Children wear the trousers on dog ownership, survey finds
A quarter of dog owners bought their pet due to pressure from their children, according to a Kennel Club survey which found some worrying trends in the amount of control parents give their children when it comes to dog ownership.
The findings have led the organisation to voice concerns that hundreds of dogs could be bought on a whim in the run up to Christmas, as the survey also revealed one in ten people still buy dogs as presents.
One in ten owners who took part in the survey even admitted to letting their child pick which breed or crossbreed to buy, and the same amount do no research into the care needs of different breeds.
A further 40 per cent of people worryingly said they chose their puppy due to the breed's appearance, while only 17 per cent said their choice of dog was informed by whether it would suit their lifestyle.
According to the Kennel Club Breed Rescue organisations, 15 per cent of people who give up their dog say the reason is that the dog is the wrong breed for them or they are unable to cope.
“Children have a major influence on their parents’ decision to buy a dog in the first place, and then over which type of dog they buy," said Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary.
"In the lead up to Christmas we want families to be thinking carefully about whether a dog is right for them, and if so which breed would suit their lifestyle, rather than buying on a whim."
The Kennel Club has released a Discover Dogs homework pack, ahead of its Discover Dogs event next month, which encourages people to learn about the needs of 200 different breeds of dog.
These are intended to help children get the information they and their parents need on what type of dog to buy, where to buy it from and how to meet all of its needs throughout its lifetime.
The homework pack can be found on the Discover Dogs website.
http://www.discoverdogs.org.uk/buyingadog
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
