If you have been thinking a lot about bringing a doggy into your home then you are not alone. This time of year people start thinking about getting a puppy or older dog for christmas, one thing you must remember is that a dog is for life. Many people invest in a dog without realising just how much work they can be. Take a look at the article below to find out some of the things you need to consider before introducing a family pet.
What Your Budget Is
There are plenty of dogs out there that will fit into any type of budget. Of course, the rarer the breed then the more expensive the price tag. Always check rescue and rehoming centres as you can get a loving dog for a fraction of the cost. The money you pay for a rescue dog then goes back into the charity to care for the other dogs they have. A brand new dog could end up costing you around $1200, whereas a rehoming centre will only ask for a donation of around $300. If you need to save up for a little while then you could always put your name down with a breeder ready for a reserve of their next litter.
Research The Breed
If you have your heart set on a specific breed then you will need to do your research before you get one. For instance, you might really want something like a chow chow. While these look like big fluffy teddy bears they aren’t great around kids due to their levels of patience. You need a breed that will fit in with you, your family, and your lifestyle. Don’t just get a specific breed because you like the way it looks. You should also check how big these dogs get when they are fully grown then see if you actually have room for one.
How Much Time You Have
Do you work from home a lot of the time? Can you be home for most of the day? These are all valid questions you need to ask yourself before you get a dog. Rehoming centres will ask you the very same questions especially if you have your eye on a needy dog who requires your attention throughout the day. If you are going out to work all hours of the day and leaving your dog on its own then this won’t be good for anyone. The covid-19 pandemic saw a lot of people get dogs due to being home all the time. However, they then went back to work which set off high anxiety levels in the dogs.
Where They Will Sleep
This is something that not many people think about when they get a dog. Where will the dog sleep? If you are a busy household then your dog will need somewhere to take themselves when it all gets a bit much for them. This could be a crate, or even a space in a separate room. Of course, you can have them sleep in the living room or even in your bedroom. Just be prepared to get up several times a night if they are still toilet training.
Ongoing Costs
Don’t forget that it isn’t just the initial cost of the pet itself that you need to consider. There will be continuous ongoing fees that you also need to have enough money for. This could be insurance costs, vet fees, equipment, and any food that they need. You will need to figure out what you are going to feed your dog and how much this will cost you. Each meal choice can vary in price, for instance dry food is cheaper than wet food. You could also look into fresh food for your dog, check out the many benefits of fresh dog food.
Do You Have Kids?
There are several questions you need to ask yourself before you get a dog. One of the main ones is, will you look at rehoming a dog and giving it a chance at a forever home. There are usually a lot of hoops to jump through when you want to rehome a dog, this is why many people just buy puppies from breeders. If you have children then rehoming centres and shelters are reluctant to give you a dog. This is understandable for safety reasons but it does make your task of finding a dog harder, especially if you are only interested in rehoming.
Children and animals together can be totally unpredictable. You need to teach your children that pets have feelings too and they don’t always want to play whenever the children want to play with them. However, having a dog around the house is also a wonderful way to teach your children the responsibilities of having a pet.
We hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you some advice, tips, and guidance on what you need to consider before getting a family pet.
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