The Smart Way To Own A Pet
CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PETPLAN
Can You Commit?
Everyone loves the thought of having a cute little pooch to come home to at the end of the day, but you have to put your future pet before yourself. Their average lifespan is around 10-15 years. Is that something you can commit to? Dogs need plenty of attention – can you give that to them? Will you have time to walk them every day? If you spend long hours at work or go away on holidays abroad a lot, a dog might not be the right pet for you.
Check The Cost
The cost of your pup depends on the individual dog, but on average it’s thought that you can expect your dog to cost around £6,500 - £17,000 over its lifetime: up to £12k on small dogs; up to £13k on medium dogs; and up to £17k on large dog breeds. Food, toys, veterinary care and grooming are all unavoidable costs, so make sure you have enough in the bank to cover the cost.
Find Your Perfect Size
Whether you’re into Chihuahuas or St Bernard’s, you need to make sure you have room for them in your home. You need to have the right size dog for you, and this can be affected by many things: how big is your home and your car? Do you have children? Would you like to take your pet on runs? Do you want a pup that’s low maintenance or are you happy to spend a bit of time on grooming? These will all affect your decision on the size and breed of dog that you go for.
City Living
It is entirely possible to keep and enjoy a pooch in densely populated areas, but it’s a matter of researching breeds to ensure it’ll cope well with that lifestyle. Again, it’s checking your home is big enough and you’ve got time to walk it, as well as considering other factors that the city might throw at you and your dog.
Training Day
If you get a dog, pet training will be essential, no matter the size of the pup. Behaviour and potty training are the most important, particularly with dogs, to make sure you don’t come home to a destroyed house.
Get A Vet
A vet will be essential during the lifespan of your dog. Regular vaccinations are needed, and they’ll likely need to be spayed or neutered, not to mention the help you’ll need with any unexpected illnesses or injuries. Luckily, Petplan offer dog insurance, covering your pooch if anything goes wrong.
Enjoying Summer With Your Dog
Summer with a dog is something special, with lazy evening walks and swims in the pond all on the agenda (for them, not you). But there are some things you need to be aware of to protect your pup in the heat – here are Petplan’s top tips for keeping your dog safe this summer.
Beat The Heat
Once the temperature reaches 18 degrees, that’s when you need to start checking on your dog, particularly larger breeds. When the temp hits 23 degrees, that’s when it becomes concerning for all dogs. Plus, the breed of your dog will affect how they deal with the heat. Pugs, Bulldogs, Chihuahuas and King Charles Spaniels will struggle more with their breathing due to their short noses, making it harder for them to regulate their body temperature. Thick coated breeds like Huskies, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Chow Chows and St Bernard’s will struggle because they’re more at home in colder climates, and black dogs will absorb more light and heat.
Petplan have some tips and tricks for beating the heat…
- Plenty to drink: Keep them cool by ensuring you have water to hand at all times.
- Access to shade: Make sure your dog has a shady place to cool off.
- Avoid the midday sun: 11-3pm is when the heat of the sun is felt most, which also means it’s the most dangerous.
- Careful with cars: For all journeys make sure you have adequate air conditioning or roll the windows down. NEVER leave your dog in an unattended vehicle.
- Test the ground: Place your hand on the ground for a few seconds before embarking on a walk. If it’s too hot for you, then it’s too hot for your dog.
If you’re dog does end up being affected this summer then Petplan has you covered, ensuring that insuring your pet is as pain-free as possible.
Find out more at Petplan here.
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