Hi... so, you're thinking about adding a new
family member, of the four legged variety to your home... but you're
not sure what you should look for in choosing a dog as a
pet... or,
if you should get a dog at all?
Well, grab a hot cup of joe or your favorite
drink, and let’s dig in with these short, but essential tips, so you can learn some of the
simple but extremely important things that you should
consider BEFORE shopping for a dog.
Of all the different animals that can become
house pets – cats, birds, dogs, spiders, lizards and more – only one
has that entrusted title as, “man’s best friend.” And to many, dogs
bear even more status than that. They are part of the family.
But before jumping into dog ownership, you
should consider researching the different types of dogs out there to see which
one would be best for you, your family and environment.
Although many television shows and movies
portray these beloved creatures as awesome, faithful friends, some
breeds can be entirely unsuitable for your lifestyle and your
family. Many can cause shedding problems, allergy issues, aggression
difficulties and more.
So before you leap, let’s take a closer look at
dogs... and a few questions you should ask yourself when choosing a
new dog.
Here Are a Few Questions To Ask
Before Choosing a Dog
Decide who the dog will be for... a child, you,
or someone else. Then sit down and ask the following questions and
jot down the answers. This is the stage that everyone involved
should be completely honest with their answers, by the way.
-
Do you really have the time, patience and
room for a dog?
-
Where will your dog sleep? Or stay while
you’re working?
-
Do you want to and do you have time
to feed and give fresh water to a dog daily? Take it to the
vet for regular check ups and shots?
-
How about walks and other attention... do
you have time to share? Do you want to make time?
-
How about your family members? Is everyone
onboard with the idea of getting a dog?
-
Is there room in your budget for a dog?
Think in terms of food, treats, leash, fence, dog bowls, collar,
shots, spaying / neutering, nail trimmers, training materials,
toys, bedding, flea / tick products, shampoo.
What About Long Term Plans?
As you can tell, there are many things to
consider before bringing home a pet dog. As you consider these
issues even further, remember to think long term, too. Dogs can live
10 – 20 years, maybe more.
Now let's look at some basic dog questions to
be considered...
Have You Thought About These
Questions?
Before you rush out to buy a new puppy or older dog, there are many questions you need to ask yourself – and your family, like:
-
Are you prepared for your dog, more than likely, crying
when you first bring it home? It won't be accustomed to it's new
environment, so there could be some whining and wimpering throughout
the night.
-
Where will your dog sleep - will it have a
bed or carrier, or sleep on your bed or a child’s bed?
-
When you work, where will your dog be - how
about after work and on weekends? How about during vacations or
weekends out of town - do you have a pet sitter in mind or boarding place
for Fido to stay?
-
Will you get grooming tools like a basic
brush and comb - and who will take time out to groom the dog, or
will you need to have this done by a groomer each month?
-
Pet food, snacks, flea and tick products and toys can ring up to be
a little extra cash. Do you have this in your budget each month?
-
Dogs aren’t always kind to children and
other animals - other dogs and cats. Have you taken this into
account in your search, and if so, are you looking for gentler breeds? Are you going to
schedule a home trial first?
-
Size may not matter at the puppy stage, but have you considered
adulthood? Large dogs can be neat, but eat more, need more
cleaning and grooming and space. Have all that?
- Do you have nice furniture, such as antique tables or couches? Your dog may chew and/or scratch up your
furniture (tile, clothing, small electronics, etc.) unless you know
and prepare for this from the start.
Don't worry, choosing a good dog that fits your
lifestyle is really a simple process. Now let's find out the
basic elements that
should be considered when choosing a breed of dog that you want.
Let's continue...
