The idea of adopting a dog – much like the idea of having a baby – is often romanticized. What we often don’t consider before bringing a joyful bundle of fur into our lives is just how much doing so might change things. Here are eight things to consider before bringing a dog into your life and your family’s life.
Research the breed.
Just like people, dog breeds have different personalities and needs. Do they need a lot of exercise; are they prone to barking; if a puppy, how much will they weigh when full grown; are they good with kids? It is true that dogs will adapt to their owner and environment, but some traits are inbred, and you need to match the right breed to you and your family. There are many websites that provide a wealth of information on the best breed for your likes and circumstances. I like www.Dogtime.com Their Dog Time Breed Finder lets you enter a breed to see:
- Adaptability
- All Around Friendliness
- Health Grooming
- Trainability
- Exercise Needs
Dog Time also provides a list of breeds that are best for apartment dwelling, good with kids, good with other dogs, have a tendency to bark and many more characteristics.
Time.
From training them as puppies to exercising them as they grow to giving them the attention they need and deserve, dogs take time. Do you have the time to give to a pet? If you don’t have a yard, is someone in your household prepared to wake up early before work or school to give Fido his morning walk?
Money.
From the initial cost of adoption to putting a microchip in your dog to food and vet bills to someone to care for him when you cannot, dogs can be expensive. Before you adopt a dog, make sure you are ready to handle the expenses involved with dog parenting.
Clean Freaks Need Not Apply.
Dogs shed. They have accidents. If you are not comfortable with fur on your clothes, furniture, floors, rugs, and car seats, and aren’t prepared to keep a supply of lint rollers and Swiffer’s on hand, you may want to reconsider.
Environment.
From the size of your home to whether or not you have a yard to where the nearest dog park is to your HOA’s rules regarding pets, you need to consider your environment before bringing a dog into it. Do you have the space to accommodate the dog of your dreams as well as all the paraphernalia needed to raise him? Along with a dog comes a dog bed, dog dishes, dog toys. Consider inviting a dog into your home tantamount to inviting another person into it – and make certain you are ready and able to make him comfortable.
Patience.
Along the way to perfection – and most dogs do reach perfection – slippers and shoes may be chewed, floors may be soiled, even furniture ruined. Training a dog takes time and patience. Do you have the patience to teach your dog what she needs to know?
Lifelong commitment.
Whether you adopt a puppy or a senior dog, make sure you are ready to spend the time and money to care for him the rest of his life. Returning an adopted pet that has experienced the joy of a family back to a shelter is heart breaking.
There is no perfect time.
Similar to other important decisions in your life like getting married or buying a house, you can always find an excuse not to. I’ll wait until my workload is lighter, when I get back from vacation, when I moved to a different place. But putting off getting a dog until the time is right is time missed from loving and being loved.
These points to contemplate are not meant to scare anyone away from dog ownership. Bringing a dog into my life is one of the best decisions I ever made. Every chewed leather pump; every unexpected vet bill; and every early morning and late-night walk was worth it all.