There are many things to take into account and think about when the dream of a little warm puppy comes knocking.
In collaboration with instructors and behaviorists from
Powerdog, we have collected 10 pieces of advice for the future dog owner in a small mini guide.
Advice 1: Why do you want a dog?
Before you start looking for your new four-legged friend, it's a good idea to ask yourself the question: Why do I want a dog?
A decision to get a dog should be well-founded and well-considered. Be aware of what exactly you are looking for in a dog before you start going on puppy walks and falling in love with those little soft ears and paws.
Ask yourself what you can offer a dog rather than what the dog can offer you.
Choosing to get a dog comes with a lot of responsibility, and both time and energy must be put into it throughout the dog's life. Most dogs live to be 10-15 years old, so it's a long-term commitment that you make when you choose to get a dog. A dog should be prioritized, and its needs must be taken into account, both when it is a puppy and when it becomes old.
Think about how you want to adapt your everyday life to having a dog.
You will need to get up early to walk the dog every day. You will need to go to training with the dog so that you can get off to a good start with your collaboration.
There are often concerns with having a dog. It can get sick, or it will need to be looked after sometimes. You need to think through all of this and be prepared for the impact your dog will have on your everyday life and your routines.
Tip 2: Choosing a breed
There are plenty of dog breeds , and each breed has something different to offer. When you start looking for a breed, you should start by investigating the breed's need for exercise - many people are often surprised to learn that a Labrador, which is an extremely popular family dog, actually has a great need to use its brain and does not thrive optimally with only a few walks a day. A dog that is not exercised enough will find something to use its energy on, and in the worst case scenario, it can become destructive and stressed.
There are no dogs that do not need any activity at all, but some breeds do require a little less. Small companion dogs such as the Shih Tzu, Havanese and Maltese are lovely family dogs that enjoy lying on the sofa and only need to use their nose and brain to thrive. This is not to say that they will not love to actively participate in all kinds of dog sports, and they can easily go on a 10 km. walk.
Both small companion dogs and several of the larger breeds often have a lovely coat that requires some effort to keep nice and healthy, and you should be prepared to set aside time for this if you choose such a type of dog. If you are into dogs that love to cooperate, you will quickly come across breeds such as border collies, spaniels and German shepherds. Cooperation is often associated with activity, and many of the cooperating breeds therefore particularly need to be kept busy with both physical exercise and mental stimulation, such as solving tasks with the nose, obedience training or hunting training in order to thrive, and so that you can endure and live with it. Also be aware that several breeds are now divided into working and show versions. The working version should only be acquired by dog owners who want to train and work actively with the dog every single day for the rest of the dog's life.
When you are interested in a breed , you should always familiarize yourself with what the breed was originally created for, to get an idea of what it will typically require to thrive at its best. Please contact a breeder of the breed you are interested in. An honest breeder will give you good insight into both what the breed requires and what it offers. DKK also has a really nice reference work on their website with breed descriptions, and many breeds have FB pages where you can ask owners of the breed in question about their opinion on how much the breed should be activated.
Powerdog is a gathering place for dedicated instructors and behaviorists.
Here, students are offered many different courses within most dog sports both online and in the premises in Roskilde. The motto behind Powerdog is that dog training should be fun, for everyone! Both the dog and the owner.
The team behind Powerdog covers a wide range, from the family dog to the hardcore competition dog, and they all love to give dog owners new knowledge and understanding of their dogs.
SEE MORE ON POWERDOG.DK
Mini guide - part 1: 10 tips for choosing the best dog for you
In collaboration with instructors and behaviorists from Powerdog, we have collected 10 pieces of advice for the future dog owner in a small mini guide.
Advice 1: Why do you want a dog?
Before you start looking for your new four-legged friend, it's a good idea to ask yourself the question: Why do I want a dog?
A decision to get a dog should be well-founded and well-considered. Be aware of what exactly you are looking for in a dog before you start going on puppy walks and falling in love with those little soft ears and paws.
Ask yourself what you can offer a dog rather than what the dog can offer you.
Choosing to get a dog comes with a lot of responsibility, and both time and energy must be put into it throughout the dog's life. Most dogs live to be 10-15 years old, so it's a long-term commitment that you make when you choose to get a dog. A dog should be prioritized, and its needs must be taken into account, both when it is a puppy and when it becomes old.
Think about how you want to adapt your everyday life to having a dog.
You will need to get up early to walk the dog every day. You will need to go to training with the dog so that you can get off to a good start with your collaboration.
There are often concerns with having a dog. It can get sick, or it will need to be looked after sometimes. You need to think through all of this and be prepared for the impact your dog will have on your everyday life and your routines.
Tip 2: Choosing a breed
There are plenty of dog breeds , and each breed has something different to offer. When you start looking for a breed, you should start by investigating the breed's need for exercise - many people are often surprised to learn that a Labrador, which is an extremely popular family dog, actually has a great need to use its brain and does not thrive optimally with only a few walks a day. A dog that is not exercised enough will find something to use its energy on, and in the worst case scenario, it can become destructive and stressed.
There are no dogs that do not need any activity at all, but some breeds do require a little less. Small companion dogs such as the Shih Tzu, Havanese and Maltese are lovely family dogs that enjoy lying on the sofa and only need to use their nose and brain to thrive. This is not to say that they will not love to actively participate in all kinds of dog sports, and they can easily go on a 10 km. walk.
Both small companion dogs and several of the larger breeds often have a lovely coat that requires some effort to keep nice and healthy, and you should be prepared to set aside time for this if you choose such a type of dog. If you are into dogs that love to cooperate, you will quickly come across breeds such as border collies, spaniels and German shepherds. Cooperation is often associated with activity, and many of the cooperating breeds therefore particularly need to be kept busy with both physical exercise and mental stimulation, such as solving tasks with the nose, obedience training or hunting training in order to thrive, and so that you can endure and live with it. Also be aware that several breeds are now divided into working and show versions. The working version should only be acquired by dog owners who want to train and work actively with the dog every single day for the rest of the dog's life.
When you are interested in a breed , you should always familiarize yourself with what the breed was originally created for, to get an idea of what it will typically require to thrive at its best. Please contact a breeder of the breed you are interested in. An honest breeder will give you good insight into both what the breed requires and what it offers. DKK also has a really nice reference work on their website with breed descriptions, and many breeds have FB pages where you can ask owners of the breed in question about their opinion on how much the breed should be activated.
Powerdog is a gathering place for dedicated instructors and behaviorists.
Here, students are offered many different courses within most dog sports both online and in the premises in Roskilde. The motto behind Powerdog is that dog training should be fun, for everyone! Both the dog and the owner.
The team behind Powerdog covers a wide range, from the family dog to the hardcore competition dog, and they all love to give dog owners new knowledge and understanding of their dogs.
SEE MORE ON POWERDOG.DK