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Buying two dogs at the same time is a bad idea
Whereas it may be true that they will keep each other company, they will do so at the cost of your relationship with them. The tendency is for them to bond with each other, rather than with you and your family.
Existing dogs
If you have an existing dog and would like to buy a companion for it, consider the fact that many dogs prefer being the only dog in the family and resent sharing their space, humans, attention, toys and treats with other dogs. If you do want another dog, a good age gap is about four or five years. If you are not sure how your dog will feel about it, 'borrow' a friend's dog for a few days to get a rough idea.
Health
All breeds (and crossbreeds) have potential health problems (eyes, joints, heart, hearing etc.), and many breed clubs have introduced excellent screening programmes to help minimise the chance of you getting a dog with hereditary problems. Contact the breed club of the dog you are interested in (you can get their details on the breed standards pages of the Kennel Club website) and ask about health problems in the breed.
If the puppies or parents have been screened for inherited conditions, always ask the breeder for copies of the certificates. There are a number of Kennel Club and British Veterinary Association schemes that score the hips, elbows and test eyes.
Temperament
Some dogs are bred for looks, others for their working ability, and the result is that you get a whole range of temperaments in between. Which one is right for you depends on many variables so get expert help on your intended breed and be very careful about where you buy your puppy. (www.thekennelclub.org.uk )
Training
There are dog training courses going on all around the country, so enrol in one when your puppy reaches six months of age. Training - even the basic things like learning to walk on a lead without pulling, come to heel and to return to you when called - could save your dog's life and will certainly make your lives together more pleasant. If you want to start on your dog's training in your own home there is plenty of advice available on the Internet. Sites like www.dogtrainandbehaveweek.com have good advice about training your dog and you can find local classes or residential courses.
Pets are good for your health
Among the many medical studies that claim owning a pet is good for your heart, one suggests that stroking a pet prompts your brain to release endorphins or 'feel good' hormones. This helps you feel calm and therefore lowers your heart rate and blood pressure.
Families who own a dog or cat are not as stressed and visit their doctors less often than those who don't, say scientists from Cambridge University. Pets make you feel optimistic and relaxed, which lowers your blood pressure. Dogs give the best results as you get exercise when you take them for walks. Studies show that older people who own pets are more healthy and active than those who don't.
Pet owners are less likely to suffer anxiety, loneliness and have more confidence than people without pets. They have a positive effect on your emotional health, and people who live alone are less likely to be depressed than those without a pet. (www.petclubuk.com)
Make sure you can spare enough time to care for your chosen breed - the Old English made popular in the 1970s and 1980s by the Dulux advertisements, requires hours of grooming a week.
The human and canine stars of BBC2's The Underdog Show proved that crossbreeds are as clever and lovable as their pedigree peers. The Dogs' Trust, which cares for over 15,000 dogs in 17 rehoming centres every year, said the programme showed "just how great rescue dogs can be" (www.dogstrust.org).
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