labrador

10 SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS How to choose a dog in retirement How to choose a dog in retirement SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS 11 Kennel Club Assured Breeders Rehoming a rescue dog

For pedigree dogs, the Kennel It’s hugely rewarding giving a new home to a rescue dog. Club has a list of accredited Don’t be put off by stories that all these dogs breeders under the Assured have behavioural issues – many are looking for love Breeder Scheme. This is in and company too. These dogs deserve another chance: place to ensure why not give them one? have the best chance of leading a healthy, happy life and that parent dogs are treated well. Why choose you can get in touch with the Adopting a rescue dog Buying a puppy If pedigree is less important a rescue dog? club for that specific breed. to you, contact the breed club for Puppies are cute, but they There are also specialist  Be prepared for a home Dedicated breeders are keen to see their puppies go to that dog – there’s a list on the also demand a lot of attention rehoming charities, such check by the shelter or charity good homes. Here’s how to spot the less reputable... Kennel Club website. Or contact and commitment, and that’s as Greyhound Rescue and – this is to ensure the dog will your local shelter. not for everyone. Rehoming Rehome a Guide Dog. See our be well looked after. an older dog may be useful links on page 16 for  Think carefully about the are must be taken always insist on seeing the A REPUTABLE BREEDER WILL… much more appealing to further details. breed that will suit you and when buying puppy in its home.  Ask questions about you and someone who’s not quite so your lifestyle. a puppy. Look for your home energetic and doesn’t want  Find out as much as possible a reputable breeder Other dogs are not present  Allow you to see the puppy’s their furniture – or their about the dog’s history. Cwith the welfare of the dogs when you meet the puppy. You mother and litter mates shoes! – chewed. Ask the kennel staff or foster  their primary concern, and should meet the puppy with  Be knowledgeable about the Most rescue dogs will home about the dog’s avoid backyard breeders and its mother and litter mates. specific breed already be house-trained and personality. puppy farms that are driven  Always be willing to take many of them will know some  Be aware that everyday items only by profit. Puppy farms Lack of knowledge. Many a dog back if things don’t basic commands. may provoke a reaction from tend to sell through online puppy farms raise lots of work out a mistreated dog. listings, local newspapers and different breeds and are not Where to find your  Remember that it takes ads in shop windows. knowledgeable about the See thekennelclub.org. rescue dog time to develop a bond: dogs they are selling. uk/breeding for more If you’re planning to adopt allow time for your new Puppy farm a rescue dog there are many dog to settle in. warning signs The seller does not take an shelters all around the  Get your dog used to your The seller has a large number of interest in your circumstances. Don’t get tricked by paperwork. country. You can contact your routine and house rules dogs for sale. If you notice A responsible breeder will The Kennel Club website has local council, your local branch and you will see a wagging a seller keeps advertising new want to know that their dog is details of what to expect – of Dogs Trust or the RSPCA. tail in no time. litters of dogs, often of going to a good home. including contract of sale, They will often have listings Most rescue different breeds, it’s a clear vaccination certificates etc. online with photographs and dogs will already sign of a large-scale breeding The mother dog is not information about dogs in programme. affectionate towards her owner. Money is the main focus. If the their care. be housetrained If you notice that the puppy’s dealer stresses the importance If you are looking for and many of them Unwillingness to meet at the mother is not particularly of a large deposit, insists on a specific breed, you can go to puppy’s home. Many less friendly towards her owner cash only or their main thekennelclub.org.uk/breeding, will understand reputable sellers will suggest it can be an indication that concern seems to be whether click on Breed Information some basic meeting at a halfway point in she is not a well-cared-for you can pay for the dog – this Centre, select a breed and use a public space. You should family pet. should ring alarm bells. the ‘find a rescue dog’ tool. Or commands

12 SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS How to choose a dog in retirement How to choose a dog in retirement SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS 13

Useful links It’s important to do your research first: the Bringing websites below are your new dog good places to start THE KENNEL CLUB home www.thekennelclub.org.uk Follow our tips for a successful introduction BLUE CROSS www.bluecross.org.uk

DOGS TRUST Set some house rules so wait for a few days before Visit your vet www.dogstrust.org.uk Get everyone in the house introducing your preferred It’s always worth taking your to agree on rules. Don’t give food, a little at a time. new pet for a health check RSPCA conflicting messages and advice about www.rspca.org.uk and confuse your new pet. Stick to your routine inoculations, flea and worm Initially it’s tempting to spend treatments, micro- chipping BATTERSEA DOGS Keep calm every minute with your dog, and neutering.  AND CATS HOME Although you may be excited, but get it used to your normal www.battersea.org.uk don’t fuss over the dog or routine as soon as possible. raise your voice. Some dogs GREYHOUND RESCUE may be nervous or frightened. Stay safe out www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk Gently stroke your pet to Keep your dog on a lead Planning a long journey reassure it. in parks and exercise spaces with a dog? Visit REHOME A GUIDE DOG until you are sure it will drivingwithdogs.co.uk www.guidedogs.org.uk Build trust come back when called. for lots of useful tips Don’t force your new dog to OLDIES CLUB - OLDER DOGS interact with you; let the NEEDING HOMES dog approach you. It can take 10 tips for dog-proofing your home… www.oldies.org.uk a while to build a bond.  Tidy up and pick everything up stair gate. SAGA PET INSURANCE Plan your dog’s diet off the floor.  Provide a safe, quiet space for www.saga.co.uk/pet Find out what your dog  Tuck away power chords that your dog. Many shelters has been eating and how could be chewed through. suggest an indoor kennel Before your dog arrives Start toilet training often. A sudden change  Make sure all your kitchen and or crate. Plan where your new dog will Before bringing your new in diet may upset its stomach, bathroom cupboards are  Check garden gates are sleep. The kitchen or utility dog indoors, walk it around closed. closed and that there is no room is a good choice. Have the garden and allow it  Fix broken tiles, floorboards space for a dog to crawl under. a bed ready and waiting, to go to the toilet, and praise Don’t force your and skirting to prevent your  Make sure your fence is along with a bowl of water, it when it does. Even new dog chewing. tall enough to stop your dog a toy and a blanket or jumper house-trained dogs can be new dog to interact  Make sure clean laundy and jumping over. with your scent on it. thrown off-track when with you. It can expensive items of clothing are  Remove hazards in the garden If you’re planning to use an surrounded by new smells, take a while to build out the way. such as slug pellets, paint, indoor kennel or crate, have so don’t get angry if there  If you don’t want your dog insecticides and antifreeze. this in place, too. are accidents. a bond going upstairs then put in a 

14 SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS How to choose a dog in retirement How to choose a dog in retirement SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS 15 SAGA.CO.UK/MAGAZINE/PETS

© Saga 2015