THIS week, we’re going to follow the journey of ‘Echo pup’. From choosing her to training her, please join us in Echo’s journey from planning to reality.

Before dashing off to find Echo, we first need to find out what sort of puppy will be most suitable for her family. These are the questions to ask.

1. What is our budget for a dog? Financial considerations include:

- How much grooming is required?

- Known health issues in the breed or breed mix?

- What kind of diet do we want to feed and how much is this likely to cost?

- Can we afford to take the puppy to training classes?

- Will we need to pay for any dog walkers / dog sitters during the day while at work (dogs, ideally, shouldn’t regularly be left for more than four hours).?

2. Practical considerations in caring for Echo pup

- Do all the family members want a puppy?

- Do we want a puppy or a rescue dog?

- Who will walk the puppy?

- Can someone be at home for the puppy during the day?

- Arranging suitable puppy classes to start

- Do you have any plans which might affect your ability to keep your dog in the longer term?

Once you have the answers to these questions, you are ready for the next stage in choosing a puppy.

DENISE NUTTALL

B.Sc (Hons) Applied Animal Behaviour