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What do I need to know before getting a dog?

So, you’ve decided to take the exciting step of buying a dog. Congratulations!

Is it a new addition to your family? Or, maybe you’re single and looking for a furry friend to keep you company? Whatever the reason, picking a breed that suits your environment and lifestyle are things you should consider. 

You’ve probably heard it before, but buying a dog comes with responsibilities. From training to pet insurance, it’s essential to make sure you’re ready for the challenges and financial commitment of owning a pet. 

Often puppies and dogs are bought without proper consideration of how much care they require, leaving thousands surrendered to shelters  every year in Australia. 

We’ve outlined some key traits and conditions of common dog breeds to help you find the perfect companion.

What to consider when choosing a dog breed

Before purchasing your furry companion, consider where you live and which breed will be most suitable for it. Your environment will be a determining factor in what kind of dog you can accommodate.

Ask yourself these questions:
  • What does my living situation look like?
     Do you live in a house, apartment, townhouse or rural area?

 

  • What does my day-to-day look like?
     Do you work full-time, or are you free most of the week?

 

  • What does my family structure look like? 
     Do you have a large family with children, or are you single living alone?

 

  • Am I planning to move anywhere or have long-term travel plans?
     Is there anyone that could look after your dog while you’re away?
Choosing a dog breed

 

If you live in an urban area with limited access to a backyard or outdoor area, a smaller dog that requires less physical exercise may be a better fit than a larger one. Big dogs often need more space and have greater physical activity needs.

Once you’ve considered these things, it’s time to start looking for your perfect match. Take a look at our guide below to see what kind of dog breed might be best for you.

Common things you need for a dog

There are a few things you’ll need if you’re bringing a dog home. From a bed to toys, these basic items are essential for keeping your dog happy and healthy.

See a breakdown below:

Item Description Average cost per product#
Bed

A comfortable bed that suits your dog’s size

$20 - $70
Food

Opt for dry or wet food that’s appropriate for your dog’s age and size

$2 - $5
Water/Food bowls

Get non-slip bowls so your dog can eat without making a mess

$15 - $20
Collar

It’s best to get a collar you can adjust as your dog grows

$8 - $45
Lead

A lead should be chosen based on the size and age of your dog. Not too long or short. 

$10 - $20
Toys

Choose a range of toys - training, enrichment and interactive

$5 - $20 (each)
At home grooming

Brush, shampoo and conditioner

$10 - $12 (per item)

 

Dog Breed Size Energy level Suits Lifespan
Border Collie

Medium

Highly energetic

Farms or active family

10 - 17 years
German Shepherd

Large

Low - moderate energy

Active and experienced dog owners

9 - 13 years
Cavoodle

Small

High energy

Families or individuals that want a ‘low maintenance’ dog

10 - 14 years
Golden Retriever

Large

Moderate energy

Active families with a lot of space

10 - 12 years
Labrador

Large

High energy

Active people and families seeking a companion

10 - 12 years
Rottweiler

Large

Moderate energy

Experienced dog owners

8 - 10 years
Bulldog

Medium

Low energy

Homebodies and families

8 - 10 years
Pomeranian

Small

High energy

City lifestyle, individuals that live in smaller spaces (like apartments)

12 - 16 years
Beagle

Small - medium

High energy

Active individuals and families

12 - 15 years
Dachshund

Small

Moderate energy

Homebodies and families

12 - 17 years
Pug

Small

Low energy

Older couples, homebodies and families

12 - 15 years
Cavapoo

Small

Moderate energy

Families, couples and single

12 - 15 years
Pit bull

Medium

High energy

Experienced dog owners

8 - 15 years
Boxer

Medium

High energy

Families

10 - 12 years
Chihuahua

Small

High energy

People living in apartments or smaller homes

10 - 18 years
Spoodle

Small

High energy

People living in apartments or smaller homes

11 - 15 years
Newfoundland

Large

High energy

People living on large properties and farms

8 - 10 years
Australian Cattle Dog 

Medium

High energy

Active families or farm work

12 - 15 years
Greyhound

Large

Moderate energy

Homebodies and families

12 - 15 years
Poodle

Small - medium

Moderate to high energy

People living in apartments or smaller homes

12 - 15 years
Bernese Mountain Dog 

Large

Moderate

Active families and farm work

6 - 10 years
Pocket bully

Small - medium

Moderate energy

Experienced dog owners

11 - 13 years
Cockapoo 

Small

Moderate energy

People living in apartments or smaller homes

12 - 15 years
Great Dane

Large

Low to moderate energy

Families with big spaces

7 - 10 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Small - medium

Moderate energy

Families

9 - 15 years
American Staffordshire Terrier

Medium - large

Moderate energy

Experienced dog owners, couples and singles

10 - 15 years

Common conditions in dog breeds

Maintaining the overall health of your pet is another important part of ownership. Factors like diet, exercise, and knowing common conditions associated with your dog’s breed play a huge role in their well-being. 

Due to their genetic makeup, many purebred dogs and mixed breed dogs are prone to different skin, ear, and eye conditions. For example, due to their small skull structure, Pugs are predisposed to commonly suffer from corneal dystrophies that cause issues with their vision. This condition is also prevalent in other flat-faced breeds like the Shih Tzus and Bulldogs. 

It’s essential to develop an understanding of potential health issues your dog could face, so you can identify the symptoms and seek veterinary help.

Take a look at some common conditions that different dog breeds are prone to below. These conditions may be covered by pet insurance.

Eye conditions

Eye conditions are common amongst dogs. Corneal damage, dry eyes and conjunctivitis are some of the most common eye conditions seen in dogs.

The breeds more prone to these conditions are:

 

eye conditions

Skin conditions

Whether a result of allergies or bacterial infections, skin conditions should be treated as early as possible. Folliculitis, ringworm, and environmental/ food allergies are some of the most common skin conditions seen in dogs.

The breeds more prone to these conditions are:

Skin conditions

Gastrointestinal problems

Digestive problems can occur in dogs from eating the wrong foods and bacterial infections. Diarrhea, worms, and gastritis are some of the most common gastrointestinal problems seen in dogs.

The breeds more prone to these conditions are:

Gatrointestinal problems

Ear conditions

Ear conditions can appear in dogs from allergies, bacterial infections, and yeast. Excessive head-scratching or shaking are signs your dog might be suffering from an ear infection. Otitis externa is a common ear condition seen in dogs. 

The breeds more prone to these conditions are:

ear conditions

Dog insurance

Now that you know a bit more about dog breeds and common conditions, you might want to consider ways you can combat unexpected veterinary bills if your pet falls sick. 

Everyday Pet Insurance offers a range of cover options for dogs with basic, standard, comprehensive and comprehensive plus policies. All levels of cover come with free access to VetAssist, a service that connects you with credible vet advice 24/7.†


Cover your furry friend today

Why pick Everyday Pet Insurance?

Comprehensive Plus annual limit#

Claim up to $30,000 a year

Comprehensive Plus annual limit#

Claim up to 80% back*

Get up to 80% back on eligible vet bills

Claim up to 80% back*

Lifetime cover‡

Your pet is covered from 8 weeks old for life

Lifetime cover‡

Introducing GapOnly®

Claim your benefit on the spot and only pay the gap on eligible claims=

Introducing GapOnly®

Find out more about these dog breeds 

American Staffy dog breed information

Find out more
American Staffy dog breed information

Pocket Bully dog breed information

Find out more
Pocket Bully dog breed information

Pug dog breed information
 

Find out more
Pug dog breed information

Chihuahua dog breed information

Find out more
Chihuahua dog breed information

Poodle dog breed information

Find out more
Poodle dog breed information

Cockapoo dog breed information

Find out more
Cockapoo dog breed information

Bernese Mountain Dog breed information

Find out more
Bernese Mountain Dog breed information

Cavoodle dog breed information

Find out more
Cavoodle dog breed information

Golden Retriever dog breed information

Find out more
Golden Retriever dog breed information

Border Collie dog breed information

Find out more
Border Collie dog breed information

Dachshund dog breed information

Find out more
Dachshund dog breed information

Rottweiler dog breed information

Find out more
Rottweiler dog breed information

Labrador dog breed information

Find out more
Labrador dog breed information

German Shepherd dog breed information

Find out more
German Shepherd dog breed information

Great Dane dog breed information

Find out more
Great Dane dog breed information

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed information

Find out more
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed information

Pomeranian dog breed information

Find out more
Pomeranian dog breed information

Beagle dog breed information

Find out more
Beagle dog breed information

Newfoundland dog breed information

Find out more
Newfoundland dog breed information

Greyhound dog breed information

Find out more
Greyhound dog breed information

Groodle dog breed information

Find out more
Groodle dog breed information

Important information

 

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= The gap is defined as the difference between the vet's invoice and the claim benefit under your policy. Policy terms and conditions apply. GapOnly® is only available at participating Vets. Please visit GapOnly® to search for GapOnly® enabled vets. GapOnly® is a trademark owned by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd (PetSure) (ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183).

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# Policy Terms and Conditions, exclusions and limits apply. Benefit limit amounts vary by level of cover.

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† Offer available to new Everyday Pet Insurance policyholders, and is limited to 1 membership per eligible policy. The free membership offer (valued at $199p.a) is from the date of your policy commencement, provided your Everyday Pet Insurance policy remains active. You are not eligible to redeem the free membership subscription for cash or credit. VetAssist is a separate subscription based service to the Everyday Pet Insurance product, and is provided independently by Everyday Insurance third party service provider, VetChat Services Pty Ltd (VetChat). Click here for full VetAssist Service terms and conditions. Everyday Insurance reserves the right to vary or remove this offer at any time and will provide reasonable notice of any such changes.

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* Limits, waiting periods, exclusions and excesses may apply.

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‡ Cover is available for the life of your pet provided you renew your policy each year without any break, lapse or change in the level of Cover. This means once your pet is insured with us and as long as we continue to offer the product, you will be able to renew your policy for that pet for life and your cover level will not be reduced as your pet ages provided you continuously maintain the cover. Cover is subject to the terms and conditions of your renewing policy. See details in your PDS.

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Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time prior to 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd ABN 78 090 584 473, AFSL 241436 (Hollard), arranged and administered by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 95 075 949 923, AFSL 420183 (PetSure) and promoted and distributed by Hollard’s Authorised Representative (AR) Woolworths Group Limited ABN 88 000 014 675, AR 245476 (Woolworths). Everyday Pet Insurance policies entered into for the first time on or after 17 July 2023 and subsequent renewals of those policies are issued by PetSure and promoted and distributed by PetSure’s AR, Woolworths. Any advice provided is general only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Please consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ensure this product meets your needs before purchasing, or choosing to continue with the product. PDS and Target Market Determination available at insurance.everyday.com.au/pet-insurance.

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