We Are Thinking Of Getting A Dog... What Should I Consider?

14 December 2023

Choosing a dog to join your family

If you’re thinking of welcoming a dog home you’ll be really mindful of the one you choose to join your family. You want to do the best thing for the dog. There are a lot of different elements when thinking about welcoming a dog: allergies any family members may have, grooming costs, health challenges, breed specific traits, energy levels the size of your home and access to the outside are all important elements.  Thinking all of this through will help you make the right decision for your family, and for the dog too. Sometimes dogs who come into homes aren’t the right fit for the family – it’s not that they are bad dogs.


THE BENEFITS OF WELCOMING A DOG HOME


A dog can provide companionship, a sense of responsibility and mental health benefits. However it is a huge commitment and there are elements such as behavioural traits and life stages such as teething, lack of sleep that are important too.


THE BREEDER/RESCUE CENTRE : QUESTIONS TO ASK


Choosing a reputable breeder and rescue centre is really important. The right one will be asking you lots of questions such as how long the dog will be left, if you have a fenced in garden, if you have other pets, your current family as well as any disabilities, make you aware of the responsibilities of a puppy, the budget such as vets, trainers, grooming, feeding, insurance, flea and worm treatment and the activities you plan to do with your puppy. Also the effects that hormones can have on behaviour.


Some of the questions you should ask are below (some may not be known by a rescue centre)

 

Health


Current vaccination status

Health challenges of the mother

If the mother had caesarean section

If they have been screened for breed specific challenges


Rearing


Has the puppy been raised in a home environment? This means they will have experienced hoovers, tv and different noises,

Has the puppy experienced handling from different people.

Have they been in the car.


What about if things don’t work out?


While it’s not nice to think about, if the circumstances changed would the breeder/rescue centre take the dog back?

 

WHAT SHOULD I THINK ABOUT WHEN CHOOSING A PUPPY?


Look at their interactions are they shy and fearful? Are they bouncing around and full of intense energy? Think about how both of these aspects will fit into your life and if you can devote the time and energy to training and provide a right home for them. While a dog can be trained temperament is something that is inherent. If you welcome home an older dog you avoid the nipping and toilet training stage. Though there may be other elements you need to work on such as recall.


St Paws Training Academy can help you find the right family member for you. If you want to speak to Lisa, please reach out.

Living with a reactive dog: how to look after yourself

by Lisa Sinnott • 21 April 2026
Having a dog who shows reactive behaviour can leave you feeling tired, on edge and emotionally exhausting experience at times. It is really important to look after yourself. I hope these ideas help you.

Dogs who are nervous of sounds

by Lisa Sinnott • 18 April 2026
Helping dogs who are nervous of sounds It can be really tricky and feel hard when your dog is feeling nervous of sounds that you do not have control over. They may freeze, startle, growl, try to flee, shake, drool or more. Here are some considerations if your dog is nervous of sounds. As well as the noise, there is the physical vibration too.

Fight behaviours

by Lisa Sinnott • 15 April 2026
Have you ever wondered that even if scared why a dog will run towards something? If a dog is barking and lunging at something that they are scared of then surely they would avoid it... right? This isn't always the case!

Emotions and the vet clinic

by Lisa Sinnott • 6 April 2026
Why Emotional Wellbeing Matters at the Vet When it comes to veterinary care, the focus is often on physical health—but a pet’s emotional experiences important If stress and fear are overlooked, it can shape how an animal feels about vet visits in the future. Negative experiences may lead to increased anxiety, defensive behaviour, or even the need for sedation during routine examinations. By considering how our pets feel, we can help create calmer, safer, and more positive veterinary visits. Chat to your vets about how they can support your dog.

Dog play what's ok?

by Lisa Sinnott • 1 April 2026
Dog play what’s okay? You may have heard that you can be over zealous and you should leave dogs to work it out themselves but this is poor advice. Sometimes play can turn into something else so it’s important to be mindful of play signals. When a dog goes rushing over to another head on it can feel threatening – even if the intention is play. It can be hard to assess intention as the dog is likely to be moving very fast.

Children and Dogs

by Lisa Sinnott • 4 March 2026
I know of many family members who have small children and dog and they live in harmony.

Mounting and humping behaviour

by Lisa Sinnott • 30 January 2026
Some dogs do it for hormonal reasons others due to behavioural. Reasons behind humping can include hormones, anxiety, tension attention seeking, frustration, eliciting play or displacement behaviour when stressed. Filling out the diary can help pinpoint more triggers and look at what is happening.

Children and dogs - harmony at home

by Lisa Sinnott • 30 January 2026
Children and Dogs: A Guide to Safe and Happy Relationships Having a dog in your family is exciting and fun, but it’s important to teach children how to interact safely and kindly with their furry friend. Puppies and young dogs are still learning, and we need to help them grow into happy, well-behaved companions.

Pica and dogs - eating non- food items

by Lisa Sinnott • 30 January 2026
Understanding Pica in Dogs: Why They Eat Non-Food Items

Sound Sensitivities in Dogs

by Lisa Sinnott • 29 January 2026
Sound sensitivities can be distressing for us to watch.