Getting a dog is a dream come true for many people. Whether you have seen the cutest litter of puppies ever and want to bring one home to add to your family or you have seen a sad dog in a rescue centre and want to give them their forever home, it’s important to ensure that you know what you are letting yourself in for before committing to getting a dog. Dogs are a huge commitment and they will need a lot of your time and attention every day for the rest of their lives. To make sure that you’re ready for it, consider the following factors:
Cost:
First of all, don’t kid yourself about the cost of getting a dog. Buying a new puppy can already be very costly, especially if you are looking at getting a pedigree pup or a popular breed. While a rescue dog will often be much cheaper to obtain since you will only need to pay a nominal rescue fee to cover the dog’s initial vet treatments and other necessities, the cost doesn’t stop there. Consider all the regular expenses such as pet insurance, paying for dog walking or doggy daycare services, vet checkups, buying food, accessories, training fees, and everything else.
Food alone can be a huge expense, so consider signing up for a pet food subscription from Bella & Duke. Bella & Duke ensure that feeding your dog healthy meals is easier than ever with regularly delivered nutritious raw dog food, straight to your door.
Time:
Have you got the time needed to dedicate to your dog? A dog that you do not have the time to spend with is likely going to be miserable and it won’t be a nice situation for either of you to deal with. Consider the amount of time and attention that your dog will need before you choose a breed. Some dog breeds require long walks and will take up a lot of your time while others are happy to chill around the house for the best part of the day.
Your Living Situation:
It is also important to think about your living situation and whether or not it is suitable for a dog. If you live in a small house or flat, this should not necessarily stop you from getting a dog, although you will need to ensure that you choose a suitable breed for your living space. The last thing that you want is to have a large dog there isn’t enough space for in your house. Consider the amount of outdoor space that you have and the areas of your home that your dog will be able to call her own.
Your Lifestyle:
Think about your current lifestyle, habits, and hobbies, and how your dog is going to fit in. Will you need to make any changes to ensure that your dog is happy, healthy, and getting the attention that they need? Or will your lifestyle mean that there will be extra costs to looking after your dog, such as getting a pet sitter or dog walker to come and visit daily if you work long hours and your dog is going to be left alone otherwise? It’s also worth thinking about the number of holidays that you go on and what you can do to make sure that your dog is looked after and happy while you are not there. If you go on several holidays per year, make sure that you have a plan in place for keeping your dog safe and looked after. In some cases, this might mean leaving them with a friend or family member or sending them to a boarding facility.
Current Pets:
It is important to think about any current pets that you also have at home before bringing a new dog into the family, and how the change is going to affect them. No matter what kind of pet you already have, it is important to think about how a change in living arrangements and a new dog in the home is going to impact the situation. If you have a dog at home already, consider the change that this will make to their routine and put a solid plan in place for introducing the two dogs before bringing the new one home. Even normally friendly dogs can get territorial in their own home, so it’s important to introduce them with care. If you have a cat at home, bringing a dog into their territory can be particularly stressful and frightening if they are not used to dogs, so consider how your pet is with dogs right now and invest in training or behavioural services if necessary, to help ensure that your pets are going to get along.
As man’s best friend, it’s no surprise that lots of people feel that their life would benefit from having a dog. But before you bring a new four-legged friend home, consider all these important factors.
