Every day in Ireland, unwanted and abandoned dogs are put to sleep.  The number is tragically high but doesn’t need to be.

It’s a wonderful gift to re-home a dog and one that brings huge rewards in terms of love, loyalty and fun from bringing a dog into your family and home.  However it’s important that you and your family members are fully aware of the commitment needed when adopting a dog.

Speaking with Kevin one of the volunteers from Collon Animal Sanctuary, he likened the decision of adopting a dog as being as important as deciding whether to have a child.  Most dogs live between 14 – 20 years, and for each and every day of its life you will be 100% responsible for its care and wellbeing; financially, physically and emotionally.

Financially

To give you an idea of the minimum average costs of caring for your dog we have outlined an overview below. 

Remember, larger dogs will cost more to feed, and if you choose to use the services of a dog walker, it costs from €20 per week for a daily walk on weekdays on top of what we have outlined here.

Physically

The bottom line is; dogs that do not receive sufficient exercise are prone to bad behaviour.  Pent up energy and stress may result in a multitude of bad behaviour such as chewing on your furniture and prized belongings, constant barking and whining, digging/escaping and sometimes even aggressive behaviour or self-harming.

Are you ready to take your dog for a daily walk, rain or shine for the rest of its life?  Walking your dog is hugely beneficial for you both.  Not only is it the perfect opportunity for you to bond with your dog and keep it healthy, happy and balanced, but you will also be doing yourself a big favour by looking after your own daily exercise.

Emotionally

It’s no surprise that dogs are fondly referred to as ‘Man’s best friend’!  They provide us with unconditional love, loyalty and great fun and assist man in many incredible ways as rescue and companion dogs.

Dogs are very different to cats in that they are dependent on their owners for their well-being.  Dogs are naturally sociable animals and love being part of a family, even if it’s just the two of you.  Dogs form a deep bond with their owners, and just like humans, they can become very anxious, lonely and stressed when left on their own for long periods of time.  When you leave the home, they have no idea where you are going, how long you will be gone and even if you will return.  Bear this in mind when deciding whether a dog will fit in with your lifestyle.

Adopting Your Dog

If you decide that you are fully prepared for adopting a dog, then the following tips can help you to integrate your new family member into your home.

Decide on the type and size of dog that best suits you and your family.  Dogs have different energy levels – MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE A DOG THAT HAS ENERGY LEVELS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN YOURS!  If you choose a dog that is very hyper and you are not an active person you will be completely mismatched.  Remember, dogs that are not sufficiently exercised are prone to problem behaviour.  For more info on dog breeds and energy levels click here.

Once you have made your choice, visit your local animal sanctuary.  Prepare your questions before your visit.  The staff are always very happy to advise you on which dog would best suit your requirements.  Often previous owners are happy to talk to you about the dog which can be invaluable in gaining information about its personality.  The animal shelter staff will put you in contact if possible.

DON’T BE TEMPTED TO CHOOSE A CUTE LOOKING PUPPY.  Puppies grow very fast and before you know it will grow into an adult sized dog which may not suit your requirements.  Stick to your decision on the type of dog you want so that you will not face difficulties in a few months time.

When you do find your new companion, there will be a charge (typically €65 - €100).  This will cover vaccinations, worming, feeding and housing, veterinary fees and collars and leads if needed.  Some animal sanctuaries also either spay or neuter dogs or may give you a discount voucher for you to do it with a veterinary surgeon who works with the sanctuary.  The ideal time to spay or neuter your dog is around 6 months old and has many benefits.  For more info click here.

Settling in

Dogs (just like humans) will come with their own personality, life experience and fears.  Often it is difficult to know what kind treatment a dog has received.

IN ALL CASES GIVE YOUR DOG OR PUPPY AT LEAST 2 WEEKS TO SETTLE IN. 

It’s always very exciting when bringing your new canine companion home, and children especially want to show off their new playmate to their friends straight away.  This can be completely overwhelming for the dog. It has so much to get used to in order to feel safe and secure in its new home.  It will take time for it to understand that you are its new family and form a relationship of trust.  There will be a learning curve for both of you when figuring out how to communicate.  A dog will need time to get used to your new language (commands) and you will need time to get used to reading its body language and understanding its needs (such as when it needs to go out to ‘get busy’).  It will also need time to get used to its new surroundings, especially where the designated toilet area is.

For the first couple of days don’t be alarmed if your dog or puppy has diarrhoea, it may just have been wormed, or be getting used to a change in diet and just like humans, it may be stressed in getting used to its new environment.  If the diarrhoea persists you should contact your vet.

It is so important that you introduce it to new people (family and friends) very slowly and gradually. Ideally you should wait about one week.  Don’t overcrowd it; introduce it to one or two people at a time.

Establishing an exercise regime should be done gradually i.e. don’t bring your dog for a 2 hour hike the first day you bring it home.  Start with small steps, a couple of short walks of 15 minutes will help to relax your dog and set you both on a relationship of trust.

If you have other dogs (or other pets), introduce them slowly.  It’s a good idea to do this outside of the home which is currently the existing dog’s territory.  Arrange for a friend or family member to meet you and your new dog/puppy in the local park or a street near your home.  Remember dogs don’t shake hands when they meet, they smell each other’s behinds so allow them to do this freely.

When you do bring your new dog home, introduce it to your existing dog for short periods of time, gradually building up the time.  Then separate them.  Ensure that you have arranged separate sleeping quarters for both dogs until you are sure they have fully accepted each other.  Also, when you leave your home, ensure you have provided separate quarters for the dogs.  Throwing them into a dog run and leaving them to get on without supervision straight away could lead to aggression.

Parents – remember if you give your child a gift of a dog or puppy – you will be the ultimate carer.  You may think it’s a good idea to teach your child how to be responsible for minding a dog, but as your child grows, he/she will be less interested in caring for the dog, especially as they become teenagers and prefer hanging out with their friends than playing catch with Rover.

Finally, as a dog owner, any financial, physical or emotional commitments I have made are far outweighed by the love, devotion and fun I have with my dog.  She makes me smile everyday and you can’t put a price on that. 

Go on, adopt a dog and reap the benefits!