Preparing for a new dog

Each dog breed has its own characteristics and temperament, so it’s a good idea to do some digging. Find the perfect breed that matches your personality, lifestyle and family circumstances.

If you or a family member suffer from allergies, a hypoallergenic breed may be best for you.

While there is no 100% hypoallergenic breed, there are some breeds more tolerable to allergy sufferers. Poodles and Portuguese Water Dogs may be best for you as they can cause less of a reaction because they tend not to shed.

Before you decide, ask yourself these questions:

• Do you have any experience raising a puppy?

• Do you have the time, patience and flexibility to deal with an untrained puppy?

• Would an older, more emotionally developed dog be a better fit?

• What can you afford (costs vary hugely between puppies and adult dogs)?

Dog buyers have a responsibility to buy from a reputable breeder. The Kennel Club runs assurance schemes for registered breeders, who follow strict guidelines when it comes to how they breed their dogs and keep them healthy.

Rehoming a rescue dog can be a rewarding experience, but it’s not a decision to be taken lightly. Our guide to dog rehoming has in-depth information on best practices for rehoming.

• Lead, collar or harness

• Puppy crate

• Bedding

• Dog food and treats

• Food and water bowls

• Grooming equipment

• Identity disc

• Dog waste bags

• Toys

• Toilet training?

Here are some suggestions to help create a safe and dog-friendly home:

• Hide electrical cables behind furniture or tape them to your skirting board

• Remove all breakable objects that your dog might reach

• Place any household chemicals out of reach

• Remove poisonous or toxic houseplants

• Hide shoes in cupboards – unless you want them chewed

Try sticking to that schedule for the first few days to avoid stomach problems. If you’re switching to a different brand of food, it’s best to do this gradually over a week or so.

Some dogs find car trips stressful, so having them safely secured in a crate could make that first journey home easier.

If you’re bringing home a puppy, take them where they will go to toilet straight away. Spend some time there with them so they can relieve themselves and get used to the area.

This will get the puppy used to being around children and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.

If you’ve got a new adult dog, they’ll need time to get to know the children in their new home too – even if they’re already used to children.

To keep those disagreements to a minimum, here’s how to help your dogs get along:

• Introduce dogs on neutral territory, such as out on a walk

• Separate them if they start to fight

• Feed the dogs apart at first

• Don’t leave them alone together until they’re friendly

Choose a room where the cat has an upward escape route. And, after five minutes or so, take the dog away and let your cat go wherever they feel most comfortable.

If you’re planning on crate training, be sure to have a crate set up and ready to go when you bring your dog home.

Your new dog will see the crate as their ‘den’ and will be happy to spend time there when they want to sleep or be alone.

Toilet training your puppy should be fairly simple, as long as you take the time to establish a good routine.

Puppies should be able to relieve themselves at least every two hours, so try to take them out as regularly as possible.

If your puppy isn’t ready to go outside yet, it can be toilet trained on newspapers or in a crate.

All dogs over eight weeks old in the UK are required by law to be microchipped. If you don’t microchip your dog by the time it’s eight weeks old, you could face a fine of up to £500.

Our guide to neutering your pet has more details about spaying and castration, including when it should be done and the advantages of having the procedure carried out.