The Ultimate Guide to Owning a Pet: Everything you need to know

Pets really are an integral part of a family. Taking on a new furry friend means taking on responsibility for the health and happiness of a new family member. From training, to caring for allergies and health conditions, to managing a healthy home and the best way to approach stains when disaster strikes - we understand the challenges that come alongside a new four-legged friend.

We've put together a full guide that'll help you through the process of bringing a pet into your family from start to finish, with a few helpful cleaning tips and tricks along the way.

Contents

1. How to choose the perfect pooch
2. How to toilet train your new puppy
3. Habits to teach your new pup
4. Should you clean your dog's bed?
5. How to know if your dog has allergies
6. Tips for removing pet stains
7. What to do when your cat goes in one spot
8. The most notable dog outfits
9. How to keep your pets cool over summer
10. Stop the barnyard from making its way inside

How to choose the perfect pooch

So you've decided to take the step of welcoming a new dog into your family - that's an exciting time! There are plenty of things you'll need to consider when picking the perfect pooch for your living space, such as size, accessibility, and the different needs of various dog breeds.

Researching the perfect pup for you can take a lot of time, so we've compiled a few of the perfect dog breeds to suit all sorts of living situations and help you select your ideal match.

Best breed for apartment living

For the apartment dweller, we’d recommend a Bichon Frise!

This cute little breed of dog are perfect for inner city living:

• They're a smaller breed so they're great in confined spaces
• Known for being playful, while both gentle and quiet
• Don't require a lot of outdoor exercise so there's no need for a back garden
• Well groomed and don't shed too much

Best breed for flatting

The perfect dog for a home-share with a group of people, is a Jack Russell Terrier!

These social creatures are perfect for flatting:

• Extremely friendly, and love both their extended family and meeting new people
• They're bred to hunt small rodents - perfect to help get rid of any potential pesky mice problems at your flat

Best breed for a rural family home

If you're a family living on a farm, we'd recommend a Border Collie!

Ideal for the farming family with young children and plenty of space:

• Known to be one of the most intelligent dogs in the world, so easy to train and great to socialize with kids
• A medium sized breed that needs a big section and plenty of space to roam around
• Well known for being a farm dog, they're the perfect little helper to have by your side
• Sheds quite a lot of fur, so having an outdoor space they can stay is a bonus

Best breed for a suburban family

For a busy family with a few young children, living in a suburban set up with a nice backyard and the picturesque picket fence, we'd recommend a Golden Retriever!

The quintessential family dog:

• The perfect balance between playful and gentle, Golden Retrievers love children as companions
• They're extremely playful, won't bite and love pats from their family and new friends
• They're happy to roam around the back yard, but it's important to make sure you take them for a stroll around the block to let off some of their playful energy.

If you're interested in finding out more about the ideal dog for you and your family in detail, take a look at our blog: How to choose the perfect pooch for your home.

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