Dogs are great companions. They can be fun, keep you company, entertain you and make you feel loved and appreciated. If you’re considering getting one, this isn’t all too surprising! They’re a great addition to any individual or family’s lives. But you do also need to remember that you need to provide for and cater to your dog’s needs too. Many dogs will live to 15 years and beyond, and they are entirely dependent on you for the entire duration of their life, so you need to make sure that you’re ready and prepared for this commitment and that you’ll be able to provide everything your dog needs at all points of their life. Here are a few considerations and suggestions to keep in mind when choosing a dog for your family.
Is Getting a Dog the Right Decision?
As we’ve already highlighted, dogs can be a lot of work and have a number of needs that need to be met. So, first and foremost, ask yourself, is getting a dog the right decision? Here are some considerations.
- Do you have enough time? – dogs require a lot of love, care and attention. If you’re away from home a lot or out of the house most days every day, a dog might not be for you. You need to make sure that you have enough free time to give your dog the love and attention they deserve and require.
- Do you have the money? – dogs cost more than you pay to the breeder or shelter you collect them from. They come hand in hand with a lot of lifetime costs too. You need to make sure that you can insure your dog to ensure they can always have the veterinary care they need. You will need to buy food, treats, toys, bedding, grooming, harnesses, leads, food and water bowls and more. You may also want accessories like Endura flap dog door mounts.
- Do you have an outdoor space? – Dogs need to be walked. But they also need a space to play regularly throughout the day. Ideally, you should have a garden sufficiently large for the dog to play in.
Choosing the Right Breed
Most people decide they want a dog and already have a breed in mind. Often, the breed in mind has been chosen because you like the dog’s appearance. However, you need to remember that different dog breeds were historically bred for different purposes and therefore tend to have different characteristics and traits. Don’t base your choice of breed on appearance alone. Make sure to actually look into the dog and what it’s likely to be like. Toy breeds that were bred for companionship, such as Bichon Frises, tend to be extremely attached and can suffer from separation anxiety. They are suited to people who spend all of their time at home. Breeds like terriers were often used for ratting and will have more of a prey drive. They tend to be better suited to homes without other, small pets like rabbits. Some breeds require more walking, more entertainment, more attention. Know what you’re getting yourself into.
Consider Grooming
Another area you might want to consider when choosing a breed is their grooming needs. If you choose a non-molting dog, you will have to have them groomed on a regular basis, which can be costly. This price goes up with the size of the dog too – for example, grooming a Labradoodle will cost more than grooming a Toy Poodle. Add this into your considerations when considering the cost of a dog.
Prepare Your Home
You need to prepare your home before getting a dog – especially if you’re getting a puppy. You should make sure that the space is clean and clear without obstructions and with anything that you don’t want to be chewed placed up and out of the way. If you are getting a puppy, you will need to house train them too, so you should invest in puppy pads for them to be trained on and plenty of cleaning products for accidents. Set up their bed and food bowls before getting them home so they can enter a space where they are familiar with what lies where. If you’re getting a rescue dog from a shelter, make sure to consult the shelter on any special environmental requirements that the dog may require, such as food placed in certain places.
As you can see, there really is a lot to bear in mind when it comes to choosing a dog to meet you and your family’s needs. Make sure to spend plenty of time making this decision to ensure that you get a dog that ticks your boxes and that you can care for properly and fully.
