Buying a dog or puppy and bringing it into your family can be one of the most wonderful experiences in life. But, you must be prepared for some important responsibilities. Consider the following:

1. Do I know the breed that will fit my lifestyle and be happy in my family?

2. Do I have the time for training, grooming, playing with, and exercising a dog?

3. Do I have the resources to feed, care for, and provide health care for a dog?

Choosing a Breed
There are pedigree or mixed breed dogs. Each has pros and cons to ownership. The pros of selecting a pedigree dog are predictability in size, coat, care requirements, and temperament. The pros of mixed breed dogs are high levels of intelligence and the knowledge that you may have saved a dog from placement in a dog shelter. The cons of pedigree dogs are cost and possible difficulties in locating a particular breed. The cons of mixed breeds are unknown parentage and health backgrounds, how big the dog will grow, and temperament.

Spend some time with families who own dogs, and particularly puppies, to get a feel for what dog ownership entails. Don�t choose a dog that is too big for your home or garden, too aggressive for your children, or requires more coat care than you have the time or willingness to provide. If no one is home at your house all day, consider getting a cat, bird, or a rabbit as a pet.

Where to Buy a Puppy
Buy your puppy from a responsible and respected breeder or pet shop or from a private seller. Ask for references and call them. Ideally, try to see at least one of the parents of your puppy. See how the dogs interact with the owner or breeder. If they are friendly and approachable, that�s good. If a dog shies away from you or growls, don�t buy it.

How Much Does A Puppy or Dog Cost?
Costs range from free to thousands of pounds for pedigree dogs. Adopting a dog from an animal shelter may cost only a small fee and a few pounds for vaccinations. This is no time to �bargain hunt.� But, if you don�t have much money, adopt an abandoned dog from a shelter.

You will need to pay for your dog�s food, health care, vaccinations, registration tag, a collar and ID tag, toys, treats, and a lead. You may want to consider purchasing a pet healthcare (insurance) plan to cover some medical costs. If you can�t afford these items, don�t get a dog.

Caring for a Dog
Dogs need daily care. You must feed, water, exercise, play with, and groom your dog every day.
You will have to know the proper diet to feed the dog and when to take it to the vet.

Dogs need annual check-ups and vaccinations at a minimum. Unless you are buying for breeding purposes, you should also spay or neuter your dog. You need a fenced garden for your dog and, unless it is very small, you will need to walk it several times a day. You will also have to clean up after your dog: not only is this the civilised thing to do but in many areas there are byelaws which may impose substantial fines to anyone allowing their dog to foul a public area. There are also a great many books on dog care which are well worth the investment.

Training Your Dog
You will need to train your dog to obey simple commands, such as �Come,� �Stay,� �No,� �Sit,� and �Heel.� You will have to teach your dog not to: bark excessively, jump up on people or furniture, growl, or tear up shoes, etc. Puppies in particular can be surprisingly destructive so you will need to prepare �safe� areas in your home.

Conclusion
Once you have considered breeds of dogs, cost of ownership, care requirements, lifestyle fit, and training, you are ready to decide on the type of puppy or dog you want. Classifieds.co.uk has a wealth of private sellers, breeders and pet shops offering a huge choice of dogs and puppies for sale.



Other Dogs & Puppies Resources
Veterinary Products For Dogs - IVET consists of a team of professionals including a pharmacist, a pharmacologist, and two veterinary surgeons who oversee sales and provide free, practical advice for pets in the form of numerous on line information sheets. Get veterinary products for pets including food, rusks, skin care products and more for dogs and puppies...  
ivet.co.uk

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Classified Ad Results  ( 1 to 20 of 447 ads found )
09 February 2010
Males & females. whites, brindles & red fawns. caring & loving homes only. akc. excellent pedigrees, champion lines. shots & worming up-to-date. health guarantee. shipping available. .
LE12
08 February 2010
Beautiful beagle pups for sale. kc registered. .
£450
TS21
We are regretably having to sell our dog due to college commitments and university next year. louie is a loving family pet, who is a full pedigree with papers, micro chipped and up to date with his vaccinations. he loves children and other dogs and loves his walks and . .
£150
WF17
Good and nice maltese puppies for good and care homes also nice for happy kids.
£250
W9
Lovely litter of border collie puppies. first injection given. both parents working dogs and superb temperaments. puppies very friendly and full of beans. regularly wormed and flea treated. grown up daily with children. good homes only. £120 07824 341 180.
£120
SA19
British bulldog male pup, 12 weeks old. red and white,vet checked,6 weeks free insurance and puppy pack, kc reg with 5 generation pedigree, flea and worming treatments upto date, mum and dad can be seen and are free from any health problems. reared in the home with oth. .
£1,500
Due to long term illness of my mother i am rehoming her 2 excellant german sheperd gaurd dogs, they currently live outside i must stress they are gaurd dogs not family pets the female is approx 4 years old very energetic she is medium sized black and tan the male is a. .
PR5
The puppies are within the south nottinghamshire area. mia gave birth to 5 puppies on the 16th of december, 2 female 3 male. they are now available for viewing and will be ready to leave mid to end of february. to be sold as pets only. only 1 dog now left. they all have. .
£350
NG11
British bulldog pups,1 male 1 female. 12 weeks old. red and white,vet checked,6 weeks free insurance and puppy pack, kc reg with 5 generation pedigree, flea and worming treatments upto date, mum and dad can be seen and are free from any health problems. reared in the h. .
£1,500
07 February 2010
Beautiful jack russell puppies fror sale. various markings and coloura. parents lovely temperament and may be seen. flea treated and wormed. please phone (rather than email) for further details and to arrange viewing. price negotiable and includes wicker dog basket. m. .
£345
A beautiful litter of second generation cockerpoos were born on jan 10th 2010. we own both the parent, poppy is a 4 years old black female cockerpoo and jasper is a 2 year old golden cockerpoo. seven puppies were born - 3 gold boys and 2 gold girls (£750) 1 black. .
£650
DN33
We have a 4 and a half month old king charles crossed with a minature jack russel puppy for sale £250 she is lovley and friendly adores kids and loves other animals also gets on well with cats. it is with regret that we can no longer keep her due to a change in jo. .
CV6
Stunning chihuahua puppies for sale to loving homes. one male and one female left. mum and dad are family pets and can both be seen. pups are 8 weeks old now and are ready to go any questions just get in touch.
£550
CH65
Family a these puppies are 8 week old. they are up to date on their vaccines and wormer. making great, fluffy pets, these puppies are ready to go to their new homes now with all papers so all you need to do is to contact this email address jonna. white@hotmail. co. uk or . .
W9
Checks our lovesly puppies they are very ready to play around and great around anyone. shots are all uptodate and also has been dewormed and has had his kennel vaccine . great with little kids especially we do have males and females so feel free to email us as fast as. .
CT13
Good and nice maltese puppies for good and care homes and also nice for happy kids.
£250
EH32
Nice cute pug puppies for good and care homes.
PE15
Good saberian husky puppies for good and care nice homes.
£250
NE43
Raw feeding is the practice of feeding domestic pets a diet made up primarily of uncooked meat. supporters of raw feeding believe that a balanced raw diet has the benefits of giving the animal a healthier coat, cleaner teeth and breath, reduced stool volume and odor, . .
£1
I have a very loveing kerri blue smooth coat chihuahua for sale. he is 5 months old . very playfull and loveing and good with children . to go to loveing home only . please call me on 07834626846 for more info. no time wasters please,i have the pedigree form 4 him. good. .
£650
LE4
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