{"id":1927,"date":"2024-10-24T09:21:52","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T09:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/domestic\/pets\/cat-advice\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T13:12:34","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T13:12:34","slug":"dogs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Dog"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"hero bg-Rose\">\n      <div data-aos=\"fade-in\" data-aos-delay=\"700\" class=\"bg-img bg-cover img-wrap-rel\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1369\" height=\"749\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-1369x749.jpg\" class=\"img-ab\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-1369x749.jpg 1369w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-1024x560.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-768x420.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-1536x840.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-245x134.jpg 245w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-600x328.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339-769x421.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/DOGS-DUMBARTON-JUNE-24-35-e1741688318339.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1369px) 100vw, 1369px\" \/>  <\/div>\n      <div class=\"container-xl py-5 d-flex align-items-center\">\n        <div class=\"hero-content py-4\">\n            <div class=\"content-wrap btn-mob-full pe-0 pe-lg-2\">\n                                    <h1>Dogs<\/h1>\n                                <p class=\"p-rl\">There are hundreds of different dog breeds out there, and they all have unique needs. Scroll down to read our dog advice.<\/p>\n                                                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><div class=\"block-wrapper my-5 core-spacer\"><div class=\"container-xxl\"><div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><a id=\"options\"><\/a>\n<section class=\"jump-links\">\n    <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl wrapper-sm\">\n        <div class=\"rose-wrap\">\n                            <p>\n                    <strong>On this page:<\/strong>\n                <\/p>\n                                        <ul>\n                                            <li>\n                                                            <a href=\"#cost\" target=\"_self\">Costs<\/a>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                            <li>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                            <li>\n                                                            <a href=\"#environment\" target=\"_self\">Living Environment<\/a>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                            <li>\n                                                            <a href=\"#other\" target=\"_self\">Other Pets<\/a>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                            <li>\n                                                            <a href=\"#responsibility\" target=\"_self\">Responsibility<\/a>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                            <li>\n                                                            <a href=\"#where\" target=\"_self\">Where should you get a dog from?<\/a>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                            <li>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><section class=\"text-block my-5\" data-bs-theme=\"white\">\n    <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl wrapper-sm\">\n        <div class=\"content-wrap\">\n            <p>If you are interested in adopting, or buying a dog, please ensure you do your homework to establish which breed would be best suited to you and your lifestyle. If you\u2019ve never had a dog before, speak to local vets, trainers and other animal experts. For any concerns about introducing a dog to your home, consult an accredited behaviourist.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of dogs of all shapes and sizes come through our doors each year. Our teams work hard to match dogs with people or families that would best suit their temperament, lifestyle and welfare needs. We strongly encourage you to consider adopting a dog from one of our Centres.<\/p>\n<p>When adopting a dog or puppy from one of our Centres, neutering and microchipping are included in the adoption fee. We always encourage owners to insure their pets and you\u2019ll receive four weeks of free insurance from PetPlan when you adopt a dog from the Scottish SPCA.<\/p>\n<p>Read through the pages about:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/getting-a-dog\/\">Getting a dog<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/dog-healthcare\/\">Dog health care<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/dog-vet-care\/\">Dog veterinary care<\/a><\/p>\n<p>More information about adopting a dog visit:<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AD-001_Pre_Adoption_Advice_Dogs_SSPCA_24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pre-adoption advice<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AD-004_Dog_Care_Guide_SSPCA_24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Care guide<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/AD-007_Post_Adoption__Settling_Guide_Dog_SSPCA_24.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Post-adoption &amp; settling in advice<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AD-018_Introducing-Dogs-Information-Sheet_SSPCA_24.pdf\">Introducing your dogs<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AD-021_Introducing-Cats-Dogs-Information-Sheet_SSPCA_24.pdf\">Introducing your dogs and cats<\/a><\/p>\n<p>For further information on the health of your animal, please view our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/factsheets\/\">Factsheets.<\/a><\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><a id=\"cost\"><\/a>\n<section class=\"text-block my-5\" data-bs-theme=\"white\">\n    <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl wrapper-sm\">\n        <div class=\"content-wrap\">\n            <h2><strong>Costs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The cost of owning a dog can vary widely depending on factors such as breed, size, age and lifestyle.<\/p>\n<p>When thinking about getting a dog, it\u2019s important to know the expenses involved. Not only will you have to pay for the dog and all the essentials they require but you\u2019ll also need to budget for the monthly expenses too, including insurance and flea, worm and tick treatments. It\u2019s estimated that dog owners typically spend around \u00a32,000 each year caring for their dog. You\u2019ll also have to consider the veterinary costs involved in keeping your dog safe and healthy, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/what-we-do\/neutering\/\">neutering<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/what-we-do\/microchipping\/\">microchipping<\/a>\u00a0and any other medical treatment they may need.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><a id=\"time\"><\/a>\n<section class=\"important-info\">\n    <div class=\"container-xl wrapper-sm\">\n        <div class=\"purple-wrap\">\n            <div class=\"d-flex align-items-center mb-3\">\n                <svg style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\" class=\"flex-shrink-0 me-2\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\">\n                    <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M12 9v3.75m9-.75a9 9 0 1 1-18 0 9 9 0 0 1 18 0Zm-9 3.75h.008v.008H12v-.008Z\"><\/path>\n                <\/svg>\n                            <\/div>\n                            <p><p>Before making the decision to get a dog, it\u2019s also important to understand how to meet their welfare needs and the time that goes into caring for a canine companion. Dogs need a great deal of physical activity and mental stimulation to keep them happy and healthy so owners must be willing and able to provide suitable training and socialisation.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><div class=\"block-wrapper my-5 core-spacer\"><div class=\"container-xxl\"><div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><a id=\"environment\"><\/a>\n<section class=\"text-block my-5\" data-bs-theme=\"white\">\n    <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl wrapper-sm\">\n        <div class=\"content-wrap\">\n            <h2><strong>Living Environment<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Another thing to consider is whether your home and surroundings are suitable for the type of dog you\u2019re interested in. All dogs are different. Some dogs need more space in the home than others, and some will be able to jump over fences whilst others can squeeze through small gaps. Therefore, it\u2019s important to consider an individual dog\u2019s characteristics such as what they enjoy doing, their exercise needs and their life experience.<\/p>\n<p>Nearby greenspace is hugely beneficial to dogs so they can go out to the toilet and get plenty of exercise. Dogs can be excellent escape artists; whilst some can bound over fences, others can wriggle underneath in search of adventure. Therefore, depending on your new dog, you may need to check, install or reinforce fences and gates to keep your dog safe.<\/p>\n<p>If you have children living in or visiting your home, please remember to never leave babies or small children alone with any dog, regardless of size or breed. Dogs are sentient beings who experience emotions. Children can behave erratically around dogs which, without supervision, can lead to issues even if your dog appears comfortable. Furthermore, children and babies are not able to pick up on signs that the dog may be in some discomfort or would like space. Even excitable and sociable dogs can accidentally cause injury, as well as dogs who might be anxious in some situations.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><a id=\"other\"><\/a>\n<section class=\"text-block my-5\" data-bs-theme=\"white\">\n    <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl wrapper-sm\">\n        <div class=\"content-wrap\">\n            <h2><strong>Other Pets<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Contrary to popular belief, it is possible for dogs to live harmoniously with cats. Dogs are highly social animals and some are able to live with other dogs.<\/p>\n<p>When adopting dogs to households with existing pets, we would carefully consider the individual characteristics, preferences and past experiences of the animals involved.<\/p>\n<p>When\u00a0<strong>introducing a new dog to other pets<\/strong>, it\u2019s important to do so gradually and to have a plan should the introductions prove unsuccessful. If you already have a dog and are thinking about getting a new puppy or another dog, ask the breeder or rescue centre if you can arrange an introduction before committing. This will allow you to see how they get on with one another and can help to avoid behavioural problems in the future.<\/p>\n<p>You have to be prepared to persevere or make adaptations to accommodate both pets. Sometimes, even with careful matching and introductions, you may still experience issues when introducing your animals. Not only can this be very stressful for you, but it can also be distressing for your animals. If this happens, contact an accredited behaviourist as soon as possible.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><a id=\"responsibility\"><\/a>\n<section class=\"text-block my-5\" data-bs-theme=\"white\">\n    <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl wrapper-sm\">\n        <div class=\"content-wrap\">\n            <h2><strong>Responsibility<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Getting a dog can be a life-changing experience but it\u2019s also a big responsibility. The average lifespan of a dog is ten to thirteen years so you need to be committed to providing for them long term. It\u2019s also wise to have a plan, should your dog outlive you. Our free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/ways-to-give\/forever-care\/\">Forever Care<\/a>\u00a0service gives owners peace of mind that we will take your pet into our care if you pass away or can no longer care for them.<\/p>\n<p>Dogs need human companionship therefore we advise against leaving dogs at home alone for long periods of time. If you are often out all day, this means you may need a support system, such as friends, family, a dog walker or neighbour who can help tend to your dogs. The amount of time dogs can spend on their own will depend on their genetics, early life experiences, individual characteristics and their life stage, for example, dogs who suffer from separation anxiety and puppies will only be able to spend short periods of time alone.<\/p>\n<p>Many restaurants and hotels are now dog-friendly but if your dog finds travelling and busy settings stressful, or you cannot take your dog on holiday with you, you\u2019ll need a plan. If you don\u2019t have a friend or family member who can take care of your dog whilst you\u2019re away, you\u2019ll need to look into reliable pet sitting services or boarding facilities in your area.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><a id=\"where\"><\/a>\n<section class=\"text-block my-5\" data-bs-theme=\"white\">\n    <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl wrapper-sm\">\n        <div class=\"content-wrap\">\n            <h2><strong>Where should you get a dog from?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>On average, 153 dogs come into our kennels every month, so your new best friend could be waiting to be adopted from one of our Centres. We have dogs of all sizes, temperaments and personalities so we can help you find your perfect pooch. Remember to keep checking the website as we have new dogs ready for adoption daily.<\/p>\n<p>Every dog adopted from the Scottish SPCA will have been fully vet checked, neutered (subject to age and veterinary advice) or a voucher issued, treated against fleas and worms, microchipped, and vaccinated. We also include free pet insurance for four weeks. Owners have the option to extend this into lifelong cover, which many insurers do not offer.<\/p>\n<p>We may not always have puppies available due to high demand and we understand that you may be looking for a specific breed that we might not have at our Centres. However, we believe that rescue dogs make great pets regardless of breed or age so it\u2019s worth keeping an open mind. Our Centres can arrange meetings with the dog you\u2019re interested in adopting so you can get an idea of how they\u2019d fit into your family.<\/p>\n<p>If adoption isn\u2019t an option for you, please take your time to find a responsible breeder. A reputable breeder will be able to provide paperwork on the puppy\u2019s veterinary history and tell you about the level of interaction the pup has had with people and other animals.<\/p>\n<p>Low-welfare puppy dealers can go to great lengths to convince buyers that they are reputable.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section><section class=\"related pt-5 pb-5 d-md-block\">\n      <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl wrapper-md\">\n        <div class=\"heading-wrap row mb-4\">\n          <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 mb-4\">\n            <h2>Find out more<\/h2>\n          <\/div>\n          <div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 mb-4\">\n            <div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/\" class=\"btn btn-outline-primary\">All Advice &#038; Care<\/a>                <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"post-list\">\n          <div class=\"row g-2 g-md-4 post-slider slider-more-arrow\">\n                        <div class=\"col-12 col-md-4 rel-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/getting-a-dog\/\" class=\"post-item pb-3\">\n                    <div class=\"img-wrap mb-3\">\n                        <div class=\"img bg-cover img-wrap-rel\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Getting-a-Dog.jpg\" class=\"img-ab\" alt=\"Dog\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Getting-a-Dog.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Getting-a-Dog-300x107.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Getting-a-Dog-1024x366.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Getting-a-Dog-768x274.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Getting-a-Dog-1369x489.jpg 1369w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Getting-a-Dog-245x88.jpg 245w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Getting-a-Dog-600x214.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"text-wrap\">\n                      <div class=\"content-wrap heading-underline mb-3\">\n                        <h3 class=\"h5 mb-3\">Getting a dog<\/h3>\n                        <p class=\"excerpt\">Preparing to bring a new dog or puppy home.<\/p>\n                      <\/div>\n                      <div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n                          <span class=\"btn btn-outline-primary btn-arrow\">Learn more<\/span>\n                      <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"col-12 col-md-4 rel-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/dog-vet-care\/\" class=\"post-item pb-3\">\n                    <div class=\"img-wrap mb-3\">\n                        <div class=\"img bg-cover img-wrap-rel\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2.png\" class=\"img-ab\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2.png 700w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2-245x152.png 245w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/2-600x372.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"text-wrap\">\n                      <div class=\"content-wrap heading-underline mb-3\">\n                        <h3 class=\"h5 mb-3\">Dog Vet Care<\/h3>\n                        <p class=\"excerpt\">Information regarding when your dog should see a vet.<\/p>\n                      <\/div>\n                      <div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n                          <span class=\"btn btn-outline-primary btn-arrow\">Learn more<\/span>\n                      <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"col-12 col-md-4 rel-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/dog-healthcare\/\" class=\"post-item pb-3\">\n                    <div class=\"img-wrap mb-3\">\n                        <div class=\"img bg-cover img-wrap-rel\">\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8.jpg\" class=\"img-ab\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8-1369x913.jpg 1369w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8-245x163.jpg 245w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/STAFFY-DOG-PUPPIES-LANARKSHIRE-OCT-24-8-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"text-wrap\">\n                      <div class=\"content-wrap heading-underline mb-3\">\n                        <h3 class=\"h5 mb-3\">Dog Healthcare<\/h3>\n                        <p class=\"excerpt\">It\u2019s more common for animals to end up in our care due to unintentional neglect rather than deliberate physical abuse. <\/p>\n                      <\/div>\n                      <div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n                          <span class=\"btn btn-outline-primary btn-arrow\">Learn more<\/span>\n                      <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/div>\n                      <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/section><section id=\"donate-2864\" class=\"donate-block  mt-5 pt-5 pb-5\">\n\n    \n\t            <div data-aos=\"fade-up\" class=\"container-xl\">\n            <div class=\"outer-row row g-5 align-items-center\" data-aos=\"fade-up\">\n                <div class=\"col-lg-2 d-none d-lg-block\">\n                    <div class=\"bg-img bg-cover img-wrap-rel\">\n\t\t\t\t\t    <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1369\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/banner-1369x750.jpg\" class=\"img-ab\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/banner-1369x750.jpg 1369w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/banner-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/banner-1024x561.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/banner-768x421.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/banner-245x134.jpg 245w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/banner-600x329.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/banner.jpg 1512w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1369px) 100vw, 1369px\" \/>                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-lg-7\">\n                    <div class=\"donate__content\">\n                        <div class=\"heading-wrap\">\n                            <h2><h2>Support us from \u00a35 a month<\/h2>\n<p>It costs us \u00a363,000 every day to continue the work that animals across Scotland depend on. Our work is only possible because of the generosity of people like you.<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"col-lg-3 text-center text-lg-end\">\n                    <a href=\"#XBBXAQBN\" style=\"display: none\"><\/a>\n                    <div class=\"pay-wrap pt-2 text-center\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/payment-logos.svg\" alt=\"Accepted payment methods\" class=\"pay mx-auto img-fluid\"><\/div>                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n\n    \n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are hundreds of different dog breeds out there, and they all have unique needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":293,"parent":1873,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1927","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v24.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Look After a Dog - Pet Dog Care Advice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn everything you need to know about looking after a dog - including costs, responsibilities, living environment, keeping them with other pets and more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn everything you need to know about looking after a dog - including costs, responsibilities, living environment, keeping them with other pets and more.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Scottish SPCA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/scottishspca\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-07T13:12:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dogs.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1049\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"580\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ScottishSPCA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/\",\"name\":\"How to Look After a Dog - Pet Dog Care Advice\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dogs.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-24T09:21:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-07T13:12:34+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn everything you need to know about looking after a dog - including costs, responsibilities, living environment, keeping them with other pets and more.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dogs.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/dogs.jpg\",\"width\":1049,\"height\":580,\"caption\":\"Dog with toy\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/advice\/dogs\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.scottishspca.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Advice &#038; 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