Vetchat s guide to choosing a new puppy: 5 things every new pet parent should know Ebook
Contents 01 Introduction 02 Know Your Breed 03 Common Health Problems Most Asked About Breeds 06 Be Real With Your Circumstances Top 10 Factors For Choosing A Pup 09 Adopt or Shop 10 Breeders: The Good And The Bad 11 Pre-puppy Checklist 12 Vetchat Sign off 00
When you re looking at getting a puppy, falling in love with the idea of a breed you ve always wanted is the easy part! What s not so easy is thinking practically about what breed to choose. That s what this guide is for. Here are five pieces of advice from our vets on finding your perfect pup. 01
#1 Look into puppy breeds with an open mind. If you already have a breed in mind, get to know their personality type and what needs they have. Then ask yourself: are these factors compatible with yours? How will they fit into your life, but more importantly, how will you create the life they need to thrive? These can be tough questions to ask, but the wrong choice can lead to unhappy pups and strained pet-owner experiences. 02
#2 Know the common health problems to look out for. It s so important to do your research. Many breeds suffer from medical conditions far more than others. These are also expensive to treat. Here are our vets common watch-outs. Short-nosed dogs: These include Pugs, Bulldogs, Boxers, Bostons Cavaliers and Shih tzus. The umbrella term we use for these dogs is Brachycephalics (literally, short head). They tend to share a number of conditions that worsen with age, which means early surgery is often needed. These conditions include: Stenotic nares (really small openings to the nose) Long soft palate Large tonsils Averted laryngeal saccules Laryngeal collapse All these conditions make shortnosed dogs prone to breathing difficulty and to heat stress. They can t be exercised or left outside on hot days. They also usually snore, due to all that extra tissue obstructing their breath! 03
Large breed dogs: These breeds tend to be more prone to conditions such as elbow dysplasia, cruciate ligament (injury of the knee) and hip dysplasia. In particular, breeds such as Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds are quite predisposed. Small breed dogs: Flexible or sliding kneecaps (medial luxating patellas) are most common. Depending on the severity, some will require surgery. If left, the sliding kneecap can cause irritation, pain, lameness and arthritis as they age. Deep chested dogs: Dogs with deep chests are more prone to gastric dilation and volvulus (commonly called bloat). This is a deadly condition where the stomach distends and twists causing continual bloat and obstruction to blood flow, Great Danes over their life time are quite likely to have this occur. Other prone breeds include Standard Poodles, Rottweilers, Irish Setters. There are necessary preventative measures to reduce incidence in prone breeds. 04
What breeds do we get asked about most? King Charles Cavaliers (KCCS): Devastatingly here in Australia, these guys have a very high rate of mitral valve heart disease compared to other breeds. It can affect them at a young age and causes loss of life way too early. More than half will be affected by the age of five and almost all by the age of ten. Golden Retrievers: Genetically, these guys get wearing of their cruciate ligaments over time (it doesn t have to be a trauma that causes a rupture). They re also quite prone to hip dysplasia, so it s very common to check the parents hip tests before you buy. Westies: West Highland White Terriers are great dogs, but they are genetically more pre-disposed to allergic skin disease. We see loads of this in Westies in Australia, and it usually requires lifelong management. Poodles: In addition to bloat in the Standards (above) and luxating patellas in the small breeds, these guys can also suffer from Addisons disease where the adrenal gland is not producing sufficient hormones, which requires lifelong daily medication for management. Boxers: There s the joints and brachycephalic condition as above, they can also suffer a Boxer cardiomyopathy (heart disease) and have a higher incidence of some cancer compared to other breeds. German Shepherd dog: There s not much these beautiful guys aren t predisposed to. Problems with their hips, elbows, knees, fungal infections and perianal fistulas, insurance is a non- negotiable. 05
#3 Be real about your circumstances. Other than just falling in love with a breed that you ve researched (or one you grew up with), you need to make an assessment as to whether this lovely pet will thrive in the surroundings you offer. Sometimes, it might also mean considering another breed that s a better choice for your home and lifestyle. We want you both to feel set up for success, right from the start. So take a read and be completely honest with yourself. 06
Our vets Top 10 factors for choosing the right pup: 1. Backyard. How much space will your dog have? Daily exercise outside the house is important for all dogs, but for some breeds, apartment living simply won t cut it. In particular, active dogs (think large breeds, working dogs, even Terriers and Pomeranians) need plenty of space and exercise. Remember: a bored and frustrated dog will start destructive behaviours; a happy, contented dog will not. 2. Time spent alone. If you don t have much free time, a puppy probably isn t for you. Some breeds need more connection than others, while others in hot weather simply can t be left alone (short-nosed dogs). It s really natural for a pup to object to you not being there: cue some of the saddest cries ever! What most people don t realise is that this crying is genuine distress and if left, can be detrimental to their long-term mental health. They need your help to learn to be happy and relaxed when they re on their own. So if they need to have one paw touching you to fall asleep, let them! It ll only be for a little while. 3. Hair. This is a big one. You mightn t have taken into account how much hair your pup will shed in the house all year round! Even with daily sweeps and vacuums, you ll always find hair. That charcoal carpet you had is now looking mottled blonde (thinking of Labs and Goldens here!). If you want a pristine house, a shedding dog probably isn t for you. 4. Existing family. Kids? Kids in the next 15 years? Other dogs, cats, Guinea Pigs? This will affect the personality of the puppy you need to get. Do you need an easy-going social puppy who s great with kids and other pets? Or do you wish for a loyal companion who loves you and doesn t need to be as kid-friendly? Thinking 15 years ahead is what you need to think about now. 5. Stairs. Very small breeds can t cope with large stairs. That said, very large breeds don t do well with stairs either, especially as arthritis comes into play as they age. Think about where your dog will be in the home and how they ll get in and out of the house. 07
6. Fencing. Puppies are escape artists! Whether it s over the fence, under the house or a tight squeeeeeze through the gate, if there s a way out, they ll find it. Low fencing or furniture in front of fences (aka steps to freedom) are not appropriate for jumping dogs. 7. Long grasses. Is the area you re in suitable for certain breeds? Long grass and grass seeds can easily get caught in the coats of oodles and curly breeds. That s not to say you can t have these dogs but you will need to check their paws daily and keep their hair really short. Grass seed season s an intensive and a potentially expensive time for oodles. 8. Toxic plants. There are many household plants and weeds that are toxic or irritating for pups. Philodendron and holly berries are just a couple of plant examples, while trad is a weed that s a common allergen. Our advice is to remove these completely, or if it isn t possible, set up an area of the garden your puppy can t get to 9. Swimming pools. Drowning is a risk, so check your pool fence is secure. And eventually, you can teach your bud how to swim! 10. Air conditioning. How will you keep your pet cool on hot days? Do you have air-con inside? Short-nosed dogs, for example, mustn t be allowed to overheat, so cooling systems in the house are essential. 08
#4 Choose consciously to adopt or shop. Make a conscious decision about how you want to source your pet. Do you really want a puppy? Or would an adult rescue be a better fit for your home? There s no right or wrong here. You can check out RSPCA, other adoption houses and rescue organisations for the breed or mix you want. If you do decide to buy a pure or designer breed, be sure to support legitimate breeders who really care for their dog s welfare. 09
#5 Pick a good breeder from a bad one. It s super important to do your vetting and to buy from a reliable source. If there s a breed you have in mind, look up the breed clubs and go to a breed meet-up. Or if you see pet parents of your breed in the park, have a chat to them about where they sourced their pet and any feedback they have. You can also speak to state associations and look for registered breeders. However one thing to note is that just because they re registered, doesn t mean they re fantastic. Once you ve found a candidate, the best thing you can do is visit. You ll see their pups home environment, including how they re housed and looked after. This isn t always an option depending on where you live. Your communications with the breeder will give you some indication of what they re about, but words can be deceiving, so seeing their property is far better. If there s many dogs for example, it s difficult for the breeders to give them the love and care they need. How long and often do they breed the bitches for? Mums shouldn t be breed after 6 years of age. Where do they retire the parents to? Are they kept on the property? Where do they go at 6 years of age? Always ask to see the records for vaccination and confirm where this check was done, as well as microchip records. Pet shops can sometimes get their pets from puppy farms or backyard breeders, so be sure to check on this too. 10
YOUR PRE-PUPPY CHECKLIST: A few last words of vet-ly wisdom Can you truly commit to 15+ years of looking after this pet? A puppy is a lifelong commitment. Start saving: a puppy s first year in particular is expensive. There s food, more frequent vaccinations, training, parasite control, desexing, grooming and more. The cost of ongoing pet health care is expensive too, so look into pet insurance as an option. Get comfortable with dog poop! You ll be picking it up daily, forever. It s part of being a responsible owner and by keeping the streets clear, we can push for a more petfriendly society. Start learning: know what s toxic and potentially harmful for your dog at home and when you re out and about. Get a good raincoat! Walking your dog is daily, rain or shine. 11
Phew-woof! We hope this guide helps you choose the perfect pup. And if you have any questions or want more pawsonal advice, we d love to chat. You can start a text chat or have a video consult with our Vetchat vets anytime between 6am and 12am AEST daily. Chat soon, and good luck! Dr Claire
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