What You Should Definitely Consider When Buying a Dog

The Most Important Points:

• Living Situation: Check if your living situation is dog-friendly and whether your landlord allows pets. A dog-friendly environment makes walking easier.
• Health: Make sure you're fit enough to provide daily exercise and care for a dog. Check for possible allergies in the family.
• Finances: Consider costs like purchase, vet, insurance, food, and care. Ensure you have the financial means long-term.
• Time: Dogs need daily time and attention. Consider whether your lifestyle offers enough room for a dog.
• Long-term Decision: Remember that a dog will live with you for many years and you must be ready to take on this long-term responsibility.

Here you'll find 9 points to consider before getting a dog. If you answer them honestly and follow them, you'll definitely be well prepared for life with a dog.

Living Situation

An important point to consider before getting a dog is your living situation. If you're renting, you need to clarify with your landlord whether they allow dog ownership.

Also consider that moving with a dog is often more difficult. Many landlords don't allow four-legged friends in their apartments.

Depending on the size of your furry friend, you also need to adjust the square footage. If you want a large dog, you need a correspondingly large apartment.

Where do you live? A beautiful environment with meadows and lots of nature is more inviting for walking than a downtown location with lots of concrete and streets.

Do other pets already live in your apartment, for example cats? Then they should get along with the dog and vice versa.

Your Own Health

A dog needs a lot of exercise and you have to walk them multiple times a day. Are you fit enough to provide your four-legged friend with the necessary exercise? This is an important factor to consider in your decision.

Another health aspect is allergies. Test beforehand whether you and your family members can live with a four-legged friend. It would be tragic if your beloved would have to leave the family otherwise.

Read more about health in our large Health Category.

Financial Situation

Keeping a furry friend costs money. First, there are the acquisition costs. If you get your dog from a shelter, you only pay a protection fee. This is usually between 150 and 300 euros. Prices at breeders are usually much higher and range from 500 euros to 2,000 euros and more.

In addition, there's the initial equipment like food bowl, leash, bed, and so on. However, acquisition costs are small compared to ongoing costs. You must expect these expenses:

Dog Tax

Almost everywhere in Germany, dog owners must pay a dog tax. It ranges between 5 euros and 185 euros per year. Inquire beforehand at the responsible regulatory office or your city administration.

Dog Liability Insurance

As a dog owner, you're unlimitedly liable for all damages caused by your animal. These can amount to several thousand euros up to millions. Therefore, you shouldn't do without dog liability insurance. Some federal states even legally require it.

Veterinary Costs

Whether once a year for prevention or due to an emergency – you'll definitely visit the vet regularly. A visit to the practice is often expensive, so you should be financially prepared. Many dog owners take out surgery and health insurance to cover the costs.

Dog Food

Depending on your beloved's size and type of food, food costs vary. Basically, you should plan at least 50 euros for monthly food needs. To ensure your dog gets the right food, read our dog food test.

Dog School

Especially with a young dog, you'll probably visit a dog school. The average price of a 10-session card is between 110 euros and 150 euros.

Dog Care

If you're out of the house 8 hours every day, you should organize dog care. This can cost up to 100 euros per day.

Are you able to bear these costs? Be honest with yourself and calculate your finances beforehand. You should also always have enough money saved for medical emergencies or similar situations.

Read more about the financial situation in the article "How Much Does a Dog Cost".

Time

Do you have enough time to care for your dog and do them justice? Various factors play a role here: For example, what does your professional situation look like? Are you away up to 8 hours daily or do you work from home? The latter is definitely the more dog-friendly option, as your dog won't be alone.

Also ask yourself: What do I like to do most in my free time? What hobbies do I have? How do I spend my everyday life? Can a four-legged friend accompany me? Or will it be problematic to combine work, leisure, and dog?

Consider whether you can imagine aligning your life around your four-legged friend. Also be aware that you'll have to brave wind and weather and walk multiple times daily. You should always plan enough time for this in your everyday life.

Vacation Planning

Summer, sun, beach, and sea – or rather the mountains? Surely you also go on vacation or travel for longer periods. Before getting a dog, you should consider whether they can come along. A "dog hotel" offers an alternative.

Of course, you can also take your beloved on vacation. But check beforehand whether your accommodation allows pets. In some vacation countries, there are also specific rules for bringing animals. Ideally, a vacation in nature with lots of exercise is best. Read more about Vacation with Dog here.

Long-term Decision

Are you ready to commit not just for a few months, but for years to a dog? To align your life and leisure time accordingly? You should seriously ask yourself these questions, because in the best case, the four-legged friend will accompany you for several years.

You should have the basic willingness to commit to the animal for several years. Even when the dog is older and no longer so fit, you should decide in the animal's best interest. A dog always loves you unconditionally, can you do the same?

Which Dog Breed Suits Me?

Like us humans, dogs also have different character traits. These often depend on the respective dog breed. Therefore, it's important that you think beforehand about what kind of dog you want. If it's your first dog, a dog breed for beginners would be suitable.

If you have a family, it's important that your dog is child-friendly and has a rather calm nature. In this case, family dogs are suitable for you. Some dog breeds shed very heavily. Don't want constant vacuuming and dog hair everywhere? Fortunately, there are dogs that shed little.

Energy levels also vary: Dog breeds like the English Bulldog have a rather low energy level. In contrast to the Australian Shepherd, who has a lot of energy and accordingly needs a high degree of exercise and activity. Active dogs are better suited for rural areas where they have lots of exercise and space to romp.

In some federal states, for example in North Rhine-Westphalia, you must take a competence test for dogs. This applies to four-legged friends of at least 20 kilograms and/or a shoulder height of at least 40 cm.

This proof of competence is also required for so-called "list dogs". Each federal state defines these itself. List dogs are considered dangerous breeds, which is why you must first take a test to see if you're suitable for keeping such an animal. This category includes, for example, Bull Terriers or Pit Bull Terriers.

Puppy or Adult Dog?

Before getting a dog, you should consider whether you want a puppy or an adult dog.

Puppy

A puppy is like a human baby. They need a lot of attention, still have to learn all commands, want to play a lot, and aren't house-trained yet. If you get a puppy, you should bring even more time than for an adult dog.

It's best to take vacation first to take good care of them. The little one sometimes needs to go out hourly, even at night, because their bladder isn't strong enough yet.

A big advantage of a puppy is the intense bond you build with them from a young age. They grow into your family from the beginning and you have influence on their behavior and training.

Adult Dog

With an adult dog, the character is usually already very pronounced and established, which can have advantages and disadvantages. Training also plays a role here and dog schools can be utilized.

An adult dog is often already house-trained and can ideally be left alone for a few hours. Nevertheless, you should also take enough time for acclimation with an adult dog. In general: Whether you choose a puppy or an adult dog: Especially as a beginner, you should familiarize yourself with all relevant topics around dog ownership. Only then can you meet your four-legged friend's needs at every age. The Hundeo App accompanies and supports you on your way.

Breeder or Shelter?

Like many other people, you're surely asking yourself whether to get your dog from a breeder or from a shelter. In the following, you'll learn more about these two forms of placement.

Breeder

If you pick up your four-legged family member from a breeder, it's usually a puppy. You have the opportunity to choose a breed that suits you and your lifestyle.

Choose your breeder carefully and inform yourself beforehand whether they value quality or quantity more. Take enough time to discuss all your concerns, questions, and key data with the breeder. If you've decided on a breeder, you can usually arrange visit appointments. This way you get to know the puppy and can decide whether they suit you.

Don't let yourself be pressured in your decision; reputable breeders gladly take time for you. If you feel pressured to buy, you should definitely distance yourself from the seller. Also make sure you sign an official purchase contract. This is an important document that identifies the dog and protects you from fraudsters.

The decision for a dog should never be made lightly. Look for a responsible breeder where the animal's welfare comes first.

What should you watch out for with a breeder?

• Seriousness and Transparency: A reputable breeder speaks openly about the breed, grants insight into the breeding facility, and informs about possible health risks.
• Health Certificates: A good breeder can present health certificates and examination results of the parent animals that prove testing for hereditary diseases.
• Socialization: Puppies should grow up in a clean and safe environment and be socialized early.
• Contracts and Guarantees: Reputable breeders often offer a purchase contract with health guarantees.
• Membership in Breeding Associations: Breeders who are members of recognized breeding associations often adhere to strict breeding standards and ethical guidelines.

Because there are more and more fraudsters and dubious sellers. Therefore, never buy a puppy in a parking lot or backyard. This is usually illegal puppy trading.

Caution with Torture Breeding

When buying a dog, it's important to inform yourself about torture breeding. Torture breeding refers to breeds where extreme breeding goals have led to health and ethical problems. This includes breathing problems in short-nosed breeds like the Pug or back problems in long-backed dogs like the Dachshund. These health problems can burden the animal for life and cause high veterinary costs.

What you can do:

• Inform yourself thoroughly about the specific health risks of the breed you're considering.
• Consider whether you're ready to take responsibility for possible health problems.
• Choose responsibly: Prefer adoptions from shelters or rescue organizations to avoid unintentionally promoting demand for torture breeding breeds.
• Support changes: Advocate for responsible breeding practices and animal welfare by choosing breeders who prioritize the physical and psychological well-being of dogs.

If you follow these steps, you'll help raise awareness about the problems of torture breeding and contribute to animal welfare.

Shelter or Animal Protection

Worldwide, thousands of dogs are looking for a home. They were abandoned by their families, born on the street, or mistreated. Often they're mixed breeds and not purebred animals.

If you get a dog from a shelter or animal protection, you give the furry noses a second chance and make abandoned paws happy. But here too, you shouldn't rush your decision.

It's important that you inform yourself well about the dog beforehand and ideally get to know them first. Unfortunately, the four-legged friends have often experienced terrible things and are sometimes behaviorally conspicuous. In shelters, for example, you have the opportunity to regularly visit the dog for walks and see if you match.

Dogs from animal protection often initially live in shelters abroad. Therefore, you often don't have the opportunity to get to know them beforehand. So inform yourself well about your potential protégé beforehand.

Foster homes are a good idea. These take in dogs from abroad and integrate them into their family until placement. Here you can visit the four-legged friend and get to know them better.

In this case too, make sure it's a reputable shelter or animal protection organization and that you conclude an official purchase contract. You should also receive papers like your dog's vaccination record. Be sure to read our article "Adopting a Dog from a Shelter? (This is What You Should Consider)".

Conclusion

As you've surely already noticed, getting a dog isn't a decision that should be rushed. It's important that you take the above-mentioned points to heart.

Consider carefully whether you can care well for the animal over several years. If you can still imagine keeping a four-legged friend afterwards, you're ready for the dog adventure.