Things to Consider Before Getting a Dog

While having a dog at home offers amazing benefits, there are a few factors to consider before getting a dog. When you welcome a pet into your family, you commit yourself to the little one and you got to stay committed throughout as nothing can be as bad as abandoning the pet midway. Hence, it is always essential to consider few things before getting a dog to ensure your decision is right and you would stand by your decision.

Most Important Factors to Consider Before Getting A Dog

Having a pet animal, particularly dog, as your family member is definitely a blessing. However, if your pet has to feel the same way about being a part of your home, here are the few most important things to know before deciding to get a dog.

1) Devoted Time and Attention

The prospect of bringing home a puppy or an adult dog can be very exciting and you may be very much looking forward to it. However, knowing what is in store for you once you have a four-legged member at home would help to make an informed decision.

Puppies need to be given lots and lots of attention. You may have to spend quite a lot of your waking time for your puppy and your sleeping time as well. Your puppy may wake you up from a well-deserved sleep. You will be sleep-deprived and you may also not be able to carry on with your routine once this little one becomes a part of your life. 

Puppies are to be fed around four to five times a day. They need to be house trained. Puppies love to explore and they may want to lick and chew everything they can set their eyes on. It will be very similar to having a human baby at home.

Sometimes, this bundle of joy becomes too much to handle

As far as adult dogs are concerned it all depends on how well or ill their lives have been in the past. If the adult dog is properly trained, things are going to be lot smoother for you. The major, probably the only issue could be their emotional attachment to their previous family, which often can send them into depression. It will take lots of love and patience to get them out of it. If an adult dog is not properly trained, you will have a tough task on hand as you have to make him unlearn whatever habits he has learnt. The process can take some time but the results will be worth the efforts.

Hence, whether you opt for a puppy or an adult dog, you need to spend lots of quality time with them.

2) Exercise

Dogs need exercise and they love exercise. 

A great exercise partner indeed

Sometimes they can get in your way though...

Exercise not only prolongs lifespan of your dog but also provides mental stimulation. It also helps to prevent obesity in dogs, which can lead to various health conditions. Not getting enough exercise can cause frustration, which can end up making a dog aggressive.

You got to take them out for a walk at least twice a day. Depending on the breed, the duration of walking can range from about fifteen minutes to one hour every session. 

At times, Chezhi behaves as if it is she that takes us for a walk

3) Costs – General and Health Care

Apart from spending your time for your new member, your monthly budget needs to include your pet member’s expenses. Right from buying a collar and leash to getting a bed, everything spells money. As your furry member grows up, you will need to spend money on new collar and leash. Beds, of course last longer if you are aware how to choose the right type of dog bed.

It is best recommended to give your puppy homemade foods. However, your veterinarian may suggest giving supplements to ensure the pet gets her share of nutrients and vitamins. Of course, you cannot forget treats. Dogs love treats. You will too, once you experience how your pet co-operates during training sessions when there are treats for gifts.

Depending on the type of dog you welcome into your home, there may be grooming expenses on a regular basis. Unlike short-haired puppies, long haired ones with constant hair growth need regular grooming.

Health care needs may be expensive. Vaccinating puppies is essential and it could involve sizeable amount. Apart from routine check-ups, sickness, viral infections and emergency situations could cost some money. Again, all breeds are not created equal. Some require minimal vet clinic visits and some slightly more.

4) Knowing the Dog Before Going for it

It is not uncommon to find people go for a specific breed and later repent their choice. A wrong choice not only affects the pet parent but ruins the pet for no mistake of hers. There a few things to consider before deciding on the puppy. It is essential to learn about the temperament, energy level of the dog and also if it is child-friendly if you have kids at home. Some dogs have high energy and some possess average energy levels. If you are going for high energy dogs, you need to make sure you have the time and space to engage the dog in physical activities.

5) Knowing Your Veterinarian

Once you have made up your mind about welcoming a puppy or an adult dog into your home, it is highly recommended to look for an experienced veterinarian even before bringing your puppy home. Schedule a visit to the clinic so your veterinarian can examine the puppy and also advice you on the vaccinations to be given.

In our case, our veterinarian is a family friend of ours and hence assisted us right from the word go. Our family wanted to go for chippiparai, a native breed of Tamilnadu because it was said to be nearing extinction. Chippiparai dogs are high energy dogs and they are large breeds. We wondered if our apartment would be spacious enough for a chippiparai. Our veterinary doctor responded, “It is enough if you have some space in your heart”. It holds true. Chezhi, our chippiparai dog is quite happy here. Of course, a huge place with an open ground will be great for her but we do our best to give her exercise outdoors and she returns home with her energy spent and happy to have her food on return and get back to routine stuff at home.

6) Planning A Vacation

For pet families, life can be broadly classified as life before pets and life after pets. The moment you bring in your furry friend to live with you, your priorities change, your schedules change and of course you can never make plans on the go. Even a weekend stay away from home needs meticulous planning. You need to first decide if you are taking the little on with you or if you are going to leave her at pet care. If you decide to take your puppy with you, you need to plan everything right from bringing along her food bowl to pee pads or whatever you use, her diet, toys and of course her bed. 

If you plan to leave her at pet care, you need to look for the right one where she will be well taken care of. Still, it will not stop you from feeling guilty for leaving her behind. 

Visit this page to read our post on the Most Important Things to Consider Before Boarding Your Pet.

Having a puppy at home can be very demanding in the initial months. At times, particularly when your little one poops everywhere other than where she has to poop, you may begin to have doubts if at all you can train her successfully to house break. Consistency is the key here; and of course patience.

To put it in a nutshell, if you could spend time, give lots of love and are willing to spend money for puppy’s needs, you are all ready to welcome a puppy home and experience boundless joy and enjoy unconditional love.