The Lemon Fool

We are soon to enter the world of dog ownership after much thought and long-term planning (not just a lockdown decision).

Can anyone here share your wisdom on dog LBYM, particularly:

- Pet insurance: There's also a choice of insurance types including accident, time-limited, maximum benefit or lifetime. Insurance is always a gamble, but in other areas, I tend to self-insure or have a high excess to keep premiums low. What's the best strategy with young pets?

- Pet health club (no kidding!): The vet we had recommended has a scheme for £14 that covers annual core vaccinations, year-round flea and worm control, 2 health appointments, 2 claw clips, and then 10% off their other services (like food, parasite treatment, neutering, dentistry, wellness screening). Are these worth it?

- Food and treats: With so difficult to tell whether 'premium' brands are worth the difference in price and quality. Any recommendations on good products/brands or, alternatively, sites with reliable reviews?

- Paraphernalia: It's like having a baby again with beds, mats, toys etc (I was going to say crates, which would have come in handy with our two children! ). Any recommendations on what equipment is worth getting/avoiding and where to spend more/less?

Thanks!

My daughter used this site to choose food for her puppy https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/

It lets you put in dog size, your budget etc. and ranks food by nutritional value, or price etc.

Scott.

neversay wrote:We are soon to enter the world of dog ownership after much thought and long-term planning (not just a lockdown decision).

Can anyone here share your wisdom on dog LBYM, particularly:

- Pet insurance: There's also a choice of insurance types including accident, time-limited, maximum benefit or lifetime. Insurance is always a gamble, but in other areas, I tend to self-insure or have a high excess to keep premiums low. What's the best strategy with young pets?

- Pet health club (no kidding!): The vet we had recommended has a scheme for £14 that covers annual core vaccinations, year-round flea and worm control, 2 health appointments, 2 claw clips, and then 10% off their other services (like food, parasite treatment, neutering, dentistry, wellness screening). Are these worth it?

- Food and treats: With so difficult to tell whether 'premium' brands are worth the difference in price and quality. Any recommendations on good products/brands or, alternatively, sites with reliable reviews?

- Paraphernalia: It's like having a baby again with beds, mats, toys etc (I was going to say crates, which would have come in handy with our two children! ). Any recommendations on what equipment is worth getting/avoiding and where to spend more/less?

Thanks!

Insurance- I have never bothered, as long as you pick a sturdy bred or better still a mongrel, then they are pretty healthy animals.

Health Clubs- Never bothered. I am not aware of any annual vaccinations needed and flea/tick/worm control costs maybe £20. A pair of nial clippers is a fiver.

Food- Give your puppy anything and don't let them get too fussy. Worst thing is to feed them too much so follow guidelines carefully.

Stuff- Beyond a decent collar and lead and crate and dog bowls, nothing else is essential. One of those ball throwing things helps stop tennis elbow.

Best advice is get a smallish proper dog I like Jack Russells, tough fun and cheap to run.

John

swill453 wrote:My daughter used this site to choose food for her puppy https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/

Thanks Scott.

redsturgeon wrote:Insurance- I have never bothered, as long as you pick a sturdy bred or better still a mongrel, then they are pretty healthy animals.

Health Clubs- Never bothered. I am not aware of any annual vaccinations needed and flea/tick/worm control costs maybe £20. A pair of nial clippers is a fiver.

Food- Give your puppy anything and don't let them get too fussy. Worst thing is to feed them too much so follow guidelines carefully.

Stuff- Beyond a decent collar and lead and crate and dog bowls, nothing else is essential. One of those ball throwing things helps stop tennis elbow.

Best advice is get a smallish proper dog I like Jack Russells, tough fun and cheap to run.

John

Now that's what I call Puppy LBYM!

Thanks John.