Expert urges prospective pet owners to research breeds

The census highlighted the positive impact of pets on the lives of Victorians, with an overwhelming 98 per cent attesting to the benefits of pet ownership.

Companionship and love were ranked the most significant impact at 79 per cent, followed by improved mental health and emotional support at 57 per cent.

The new owner of a Jack Russell named Lewis, Shelley Muhlebach, said she got her new puppy as a pet for her young children and a companion for their already acquired dog.

“We’ve got two boys, and the little one carries Lewis around all the time. It’s really nice to see him care for the dog like that,” she said.

One of her sons, Max, said he has loved helping care for his new pet, Lewis.

“I take it around the house, and sometimes I feed it. I like to play with him in the backyard and take him to the dog park when it is not too hot,” he said.

Like 45 per cent of prospective dog owners, Ms Muhlebach said she did think about which pet would suit her family best.

Pagan McKenzie, who runs a local dog training business Wagging Tails K9, said she wished more people would research which dog breed worked best for their lives.

“I would say half of the time, people know what their dog was bred for and choose the pet that would suit their lifestyle,” she said.

“Other times, we get people that have chosen certain dogs because they thought it was cute, rather than knowing what the breed is or even the breed’s purpose.”

When researching which breed would suit you best, Ms McKenzie suggests that people also look into where they will get the animal.

“Do research into the breeder. Make sure that they are ethical, that it’s coming from the right sources, as well as the dog being picked for what it was bred for,” she said.