How Do You Know When to Get a Dog

March 14, 2022 Post a Comment

Labrador Running

Thinkstock

Earlier you become a dog, consider which breed has the personality and exercise needs that fit your lifestyle.

Thinking about bringing domicile a dog? Before y'all take the plunge, bank check out this list of seven requirements you lot should meet before getting a new puppy or adult dog.

1. You lot have the time to railroad train and socialize a new pooch.Bringing domicile a puppy (or even an adult domestic dog) ways a huge commitment of fourth dimension and patience. You take to teach him the rules of your home — including potty training, prophylactic interaction with children or other pets, and which items are dog toys and which are Mommy'south make-new pair of expensive dress shoes. On top of that, you should take time for training sessions — cheque out Mikkel Becker's listing of the three lifesaving commands every canis familiaris should know — and, of form, adequate practice.

2. Y'all've considered which kind of dog fits your lifestyle.If you're a retired senior looking for a laid-back companion who doesn't demand much exercise, a Edge Collie may not be your best bet. And if you're an athlete searching for a running companion, you probably don't want to bring home a Pug. Before you get a dog, recollect most your exercise routine, your age and by and large how a domestic dog volition fit into your lifestyle. If you lot're looking for a very specific personality, consider adopting an adult dog from a shelter or rescue group. Puppies can be a hazard, but one of the bang-up things nearly adopting an older canine is that, for the most part, you know what you lot're getting.

three. You're financially set up to intendance for a dog.They may not need a $100,000 college education, merely dogs do put some pressure on your banking concern account. Make sure you're prepared to pay for things like initial shots, spaying or neutering, preventive intendance, toys, food and cleaning supplies — not to mention routine and perchance emergency veterinary care for their entire lives.

4. Yous can commit to having a pet for the side by side decade or longer. Speaking ofunabridged lives, those who are commitment-phobic should be enlightened that owning a canine definitely means a long-term obligation. A dog may be by your side for the next 10, 12 or 15 years — perhaps long after you intermission up with that boyfriend.

5. Everyone else in your home is on board.If you're thinking about getting a dog, talk with everyone you live with to figure out how the care and training responsibilities will be shared. Kids can be not bad helpers with things like refilling the water basin and exercising the dog, only the majority of the work falls to you, the developed. And fifty-fifty if information technology's technicallyyourdog, you should brand sure your roommates know not to feed him table scraps or let him bark at the Tv.And we're not simply talking about the humans in your dwelling existence on lath — if you have other pets, ask your veterinarian for tips on how to safely introduce them to a new dog.

six. The identify where yous live allows dogs.Many apartments and condominiums have restrictions on the size of dog that residents are allowed to have (usually measured past weight), and some exercise not permit pets at all. Likewise accept into account whether you alive in an area with breed bans.For instance, it'due south illegal in Miami-Dade County, Fla., to own an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or any dog who fits the characteristics of those breeds.

seven. Yous've studied up on care and safety. Obviously, when it comes to those topics, Vetstreet is happy to assist! Beingness educated on pet buying will brand your life, and your dog'due south life, then much better when your new companion comes domicile. Give yourself plenty of time to inquiry proper nutrition, potential hazards in the home, dental care and local veterinarians.We promise it'll pay off!

So what do you call up? Are you ready to bring dwelling a dog? If you're feeling queasy about the items on this list, cheque out our story on the 7 signs you shouldn't get a canis familiaris.

More on Vetstreet: