A guide for first time dog owners

First Time

Dog Owners Guide In NZ

Every first thing in life, whether it is your first car, house, career or even baby, necessitates proper planning. Equipping oneself with the proper know-how, can somehow ease the burden of being a first timer. So when you decide to have a dog as a fur buddy for the first time, make sure to follow these guidelines to save yourself from too much fuss.

Once you have decided that you would want a pet dog, the next step you need to take is to select the suitable dog breed for you and your family. This is a very crucial decision to make as a first time owner since it can make or break your fur-parent journey.

Care Time

How Much Time You Have

All dogs regardless of their breed would require a certain amount of time from their owners. This time is for their regular grooming, vet visits, training, exercise or play time and others. Hence when you decided to become a fur parent you have already committed yourself to devote some of your precious time to your pet dog. It is now the question of the extent of time you are willing to alot that will be important in choosing the suitable dog breed for you.

Someone who is working on a daily basis at a fixed time can spend a certain amount of time that is different from someone who is working on her own time. So the kind of work you do for a living would matter in choosing your pet dog breed.

The care time of fur parents can also be affected by the activities after work or after school. Do you have a lot of parties to attend to? Do you have a lot of weekend getaways with friends, clients or family? Do you usually lay back after work? Are you more of an adventurous person or a homebody? In choosing your pet dog’s breed, consider your lifestyle too.

Are you living alone or with your family, kids and spouse or parents and siblings? This can also affect the care time that can be provided to your pet dog. If you are living alone then all care must come from you while if you have other family members with you then they can offer an extra hand to extend the care time for your pet dog.

Extent of care time is important in choosing your dog breed because there are breeds which are too active and energetic as compared to others. These dog breeds would be bored if the owners are not around most of the time to play or exercise with them or just not too active like them. Dog breeds which are more laid back and would love to lounge most of the time can be a better option for would be fur parents who are too busy or simply a relaxed type of person.

Dog Space

How Much Space Have You Got

Just like time, the space that can be put up for your pet dog’s activity is vital in choosing your dog’s breed. When you decided to be a fur parent, you already knew that you would be providing him/her a shelter. But the extent of space you can provide is critical for you and your pet dog’s comfort.

Depending on their traits, there are dog breeds that are suitable to be housed in a small apartment or house. These are usually the small, not too active, quiet type of dog breed. Bichon frise, greyhound and boston terrier are great choices.

If you are living in a house with a large backyard, then larger or more active dogs are good options for you. You can pick breeds like, boxer, bullmastiff, border collie and labrador retriever.

Living with your kids or old parents or even grandparents who are prone to allergic reactions, might affect the space available for your pet dog. You have to set certain parts of your house pet-free since you have to consider the health of these people. A good alternative though is choosing hypoallergenic dogs like affenpinscher and afghan hound.

Expenses

How Much Money You Have

Yes as a would be fur parent, you have to prepare for some expenses. Aside from the cost of purchasing your dog, you should also be ready for its maintenance.

There are dog breeds that require less expensive maintenance as compared to others. This can be due to their less food, grooming, and minimal vet visit requirement. For instance greyhounds do not require frequent grooming as compared to poodles. The bull terrier on the other hand has less possible health conditions unlike a rottweiler. So they would have a lesser vet bill.

Adopting a dog pet from shelters would also offer less expenses as compared if you are getting one from breeders or farmers. Aside from saving a life, taking pet dogs from shelters enables you to choose from a wide range of ages. And the age of a pet dog matters when you are on a budget as well. Puppies are more expensive to care for as compared to an adult one. Adults need fewer vaccinations and training after all. But if you are looking for a particular breed and you would really want to take care of your fur buddy from its young life then opt for breeders.

Other factors that you have to consider when it comes to budget are the size and training requirements. In general, smaller dogs call for lesser maintenance as compared to larger breeds since they would require less food, less space, easy or self bathing and grooming. To cut the expenses from sending your dog to training centers, then go for dogs which are more intelligent and are readily trained.

If you want more guidance and assistance in choosing the most suitable pet dog’s breed for you and your family, ask the Auckland Council Animal Shelter near you. You can also make use of breed selectors online.

After you have acquired the most suitable pet dog, your journey as a fur parent starts. In Auckland and the whole of New Zealand, registering your fur buddy is a must which would require you to pay around $150. Check the dog fee registration calculator. However, there are also several ways which can lower this amount and at same time make you a more worthy fur parent.

Desex

One of the things that a responsible fur parent should do is to schedule his/her pet for desexing. A surgical procedure that would remove the reproductive organs of your fur buddy making them infertile or not capable of reproducing. This is important to regulate the number of unwanted and unsheltered animals. Besides this will lessen your pet dog’s annual registration fee for around $40.

At around 4 to 6 months dogs can undergo desexing. This procedure is specifically called spaying in females and neutering for males. Since they are anesthetized, they will not feel any pain while undergoing this surgical procedure. Find out more about the desexing pre and post surgical requirements and care, see yellow pages to book a vet appointment now.

Aside from controlling the number of undesired puppies, there are health benefits in desexing your pet dog. This includes lessening the risk of cancer for both male and female dogs, testicular cancer for males and mammary for females. Male dogs prostate gland enlargement will also be prevented avoiding uneasy urination and defecation. Wide range of benefits like lesser risk of uterine infections, perianal tumors, cystic ovaries, pyometra among others are enjoyed by female dogs too.

Desexing also affects the dog behaviour wise. Without the sex hormone’s influence, dog behaviour improves as well. They become less aggressive and more relaxed making them more trainable and more sociable. Their wandering around to search mates which leads to accidents and fight derived injuries will be prevented as well.

The cost of spaying is higher as compared to neutering although it may vary depending on the size of your dog and the vet that will do the surgery. The price can range from $150-$200. If you cannot afford this, seek financial help through SPCA NZ and Humane Society of NZ.

Microchipping

Microchipping your pet dog is a one time vet performed procedure that is required for all dogs in New Zealand. Well not really all, since theDog Control Act 1996 specified the dogs that need microchipping and those which do not. Nevertheless, once you have your pet dog microchipped, you have to link it with its registration record by updating its record in the update your dog’s detail (including micro-chipping and de-sexing) page of the Auckland Council.

Microchipping is an imperative process for both pet owners and the government or council alike. The 15 digit number in the microchip implanted in the neck part of your dog would serve as its identification and is linked to its registration record in the Council and National Dog Database. In the event that it caused trouble or harm to others, it would be very easy for the authorities to point out who should be liable. On the lighter note, when your dog gets lost and found, it would be very easy for the shelters or the proper authorities to bring it back to you.

The procedure’s cost may vary depending on the vet and the package or promotional offer you avail. But you can take advantage of Auckland Council Animal Shelter’s microchipping services at $30. For more details on microchipping, visit the Internal Affairs official website.

Dog Owners Obligations

When you decide to take a living thing as a companion regardless of its type, there is an unspoken rule that you should commit yourself for their welfare. Therefore you should learn to the best that you can the duties and responsibilities to your pet dog.

Register your dog. In New Zealand, pet dogs need to register for the first time and renew their registration annually thereafter. You are also responsible for updating your dog’s details.

Be responsible for your pet dog’s basic needs. This would include suitable and healthy food, sufficient and clean water, and appropriate accommodation. Besides these, you also have to ensure proper exercise, grooming, playtime and attention. To be more informed on this matter, read Animal Welfare Act 1999.

Train your dog properly. By training your pet dog, you can ensure that he/she will act and behave accordingly anywhere anytime. This should prevent your dog from harming other dogs or pets and even people. Destruction of properties and other belongings as well. Definitely proper training can save you from liabilities and stress of having a menacing pet dog. So make sure that you are equipped with the proper knowledge on the Dog Control Act 1999. Also when in public establishments, it is essential that as a pet owner you know the specific rules or policies about pets. For instance you should know establishments that allow pets and do not. Places and instances where and when pets are allowed with or without their leash. Get to know more about your responsibility as a fur parent in the Auckland community, read the Policy on Dogs and Dog Management Bylaw 2019.

Knowing these obligations can give you the passes to your Responsible Dog Owner Licence (RDOL) which in turn can get you a discount when you renew your pet registration. Learn more on how to acquire RDOL

Working Dogs

One option when choosing your pet dog is going for the working dog breeds. In New Zealand, most working dogs come very handy in managing stocks in farms. They were given special training for herding and catching sheeps, cows and other livestock animals. Huntaway and heading dogs are the common breeds used by farmers here.

Register your pet dog as a working dog to avail of additional discount on your dog’s registration fee. But first you must sign the working dogs declaration form and then prepare for verification of your dog’s purpose from the respective authorities. Once your dog is registered as a working dog, it will also get an exemption from microchipping. This type of pet dog is really a cost saving but purposeful one.

Special Category Dogs

Another purpose-trained dog type is the special category dogs. These breeds of dogs are also called public servants and disabled person assistants.

Similar to working dogs, special category dogs should also be registered. Owners need also to accomplish a special dog declaration form. And proof from the organization where the dog is registered. Get to know these organizations that register special category dogs.

If your dog is successfully verified as a special category then you will not need to pay any registration fee. All you need to do is get the tag from the organization that registered your dog. But you are still responsible for updating its status and renewing its registration annually. Microchipping is also not required for this dog category.

There is an additional tag from the Ministry of Civil Defense that is needed to be worn by the disabled person assistants. This is together with the registration tag. This additional tag would ensure that they are to be with their owner anywhere anytime specially during emergency situations and natural calamities.

Do's and Dont's

As mentioned under obligations of fur parents, it is your duty to get to know the prevailing rules for your pet in your community. In the whole of Auckland Community, there are specified areas or establishments that would and would not allow your pet dog. But leashing your dog is required at all times. Learn more about Auckland’s rules for dogs in public places.

In taking your dog for a walk, here are the two best areas to go. The Kakamatua Inlet’s shore can provide the best place for your fur buddy to soil his paws without its leash. He or she can even take a dip and learn how to swim. Orakei Basin is another, it also offers a large grass area that allows dogs to be unleashed, great for exercising walking muscles.

Look for more places in Auckland where and when you can walk your dog and read the walking rules to make your exercise stress free.