Choosing your Puppy

• How big will this dog become, and have you sufficient garden space to accommodate them?

• How much exercise will they need – and who will do the dog walking?

• How much grooming will be required?

• Are you prepared for the housebreaking period – there will be lots of little ‘accidents’ before puppy is fully trained.

• Are there other pets in the home, and how will they get on with a new arrival?

• Is anyone in the home allergic to dogs?

• What’s going to happen if the family goes on holiday or a night away?

• Can you afford to handle the likely vet bills of the particular breed that you're drawn towards?

Find out as much as possible before you buy

With the arrival of the Internet, it's never been easier to carry out research into different breeds of dogs, so make sure you’ve done your legwork before taking a new puppy home.

Also, talk to other people who have the same breed of dog, and ask them what the pros and cons might be. You could also attend your local dog show and talk to dog-owners or breeders for helpful advice.

Don’t forget to spend some time with the puppy before you take it home, to make sure that it has the sort of personality that will fit in with your family – particularly if you have young children. Most breeders will encourage several visits between new owners and puppies.

Bringing your puppy home

• Do your best to pet-proof your home, moving anything breakable or dangerous out of puppy’s reach.

• Make sure everyone knows who’s responsible for his exercise, for his feeding and for his grooming.

• Find a good local vet and make sure you know what vaccinations your puppy needs.

• Make sure you’ve organised a collar and leash – and somewhere for him to sleep.

• Make enquiries as to whether there are dog obedience classes in your area.