If you have decided that you 100% want to get a puppy then you now need to think of what breed of dog and where to get it in Ireland.
There are lots of websites in Ireland that have dogs and puppies for sale. While most of the people selling on these sites are honest and legimiate, sadly many are not.
In Ireland there are breeders of different types of dogs who maintain the highest of standards and will have only top class pups for sale.
The breeders will interview you and most likely place you on a waiting list for one of their puppies. You can see a list of dog breeders in Ireland by clicking here.
The best ways to find out about breeds is to research the various breed types on the internet or in books. Most pet shops will have books for sale about various breeds of dogs and of course the internet has thousands of websites dedicated to every different type of dog.
You can talk to owners of various dog breeds that you meet while out walking. Make it your business to walk where there are people who take their dogs walking. Maybe have a chat or just sit down and observe the dogs and how they behave.
You could attend a few of the dog shows in Ireland. Here you will see the best of most breeds of dogs and you can talk to handlers and breeders about the dogs.
When choosing a breed you need to do a lot of research before buying any type of puppy. There are many different breeds and they can have many big differences.
All puppies are small and cute but in the first year they can become quite big and strong. The larger breeds like Mastiffs, St. Bernards, Great Danes can be hard work for someone who is not strong enough or if small children are around.
If someone in the house has allergies than a Bichon Frise is recommended as they do not shed hair, although this is technically untrue as all dogs shed hair.
Some dog breeds are better than others with kids and small children and indeed look after them and will play with and protect them.
Other breeds can be quite vocal and bark a lot which is ok you live in the countryside with nobody for miles around but not so good if you are in a town or city.
All dogs need space to run around and to do dog stuff. If you do not have a large size garden then do not go and but a dog like a labrador or german sheppard need lots of space.