In the current pandemic, more people are starting to look towards getting a dog as a pet for companionship. But owning a dog is more than just having a companion. It is a challenge in itself, and it can be regarded as the same as having a kid in your house, perhaps with diverse needs that you might not be able to comprehend at times since we don’t speak their language. It is a lifetime commitment of at least 10 years and beyond, depending on the dog breed that you have chosen. We have to emphasize this, since they are many irresponsible parents who left their dogs to fend for themselves when they cannot keep up with their pets anymore.
With that, read through our guide to find out what are the top 5 things to consider before getting a dog as a pet.
1. Needs of the dog
First of all, you will need to understand that dogs do have varied needs that, as mentioned earlier, is tough for us to comprehend. From the dog’s dietary needs to the dog’s needs for social activities, these are the different things that you will need to do your due diligence to research upon. For example, do you know the dietary needs of the puppies are different from the adult dogs? If you feed the puppy with adult dog food, or if you feed the puppy with too much nutrients, their body may grow too fast, and that can be a problem when they are older?
Also, some dogs my be more energetic than other dogs. You certainly don’t expect the cute Shiba Inu to act like a Shih Tzu and stay at home all the time. They are just different! So yes, do consider the dog’s needs and if you are able to keep up with it.
2. Are you ready for a long-term commitment?
Getting a dog is more than just owning a pet. It is a lifetime of commitment, and you should expect dedicating your time to the dog, depending on its needs. What we are saying is, that you will need to expect to spend a large portion of your time with the dog. From playing with the dog to bringing it out for a walk, you will realize that sometimes dogs can really take up a large portion of our time.
Some dogs do require you to bring them out for daily walks, and some other dogs might require constant medical attention, especially when they are older. So, while all of these means they will need more time, it also means that the cost might be higher too, especially when the dog grows older and starts to require frequent trips to the vet. Just so you know, medication and consultations for dogs can be hefty! On average, you will spend about a hundred dollars per year for their dietary needs as well as the occasional visits to the vet. If your dog requires surgery, the cost can be higher!
3. Is your house dog ready?
One thing most dog owner fails to do so is to ensure that their house is ready for a dog. This means that you will need to ensure that the house is puppy or dog proof, such that there is specific demarcated place that the dogs can play in, or even to decide where is the dedicated toilet for the dog. A house that is ready for a dog does includes a ton of dog toys as well as adequate food and water supplies for the dog. Some other essential items include the dog crate as well as a dog bed too.
4. Is your family ready for a dog?
Granted, now that you have considered the dog’s needs and you are prepared for a long-term commitment in having a dog, but you will need to consider if your family is ready for one. You see, while you may enjoy the dog’s company, your family might have members that are not welcoming to the dog. You will need to have a consensus before getting the dog!
Also, if you have children at home, then you will need to consider if the dog breed is suitable for your child, as some dogs might not be too friendly to children. Of course, if your child or other family members have allergies, then you might need to consider the dog breed that you have chosen as not all dogs are hypoallergic.
5. Training needs of the dog
All dogs do require some form of training, be it house breaking or obedience training, and that means you will need to spend time to research on the dog’s training needs too. And before you assume that training the dog is easy, note that dogs cannot understand our language and vice versa, and hence you will need to spend time to comprehend the dog’s behavior! Note that it is important to find out what are the dos and don’ts when training the dog, lest you promote negative reinforcements, and this is something that is extremely detrimental to the training process.
Of course, some owners may send their dogs to the specialized dog training school, and this is a viable option for dog owners who might not have the time or patience to train up the dog. But that itself is added cost, and it can be expensive to send the dogs to the training school.
Wrapping things up
As you can see, owning a dog is not as rosy as one might think it is. It is a lifetime of commitment and dedicating a large portion of your time to the dog on a daily basis. From training the dog to caring for its needs, you will become their sole caregiver as it transitions from being a puppy to an adult dog. If you can, however, try to adopt a dog at the shelter than to get a new puppy as the dogs at the shelter are most probably trained up proper before they are being abandoned by dog owners who cannot commit the time to them. These dogs do deserve to be shown love too!