Public service announcement, if you have ever blamed the lack of time you had for the reasoning to not spend one on one time with your dog, we can't be friends.

It's actually more common than you think for somebody to get a puppy, knowing how much responsibility a puppy is, and then deciding that it's too much for them to handle so they immediately try and get their money back by pawning the puppy off on somebody else. Would you ever do this to a baby? No you wouldn't, so don't do it to a puppy.

When a female dog has puppies they release a lot of estrogen (obviously), the puppies sense this and become very attached to the mom from the smell. Puppies also become attached to their mom because of nursing. There is a certain smell that is released while nursing that the puppies become emotionally invested in. This is one of the many reasons why a puppy and mothers bond is so strong. It's also a huge reason as to why a puppy cries so much the first few weeks when it's separated from its mom. Imagine the eight week mark comes up, and your puppy has to go to its new home. This is just what happens in life, and I'm not saying that it's the wrong thing to do, but try to imagine how scared that puppy must be. You're separating it-not only from its mother, but from the rest of the litter as well. So going into a new home is a big adjustment for them for several different reasons.

You are now what this puppy clings to. You are what it finds comfort in, and to the puppy this is their life now. Imagine bouncing from one mom to another, becoming so attached to something only for that something to decide they no longer have the proper time that puppy needs.

If you think from the very start that this is not the right time for you to get a dog then please, for the love of God do not get a dog. There is more to getting a dog then just having a companion or a cute puppy for a while. You do need to have time for this dog. You need to understand it from a very early start that this puppy is most likely going to destroy a lot of your favorite things. They're going to pee on the new carpet, and it'll most likely chew through your favorite pair of shoes. It is going to cry when you put it in the crate, and throw up something that shouldn't of been eaten in the first place. If you do not realize that this is what having a puppy entails, then do not get a puppy.

I'm somebody that has grown up her entire life with having animals, and in that time frame I have never made the decision to get rid of a dog. There have been a lot of obstacles that have came into my life since getting a dog, and I've never made an excuse to get rid of one.

I've had dogs not get along with one another. I have had dogs who have had a fear of people-including people close to me. I've had dogs that have destroyed some of my newest purchases-that were a little too valuable to ever even think about a pet chewing up, but never once have I thought-"I'm going to give this dog up."

Because if you give a dog up, for any reason at all-you're selfish. If this dog bit somebody, work with the dog. There is a reason why this dog is fearful or aggressive, and that's on you. Do not blame it on the dogs breed, and do not try and find an excuse as to how this wasn't possibly your fault. Either accept that you haven't been a good owner, or never allow yourself to have an animal again.

The first thing I did when I realized that my dog had a fear of men was get her in training. I also went over everything I did with her from a young age to now, and wondered where something went wrong, causing her to be so fearful of men. I came to the conclusion I didn't get her around enough guys in her younger years.I was in the process of moving to a new house, going to school full-time, working a part-time job, getting another job, raising 4 other dogs, and still trying to go to the gym and keep a healthy lifestyle. I did not use any of these things as excuses as to why I couldn't put my dog first. Why? Because when it comes to my dog and I-my dog comes first. If you can't say that to yourself, then please do not get a dog.

A lot of people want puppies because puppies are cute, and you'll especially notice this around the holidays. More often than not more people want a puppy just for the fact that it's cute and cuddly for a few weeks, and it would get a lot of attention on social media. This also isn't what having a dog entails. You don't get to have it at its cutest moments, and then push it to the side when it starts to get bigger and requires more care. Understand that when you get a puppy, you are in it for this dog's life-10+ years normally. There's random accidents that might happen as far as needing surgery, or antibiotics because they got bit by something. There's exercising your dog by driving a half hour to the park and a half hour back just because you don't have a big enough yard. There's also the possibility of your dog maybe meeting future kids or grand kids, little nieces and nephew's, or cousins someday..so if you're not going to work with your dog and introduce them to children, or people of all ages, don't get a dog.

Money is also a huge factor when it comes to having a dog. There are so many people that I see saying--"well I have about this much money left, will that get me a dog?" Sure that will get you a dog, but what it won't get you is back up money in case this dog needs to be taken to the vet because it gets fleas. That doesn't include money for food, or a dog bed, or a crate, or toys for the dog to play with. Have the proper money needed before getting a dog. A dog isn't just a one time purchase, there will be several things coming up in the span of your life with this dog-be prepared for that. If you can't accept that you'll be spending more money than the initial cost of the dog up front...guess what?

YOU SHOULDN'T GET A DOG.

I'm a lot of things, but I am not selfish when it comes to my dogs. They really are like my children, so it's understandable how it's frustrating to see somebody else not treat them the same way. All dogs deserve love, no matter what breed, no matter what size, no matter what temperament, and no matter what age. If something that I said in this article is too hard for you to do in the lifespan of a dog, well...I guess just,

DON'T GET A DOG,

DON'T GET A DOG,

DON'T GET A DOG,

DON'T GET A DOG.