If you’re being honest with yourself, how much research did you actually do before deciding on which breed of dog to bring home? For some of us, it turns out that it may not have been enough.
The results of a new survey from insurance provider Legal & General show that one in three dog owners did little to no research before deciding on which breed to adopt. This may seem like a surprisingly high number, but it’s not always easy to plan ahead when you meet the perfect pup.
The most popular consideration for settling on a specific breed was size at 43%, followed by temperament at 41% and 34% who considered their breed based on their lifestyle. Just 11% of people thought about how much adopting a dog would cost, with 7% looking into the price of insurance policies.
For some owners, not researching the costs involved with being a dog owner came back to bite them. 14% of owners discovered that they had five or more visits to the vet in the past year, something which came as a shock, especially when they also didn’t expect the bills that came along with them. 45% of owners also said that at some point they have also had to pay a visit to an emergency vet, which can be even pricier.
Most surprisingly, 36% of owners revealed that they don’t have pet insurance, with 46% believing that they don’t need it. On the other hand, 48% of owners said that pet insurance is a life safer – a majority undoubtedly being those who had to pay a visit to the emergency vet.
What is a little unsettling is that out of the owners surveyed, 6% said they were unsatisfied with their chosen breed. To combat this, Legal and General have released the Breed Selector, an online tool which, instead of allowing you to choose the ideal dog for you, allows a dog to choose you as their ideal human.
It’s a fun tool that asks about you, your home and your lifestyle, and matches you with a breed which fits in with what you’re looking for.
As we all know, owning a dog can be hard work, but it is also rewarding and can bring immeasurable love and joy to our lives. Whilst research is important before deciding who we want to bring home, we can’t always decide who we fall in love with.
For more information on pet insurance from Legal and General, more information is available on their website.