Hey… you clicked on this blog. So that must mean you are thinking of buying a dog! Or just researching about dogs and saw this one with that title. Don’t worry that wasn’t clickbait, we really are going to explain on factors to consider before getting a dog companion.
Now, this list isn’t about what you should do immediately before buying a dog, but I’m pretty sure it’s on the way too. And boy that’s a chore too. But, this time, here are things you have to prepare yourself for when you choose to bring a new life to your home in the form of a dog or puppy. It’s not just things that you have to do like buying equipment and stuff, it’s more of a “can you?”, “so did you think of that?” and “are you ready for this?”. So, here it is.
Let’s look at 5 important factors to consider before getting a dog.
Dogs are a Lifelong Commitment
Sure maybe not your lifetime, but to most dogs, you are going to be their whole life. From the little puppyhood to the less energetic old puppies that they will grow out to be, the one thing that will remain constant for their whole life is you. Sure, you might grow up with them but it’s not going to be as rapid as it would be for them. So the most important question you’ve got to ask yourself is, are you really up par with that commitment? I mean, it is a life that you are taking responsibility for.
The pup that you are thinking of bringing to your home is potentially going to form a deep bond, not just with you but with everyone and everything around you. They are not going to be like those one-time gifts you get on Christmas that you can throw or get a new one after getting bored. So, really before you go through that door to get that dog, ask yourself, am I ready to commit? After all your pet is a huge part of your life.
Breed Matters
Choosing the best dog breed is a must since it will be a lifelong commitment for you. Dogs, just like people have different personalities and require care accordingly. From a puppy to senior dogs, their choices for food, exercise, commitment will differ with breeds.
You must also consider your own lifestyle before getting a dog. Not all dog breeds can adapt to your way of living. Again, do your research. You may also want to talk to a veterinary or a groomer in your area to see who they recommend. Our blog on top dog breeds in Australia can be of help to get started with.
Cost Factor of Raising a Dog
Yeah, sorry for getting all existential over there but that was a pretty important thing to consider. But what we have next on the list is the expenses. You can get all excited as much as you want about how cute they are or how much you really wanna, getting a dog is expensive. The initial adoption and purchases are a big sum on their own, but then again, as we pointed out earlier, you are taking a life in your care, and guess what a life needs? Taking care of.
A pet owner in general needs to be able to take care of theirs and their pet’s food, shelter, health, love, and affection, because expensive isn’t just about the money, you need to be able to spend quality time with this new member of the family and make them feel loved and cared for in your household. Besides, a small puppy shouldn’t be left alone for more than a few hours and need to be fed every four or so hours. Dogs need some sort of exercise on a daily basis and stimulation, and won’t be contemptuous with being alone in the house for a long time.
Can you provide them with a suitable environment?
It’s never a wise choice to choose to adopt a dog based solely on the breed’s popularity or on how cute it is. Sure it is your household and your choice, but too often these cute members of the house will be dropped to an animal center when they show high energy, neediness or intolerance, or lack thereof.
Anything that makes the owner realize that they aren’t compatible with their pet. So get to know the breed a little better before bringing them home. Ask a lot of questions before adopting. Find out as much about the breed. Weigh in the pros and cons and everything in between.
From hair coat to dog size, sure you love them all the same now, but there would be things like dog-proofing. Are you able to dog-proof your home? Yeah, it is similar to baby-proofing your home, but as the name would suggest, for the dogs. There are obviously going to be a lot of things that you can’t avoid in your life that will prove to be toxic and even threatening to your dog lying just there in your house.
5. How are they going to socialize?
A dog, no matter the breed, is able to learn a lot if allowed to socialize. There’s also the case of not every dog being suitable for every home, and if you have children, not every dog is going to get along with them and their activities. So, you should keep those things in consideration while choosing the perfect new member for your home.
And the list doesn’t end there, there are the other pets that you might have to consider, and talking about social life, how is it going to socialize with the environment it is kept in? Take your sweet time planning that part out.
Puppies tend to be destructive with their early exploratory habits. They chew, lick, and try to eat stuff around them. Well, they obviously haven’t been taught manners, I mean given the circumstances and need to have that training from you and they need to socialize to get a hold of that information as well.
Final Thoughts
So these were some important factors to consider before getting a dog. You need to ask yourself before you decided to bring a new member to your family, in the form of a puppy. At the end of the day, you might’ve decided already on your own or don’t have much say in the matter, but these are some of the things you need to consider or let’s say keep in your mind to get the answer to while bringing a puppy to your household.
