Whether you’re a cat person or a dog person, I think we can all agree that puppies are pretty cute. That being said, bringing any animal into your home is a major responsibility, and not a decision that should be made lightly. As someone who has previously owned a dog, and someone who desperately wishes to own another sometime in the near future, I would like to share some puppy protips and three major questions to consider before making the commitment.
- Is your lifestyle conducive to the well-being of the dog? This is perhaps one of the most important questions to ask yourself before you make a long term commitment to take care of a dog. If you will not be home to properly take care of the dog or spend time with it, what’s the point in having one at all? Personally, I have to often ask this question to remind myself, precisely why I cannot have a dog at the moment; I would be too busy with college and unable to properly pamper my pooch.
- What type of dog breed is right for you? It is paramount that you do your research before deciding on what type of dog is right for your lifestyle. Many people may have a particular type of breed in mind, but is that breed really right for them? Some breeds naturally require more work than others depending on activity levels, grooming maintenance, and temperament. Make sure that you and the dog breed are compatible before committing.
- Can you afford the expenses that come along with owning a dog? Another crucial question to consider when deciding whether or not adding a dog to your life is a good idea. Besides the initial cost of the dog/adoption, there will be added expenses to consider such as: veterinary bills, food, toys, etc. Owning a pet is essentially like owning a child, they are well worth the cost, but expensive to care for nonetheless.
After considering these three questions, it is also important to consider adoption. Understandably, people want what they want; however, with a bit of patience, the right dog for everyone will eventually come along and potentially save the life of another dog. The way I see it, when you adopt an animal from a shelter, you are saving two lives; the animal that you brought home and the animal that took its place in the shelter. I am not going to rattle off some statistic about how many animals are euthanized or uncared for in the United States per year, because frankly, I do not want to know. However, what I do know is that one animal losing its life of no fault of its own, but rather due to over breeding and irresponsible caretakers, is one too many. All animals need love, so what's wrong with loving the ones that are already here?
Similarly, the number of animals surrendered to shelters each year as a result of poor planning or irresponsible gift giving, is not one that I would like to share. However, it should serve as a reminder to always do your research and not take on the massive responsibility of owning an animal on a whim. Dogs, and any animal in general can be great additions to the family, as long as everyone involved can shoulder the responsibility of caring for their new furry friend. Unfortunately for me, I will be waiting a while before I can have the Golden Retriever of my dreams, but I know that it is in the best interest of me and the dog to hold off for now, and I am sure it will be well worth the wait.
