Dogs are just the best, aren’t they? Man’s best friend, loyal, intelligent, and playful, it’s a no-brainer to consider a new pet and come up with the answer of a dog. Well, we will clearly say yes to that, but the answer comes with somewhat of a caveat, there are many things to consider to be the perfect dog owner.
Why do we say the ‘perfect’ dog owner? It’s because a dog is as deserving of the best life as much as any other member of the family, so it has to be the best, or it’s unfair on the animal. Before you decide to go out and buy one yourself, there are some things that every prospective owner should know first. So if you want your furry friend to live as long as possible, then this blog post is going to help!
Read More:
- Pet Care: And Why Your Pet Needs Medical Insurance
- The Average Cost of Pet Insurance: A Basic Guide
- How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost? A Guide on the Average Prices
- Best Dog Food Review 2021 (Large Breed & Small Breed)
- 15 Reasons Why You Should Train Your Dog
1. Do You Have Enough Time?
Time is an essential component of being a good dog owner, and one you cannot buy. If you are at all unsure of whether or not you have enough of it then you should very carefully consider whether this is the right time or not to be owning a dog? Most dogs need walking at least 3 times each day, so if all the adults or older children in the family are away during the day then maybe it’s not the best time for a dog? One possible solution to this is to employ the services of a competent dog-walker, they are not always cheap but be sure to get one with good references as you don’t want just anyone taking care of your dog.
2. What Experience do You Have of Training?
Everyone has to have their first dog at some point but the one thing that you need to make sure the dog gets is proper training. So, if you have no experience of training a dog then you need to make sure you find a way of getting help with this. One way is hiring a trainer to do one on one sessions, this is a great way to get training that is dedicated to the personality of your particular dog. One to one sessions are quite expensive though and there are always puppy training classes available as well.
3. Have You Added Up All the Costs?
Having a dog is expensive and you should be sure that you have added up all of the costs of being a dog owner. This includes food, toys, insurance, training, and medical costs. It’s easy to do this and all you need is a simple spreadsheet. It will need to be done as costs can vary on everything, food as an example can greatly vary in cost and if you want a healthy dog then steer clear of the most budget stuff.
4. Do You Have Medical Covered?
There are going to be medical costs with the dog. This can be for pet insurance, be careful with what is included in this as some policies won’t cover lifetime medical, which means that once diagnosed your dog will only receive cover over the policy lifetime. Vets fees can be anticipated for some things such as inoculations, but emergency costs may not be, such as operations, and associated costs such as pain relief for dogs but your vet can advise on the best value to buy.
5. What Size of Dog is Best for You?
Large or small, that’s the big (or small) question! It all depends on your circumstances? Is your house large or small, and what type of dog suits your personality.
6. Consider Your Family Situation
Do you have small children? Are they used to a dog being around? If you already have a dog then this is good but you need to make sure that the new and old dog gets on. There are ways to do this and you should see about letting them meet before committing if possible.
7. Puppy or Adult Dog?
Do you take on a puppy or a grown-up dog? This is a very good question. The advantage of a puppy is that you can be sure of the dog’s background and that it is less likely to have personality issues. Be sure to buy from a reputable breeder, one where you can see the mother and maybe even the family history. If a supposed breeder is based in a random house and can’t provide any history or paperwork on the puppies then give it a miss. The downside is that a puppy is a lot of work and you need to be home for the first few weeks with a new puppy as it needs to adapt in a healthy way to its new home.
Conclusion
It’s important to understand that not all dog breeds are created equal. Some may be more active than others, some need a lot of grooming, and some require minimal exercise at all. If you’re considering getting your first dog or adding one to the family, there are ten things every potential owner should know before making their decision! Whether you have children in the house or not, it’s worth noting that dogs can make great pets for any age group. However, suppose you do have kids under five years old in the home. In that case, we advise against owning a breed with sharp teeth like Pitbulls or Terriers as these animals could end up attacking them by mistake, never intending harm on their part but because they play rough around small children.
