Most people start thinking about getting a dog when something practical shifts: a new home, a change in work hours, a child begging for a companion, or a quiet feeling that daily life could use more movement and company. A dog can fit beautifully into that picture—or expose every weak spot in your routine, budget, and patience.
Here’s what matters in Australia: how dogs became our closest animal companions, what everyday care really looks like, how to choose a dog that suits your home, and the legal basics like microchipping and registration that keep dogs traceable and communities safer.1, 2
Dogs and people: a long, shared history
Dogs were the first animals to be domesticated, shaped over thousands of years from ancient wolves into companions that watch us closely, read our routines, and thrive on living alongside people. The details of that story are still being refined by research, but the pattern is clear: dogs adapted to life near human camps, and humans benefited from an extra set of senses and a willing working partner.
In Australia, dogs sit at the centre of family life in a way that’s hard to miss. National survey data suggests roughly half of Australian households now have at least one dog, which translates to millions of dogs living in homes across the country.8
Popular breeds in Australia (and why “breed” is only part of the story)
Breed can hint at likely size, coat type, energy levels, and common health risks. It can’t guarantee temperament, and it matters less than many people think once you factor in early experiences, training, and day-to-day management.
If you’re choosing based on lifestyle, it helps to think in broad working groups rather than chasing a trendy name:
- High-drive working types (for example, herding breeds and their crosses): quick learners, often intense, usually need structured activity and regular mental work.
- Easygoing companions: often content with shorter walks and steady routines, but still need training and enrichment.
- Small “low-shedding” types (including poodle crosses): coats can be easier on some households but usually need regular grooming, and “hypoallergenic” is never guaranteed.
When in doubt, choose the dog in front of you: watch how they recover from surprises, how they take food, how they handle being touched, and whether they can settle after a little excitement.
Benefits of owning a dog
Health and wellbeing, with some caveats
Living with a dog is often associated with more daily movement and more time outdoors, simply because dogs need to walk, sniff, and stretch their legs. Large public-health organisations also note links between pet ownership and lower stress, better social connection, and improvements in some cardiovascular risk factors—though the strength of these effects varies, and not every household experiences them the same way.9, 10
Dogs can also create healthy structure. Meals happen on time. Toileting and walks break up the day. Many people find that rhythm calming, especially when work becomes screen-heavy.
Social connection
A dog changes how you move through your neighbourhood. You stop. You chat. You learn which footpath gets hot in summer and which oval stays muddy after rain. Over time, the small repeated encounters can add up to a quieter sense of belonging.
Responsibilities of dog ownership
Time, money, and steady attention
A well-cared-for dog needs more than food and a backyard. Plan for:
- Daily care: feeding, toileting, walking or other exercise, and some form of training or enrichment.
- Routine costs: food, parasite prevention, vaccinations and check-ups, grooming (for some coat types), and council fees.
- Unexpected costs: illness, injury, after-hours vet visits, and behaviour support.
Emotional commitment matters too. Dogs notice what changes in a household, and many struggle when left without skills for being alone. Training isn’t a one-off project; it’s a way of living together.
Legal responsibilities in Australia (microchipping, registration, control in public)
Rules vary by state, territory, and council, but several expectations are common across Australia: dogs must be identifiable, registered with local government, and managed in public so they don’t harass people, wildlife, or other dogs.
Microchipping is a core part of that system. In New South Wales, for example, dogs must be microchipped before sale/transfer or by 12 weeks of age, with owner details recorded by an authorised identifier.2 Western Australia also requires dogs to be microchipped (generally by 3 months of age) and notes that microchipping is separate from council registration.3
Wherever you live, keep microchip details current. If your phone number is old, a found dog can become an unsolved mystery in a kennel run.1
Choosing the right dog
Quick checks before you commit
Match the dog to your real week, not your best week.
- Space: not just yard size, but indoor calm space, fencing quality, and nearby walking options.
- Time alone: how many hours the dog will spend by themselves on an average workday.
- Energy match: some dogs need long, brisk exercise and ongoing training; others need shorter strolls and more rest.
- Grooming: short coats shed; long or curly coats mat if neglected. Grooming is either time or money.
- Noise tolerance: apartments and shared walls change what “normal barking” means.
Adopting vs buying from a breeder
Adoption suits people who can be flexible and who want a dog whose temperament is already easier to observe (adult dogs often show you who they are). Many shelters also provide initial veterinary care and desexing as part of the process.
Buying from a breeder can make sense if you need predictable traits for work or sport, or you want the best chance of stable early handling. In practice, the quality difference isn’t “breeder vs rescue”—it’s whether the dog’s early life was managed with care, and whether you’re prepared to keep building on it.
If you’re buying in NSW, check the microchip and required identification details in advertisements, and confirm them through official channels before money changes hands.4
Training and socialisation
Why early experiences matter
Puppies pass through a sensitive developmental window where safe, positive exposure to the world can shape their adult behaviour. The RSPCA describes a critical socialisation period from about 3–17 weeks of age, when careful introductions to people, surfaces, sounds, handling, and other dogs can reduce later fear and reactivity.5
Training methods that hold up over time
Reward-based training tends to produce clearer learning with fewer fallout behaviours than harsh corrections. Keep sessions short, frequent, and calm. Aim for practical skills that improve safety and daily life:
- recall (“come”)
- loose-lead walking
- settling on a mat
- gentle handling for grooming and vet checks
Puppy preschool can be useful when it’s well-run: clean space, controlled play, and trainers who prioritise calm social learning over rough-and-tumble chaos.5
Health and wellness
Common issues to watch for
Many everyday problems are preventable: dental disease, skin irritation, ear infections, obesity, and parasite burdens. Some breeds are more prone to specific conditions, but any dog can develop issues if grooming, diet, exercise, and vet care drift.
Preventative care that makes the biggest difference
Build a routine with your vet for vaccinations, parasite prevention, dental checks, and weight monitoring. Preventative care is quieter than crisis care, and usually cheaper in the long run. Public health guidance also emphasises basic hygiene (like handwashing after handling dog waste or food) to reduce the risk of illness in people, especially children and anyone with a weakened immune system.10
Nutrition and diet
Feeding for life stage
Puppies need energy-dense, balanced diets to support growth. Adult dogs need nutrition that maintains healthy weight and muscle. Older dogs often do better with diets adjusted for changing activity levels and, in some cases, mobility or medical needs.
Use a complete and balanced diet appropriate for your dog’s age and size, and ask your vet before changing food suddenly—especially for puppies, seniors, or dogs with medical conditions. Global veterinary nutrition guidance also stresses that diets should be formulated to meet recognised nutrient standards and be tailored to the individual dog, not just the label on the bag.6
Exercise and activities
Exercise needs vary wildly. A young working-type dog may need long walks, training games, and purposeful tasks. A brachycephalic (short-nosed) dog may need shorter, cooler outings and careful monitoring in heat. Age, health, and temperament matter as much as breed.
Mix physical movement with mental work. Sniffing walks, simple scent games, puzzle feeders, and short training sessions often tire a dog more effectively than frantic ball-throwing alone.
Final thoughts
A dog is a daily presence—mud on the floorboards, warm weight at your feet, a steady need for care that doesn’t pause for holidays or busy weeks. Chosen well and managed thoughtfully, that steady need can become one of the best parts of the arrangement: a life that moves, outdoors and in rhythm, alongside another animal that has evolved to live close to us.
References
- RSPCA Australia — Microchipping
- NSW Office of Local Government — NSW Pet Registry: Microchipping
- Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (WA) — Microchipping
- NSW Department of Primary Industries — Buying or adopting a dog
- RSPCA Australia — Here’s how to care for your puppy (socialisation and positive training)
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) — Global Nutrition Guidelines
- Animal Medicines Australia — Pets in Australia 2025 (national survey)
- Animal Medicines Australia — Media release summarising Pets in Australia 2025
- American Heart Association — Can your pet help you be healthier?
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Ways to stay healthy around animals
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom