First-Time Dog Owner Guide In Singapore

First-time dog owner guide in Singapore

Just ask any dog lover; there’s no greater feeling than returning home after a long day of work to prancing puppers who’re practically wagging their tail off once they catch a whiff of you. As cute as they are, committing to getting a furry companion shouldn’t be done on a whim. But if you’ve resolved to getting one, we’ve put together a guide for first-time dog owners in Singapore.

Here’s everything paw-rents-to-be need to know, from the ideal breeds to get for new dog owners, to essentials that you need to ensure your doggo is comfortable in their forever home.

Table of Contents

First-time dog owner guide in Singapore

What to know about owning a dog in Singapore?

Dog owner with dog - First-time dog owner guide

First things first, you’ve got to know about the guidelines of owning a dog in Singapore. For instance, HDB home owners can only keep 1 dog of an approved breed or its cross, while owners of private properties can home up to a maximum of 3 dogs.

You can refer to the Animal & Veterinary Service’s (AVS) website for a list of the 62 dog breeds that are approved for HDB residential flats. Popular HDB-approved breeds include Pomeranians, toy and miniature Poodles, and Malteses.

Playing with dog 2 - First-time dog owner guide

On the other hand, private property owners can pretty much keep any breed of dogs, including bigger ones, in their homes, from golden retrievers to samoyeds. However, AVS has a list of dog breeds that are not allowed to be brought into Singapore. As such, dogs such as Pit Bulls cannot be kept no matter the type of residence.

You’ll also need to get your dogs licensed once you get them, and you can do so via NParks’ Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS). Simply visit the PALS website to apply or renew your pet’s license; below is a table of the pet licensing fees in Singapore.

Category	1-year licence	2-year licence	3-year licence	One-time licence
Dogs below 5 months of age	$15/dog	N/A	N/A	N/A
First 3 dogs	Sterilised: $15/dog Non-sterilised: $90/dog	Sterilised: $25/dog Non-sterilised: $165/dog	Non-sterilised: $230/dog	Sterilised: $35/dog
4th & subsequent dogs	$180/dog or a reduced licensed fee of $15 for the 4th dog	$325/dog or a reduced licensed fee of $25 for the 4th dog	Non-sterilised: $460/dog	Sterilised: $460 or a reduced licensed fee of $35 for the 4th dog

How much does it cost to own a dog in Singapore?

Speaking of licensing fees, there are a couple of other costs of owning a dog in Singapore that pet owners will need to take into account

Image credit: Mount Pleasant Vet Clinics

It is recommended for new dog owners to bring their pets to a vet ASAP to conduct an initial check-up, to make sure you’re bringing home a healthy pup. These consultations usually cost around $50, not including any additional tests like blood and urine tests.

Afterwards, your vet will most likely recommend additional medical procedures to ensure that your dog’s health is in tip-top condition. These procedures include treatments to protect them from parasites and vaccinations, which cost around $100 and $30 respectively. You will also have to decide whether or not you want to have your dogs sterilised, a procedure whose cost can float anywhere between $250 to $800, depending on your dog’s weight.

It’s also wise to get your dogs microchipped at the vet’s. This procedure is important as microchips are the best form of permanent identification for your dogs, in case they get lost, and it’ll cost anywhere from $50 to $80.

Grooming - First-time dog owner guide

There are some recurring costs of owning a dog to bear in mind. One such cost is grooming, and it’s recommended to take your dogs to the groomer once every 4 to 8 weeks. A trip to the grooming salon can set you back $50 to $150, depending on your dog’s size.

Dog owners can consider signing up your furbaby for pet insurance; after all, frequent trips to the vet clinic can rack up a hefty medical bill. Pet insurance providers such as CIMB’s My Paw Pal and Income’s Happy Tails cost around $300 to $400 per annum. Such policies can provide coverage for cases of accidental death, loss of dog due to theft, and medical expenses due to illness.

What dog breed should I get?

Now that you’re all caught up on the expenses of owning a dog in Singapore, here comes arguably the hardest decision: settling on the perfect dog breed for your family. Sure, they may all look adorable as heck as puppies, but apart from their physical size once they grow up, you’ve also got to take into consideration their different temperament and personalities.

Dog resting

There are plenty of sites with dog breed selector quizzes that match you with the best one for your household, such as this one by the American Kennel Club. If you still can’t make up your mind, here’s a list of the most popular dog breeds in Singapore that are ideal for first-time dog owners and their characteristics.

Dog breed	Characteristics	HDB approved?
Toy/miniature poodle	Highly intelligent, easy to train, low fur shedding	Yes
Pomeranian	Active, playful, very vocal, moderate fur shedding	Yes
Maltese	Affectionate, protective, gentle, low fur shedding	Yes
Bichon Frise	Gets along well with kids, friendly, highly intelligent, low fur shedding	Yes
Shih Tzu	Affectionate, minimal exercise required, low fur shedding but needs consistent grooming	Yes
Japanese Spitz	Highly intelligent, social, affectionate, moderate fur shedding	Yes
Golden retriever	Highly intelligent, easy to train, gentle, needs regular exercise, intense fur shedding	No
Labrador	Easy to train, good with children, needs regular exercise, intense fur shedding	No

Where can I adopt a dog in Singapore & what to expect?

When it comes to adopting a dog in Singapore, there are quite a few organisations with adoption programmes on the Little Red Dot that can aid you in looking for a 4-legged friend who’s ideal for a first-time dog owner.

Image credit: SPCA

Do note that each organisation has their own guidelines for their adoption process, so be sure to give them a read before enquiring. In general, you’ll first want to visit the organisation of your choice’s website to have a look at the animals up for adoption, and then schedule an appointment to meet and interact with the dogs you’re going to potentially adopt.

Should everything go well, you might be asked to home the dog temporarily so the staff can properly assess your suitability of rehoming it. If there are no hiccups during the homestay, all that’s left to do is decide whether you’d like to go through with the adoption and get the necessary paperwork done, and pay any adoption fees incurred.

Image credit: Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter – OSCAS via Facebook

Here’s a list of organisations in Singapore that have adoption programmes, their websites, and their adoption fees if any:

Organisation	Adoption fees
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)	$25-$350
Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD)	$400-600
Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)	$300
Causes for Animals Singapore (CAS)	$100-$250
HOPE Dog Rescue	$350-500
Purely Adoptions	Free-$600
Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter (OSCAS)	$400

What essentials to buy for first-time dog owners

Before you even bring your new dog home, you’d want to make sure that their transition to becoming a treasured family member is seamless, by preparing some dog-related items. To ease them in, here’s a checklist of essentials to get for first-time dog owners, and where to get them from for an easy checkout.

Dog food

It goes without saying that just like you and I, your dog has to eat too. The 2 most common types of dog food you can opt for are dry and wet dog food, and they both come with their own advantages.

Like its name suggests, wet or canned dog food has a higher moisture content, which is great for dogs who don’t drink enough water. It’s also usually more aromatic and palatable to dogs, especially if you’ve got a picky eater on your hands.

Dog eating kibbles

As for dry dog food, it’s generally cheaper than its wet counterpart, can be left out for longer periods of time, and encourages dogs to properly chew their food, which promotes good dental health. If you’ve chosen to adopt a dog, do ask the shelter what kinds of food your adopted dog is used to eating, so you can make the necessary preparations at home.

You’ve also got the option of buying specialised feeding bowls for a more atas dining experience for your pet. For example, consider getting an automated feeder that dispenses fixed portion sizes at preset times, or a slow feeding bowl to stop your dog from chowing down too quickly, which could lead to an upset tummy.

If humans get the chance to wolf down on cheat meals from time to time, so do our doggos. As such, be sure to stock up on dog treats too; these goodies can work wonders when it’s time to train them too.

Grooming products

Image credit: The Dog Retreat & SPA

Unfortunately, our furkids can’t quite groom themselves apart from licking themselves all over, so that responsibility falls on our human shoulders. Here are some grooming products to buy, to ensure that your dog looks and smells fresh without the pet salon’s intervention.

On-the-go products

Posing with dog

When it’s time for some fun in the sun, you’ll want to ensure that you’ve got the right equipment for some much-needed exercise for your dog. They’ve got to hydrate too, and pet seatbelts are paramount in ensuring your dog’s safety when playtime’s only accessible via car. Certain dog breeds also have to be muzzled when out and about; first-time offenders are liable to a fine of $5,000.

Toys

Image credit: Small Door Veterinary

Much like how we humans have our gizmos like phones to keep us entertained for hours on end, you’ve got to spare a thought for our pets as well. Thankfully, we haven’t invented doggy doomscrolling just yet, so they’ve got to settle for pet toys.

Pet toys work wonders for our furry friends’ physical and mental health, and they’ve come a long way since the days of the humble tennis ball. Below are some to check out – just remember to get your cameras out to capture their adorable antics during your play session.

Tips for first-time dog owners

Raising a dog is no easy feat, so to ease you into the responsibilities of being a first-time dog owner, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers, all in one place.

How do I toilet-train a dog?

To toilet-train your dog, you’ll first need to decide on a designated toilet space within your home for your dog to do its business at. Next, bring your dog to this toilet space whenever you notice them looking around anxiously, pacing around in circles or sniffing away at corners; those are signs telling you that they need to relieve themselves.

Finally, reward them with a treat whenever they successfully poo or pee at their designated toilet space. Repetition and consistency are key when potty-training your pup, so take the time to tend to them whenever nature calls. Depending on the size of your dog, toilet-training them usually takes anywhere from 4 to 6 months.

Where can I walk or exercise my dog & how often should I do it?

You can walk your dog in pretty much any outdoor park in Singapore; heck, if you’re the adventurous sort, we’ve even got a list of dog-friendly hiking trails in Singapore you can hit up.

Image credit: @uni_theblueeyedgirl via Instagram

Otherwise, nature reserves and your neighbourhood parks are great places for you and your pooch to clock in your daily 10,000 steps at. There are also dog runs in Singapore organised all over the island that you can sign up for, which set up perfect opportunities for your dogs to interact with their canine peers.

As for how often you should bring your dog out for some exercise, again, it varies from breed to breed. Smaller breeds like Shih Tzus and Malteses require at least 30 minutes’ worth of exercise per day to stay healthy, while larger dogs like Golden Retrievers and Labradors need 1 to 2 hours daily to keep up with their high energy levels.

How often should I groom my dog in Singapore?

Pet salon

Deciding how often you should bring your dog to the groomer’s is another breed-specific dilemma. Dogs with short fur don’t require frequent grooming due to their low-maintenance coats, so going for a grooming session every 4 to 6 weeks will suffice. Longer haired-breeds on the other hand will have to be groomed every 2 to 4 weeks.

If you’re still unsure, do ask your groomer, as there might be other factors such as your dog’s skin condition that could affect how often you’ll have to make grooming appointments. Regardless of your dog’s breed, you should still brush your dog’s fur regularly at home to prevent hair matting – that’s when their fur gets all tangled up – and to reduce shedding.

Where can I put my dogs when I’m travelling?

Travelling as a paw-rent can be troublesome, especially if you don’t have anyone at home to watch over your dog, or relatives and friends who’re comfortable with letting them stay over for a lil’ staycation.

Don’t worry, you needn’t call off your holidays, as you can engage dog sitters to look after your furkid while you’re having a whale of a time overseas. There are plenty of sites for you to choose from, such as Pawshake (~$20/day); this one even has the flexibility for you to choose whether to drop off your dogs at your sitter’s home, or have them come over to your place to care for your dog instead.

Most pet hotels will also provide 24/7 CCTV surveillance for your dogs, so you can check in on them from anywhere, regardless of timezones.
Image credit: Breakfast at Fluffy’s

For a more luxurious stay, you can check your dog into a pet hotel. Establishments such as Mutts & Mittens (from $50/night) and Breakfast at Fluffy’s (from $65/night) provide opulent pet boarding services that’ll have your dogs living the high life. Your dogs can indulge in daily walks, nutritious meals, as well as playdates with other pampered pooches.

Guide for first-time dog owners

As corny as sounds, the joy of having a dog in your life cannot be put into words; after all, they’re not dubbed man’s best friend for nothing. They’re loyal companions that make for a great addition to your family, and caring for one requires quite a bit of time and commitment on your part – hopefully this comprehensive guide has alleviated some of that burden for you.

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Cover image adapted from: Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter – OSCAS via Facebook

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