Are You A Potential Dog Owner?

 

People bring dogs into their homes for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they succumb to their kid's endless pleading for a dog, some people get a dog in the hopes of attracting a member of the opposite sex while walking their pooch and others feel sorry for a homeless pet and decide to give it a good home. Some people's hearts just melt when they see a helpless puppy in a pet shop window and finally we have those who are looking for companionship.

Before you give in to that urge to bring home that adorable pup or sad looking dog, make sure you will be able to take care of it for the rest of its life. Even the best trained dog will sometimes try your patience so are you prepared to spend time and energy training your dog and forgiving him when he makes mistakes?
Is anyone in your house allergic to pets? Perhaps you are, so be sure to spend some time around dogs to see if you can live with one without being reduced to a sneezing, wheezing mess.

No matter how much your children have promised they'll take care of a dog, you should be aware that once the novelty wears off you're most probably going to be the one taking Fido on his daily walks.

Which brings us to the next subject - dogs need daily walks. A dog kept in an apartment will become bored and may resort to destructive behavior as a means of releasing his frustrations.

Do you like to travel a lot? If you do, you have to consider who will take care of your dog while you're away.

Does your condo or apartment building allow dogs? Do you have a yard for late night bathroom trips for your dog?

Owning a dog isn't cheap, you'll have to consider costs of food, training, grooming, toys and treats as well as veterinary care. Even if your dog is never sick (highly unlikely), you'll still need to shell out some serious money for vaccinations and regular checkups. Flea infestation is another issue you should take into consideration and you may need to regularly treat your dog for fleas.

If you still want to get a dog (hopefully after much careful consideration), then it's time to visit your local dog shelter. Adopting a dog from the shelter is so much more emotionally satisfying as you will literally be saving the little guy's life. Don't encourage puppy mills when buying a pup from a pet store, obtaining your new best friend from a shelter or a reputable dog breeder are safer, more reliable options.