It’s important to ask yourself the following questions and to answer honestly.

• Can you afford a dog? Be honest, when you add up the pet bills, weekly food costs, kennelling, toys and treats, there’s a lot of money that needs to go into owning a dog.

• Do you have time to groom your dog regularly? Long-coated dogs in particular will need daily hair care.

• If you already have a dog, cat, fish or guinea pig at home… How will they react to you bringing home a new dog?

• Is your family happy to get a dog and share the responsibility?

• Are you prepared to walk your dog for at least 20 minutes a day? Every day. Rain, hail, shine, holidays. Every day.

• Are you able to make sure your dog isn’t left alone for more than 4 hours at a time? (This could mean having lunch at home or having a neighbour drop by to take them for a walk.)

• Does anyone in your household have an allergy to dogs?

• Is your home suitable for a dog? Access to a garden or park, renting agreements and appropriate fencing all need to be considered before bringing a dog home.

Take a good look at these questions, perhaps even go through them with household members to determine whether you are all ready to take on the commitment of owning a dog.

If you find that you are prepared to take on the challenge and ready to bring a cute canine into your life, then it’s time to discover which dog breed is right for you.