Should I get a Dog?
Raising a dog can be an extremely rewarding experience. A dog will be your unconditional friend and will stay with you for his whole life. He will always try to please you and to put a smile on your face. He will enjoy spending time with you and will do his best to protect you because you will be his master.
However, a dog cannot take care of himself and will reply on your to provide everything from food, medical care, shelter, training, companionship and protection. Will you be able to care for your dog through good times and bad for the next 10 to 15 years? Can you afford the costs of owning a dog? Do you have time to train and look after a dog? Have you asked yourself “Should I get a dog”?
Before you begin the search for a dog, you must ask yourself the most important question of all: should I get a dog? Sharing your home with a dog is a life-changing experience and you need to make sure it is the right time to bring a dog into your life. Having a dog brings a special kind of companionship, but it also requires a daily, long-term commitment in the form of regular exercise, playtime, veterinary care, grooming and training.
Every day, tens of thousands of dogs are given up because owners did not carefully think through the implications of owning a dog. |
“Should I get a dog” is the first question to seriously ask yourself and your family. Take time to think about this, ask yourself whether you are ready for a dog. Being in a hurry to get a dog is a common mistake which families end up regretting and adds to our high rate of putting down dogs in over-crowded dog kennels.
This page is written to help you answer the “Should I get a dog” question. Take time to read through this section and think carefully about each point. By the end of this topic, you should have a good idea whether you are ready for a dog. Don’t be disappointed if the answer is no. Not everyone is ready for a dog at this moment in time. But people change and your lifestyle in five years may be very different from now and perhaps raising a dog then will be more beneficial for both yourself and your dog.
Things to consider before getting a dog:
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Time for dog - should I get a dog?
How many hours do you spend at home each day? Don’t get a dog if your house is empty most of the time. Dogs are affectionate animals that need a lot of love and attention, so you need to make sure you have enough time for a dog. You cannot leave your dog alone at home while you work 8 hours a day five days a week. So if you are living by yourself and have a full time job, then getting a dog now is not the right choice for you. Even if you are a housewife who spends all day at home, you may not have sufficient time for a dog if you have young toddlers that keep you occupied, maybe wait a couple years before your kids are more mature and your schedule frees up.
As a minimal rule, you should have at least one person at home at all time to care for a dog and your dog should never be left alone for more than two hours per day.
Energy - should I get a dog?
Do you have enough energy to exercise with your dog every day? Dogs, like humans, need to exercise every day to maintain physically and mentally healthy. How much exercise will depend on the type of dog you have, but most dogs will require at least 30 minutes every day. When asking yourself “Should I get a dog?”, imagine if you can spend half an hour every day running with your dog. Even go out there and jog for 30 minutes every day this month to see if you enjoy that kind of lifestyle. You may discover that it is something you hate doing or too tired to do every day after 10 hours at the office. Clearly, you shouldn’t get a dog if you have physical problems that will prevent you from exercising with him.
Dog costs - should I get a dog?
Even if you have the time and energy for a dog, you need to have sufficient financial resources to raise a dog. Raising a dog will cost you about $1,000USD per year, the bunk of it going to dog food and veterinary care. With a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years, the final bill can come out to be $15,000USD and sometimes well above if there are any unfortunate surprises. Do you have this kind of discretionary money? If you are struggling to meet ends of your own, don’t get a dog because you will end up giving him inadequate care if any unexpected health issues arise.
Pros and Cons of Raising a dog - should I get a dog?
Raising a dog has many benefits, it gives us unconditional love and friendship. They contribute to our healthy by always being ready for a walk or a game of fetch. They provide instant stress relief and help exercise our body. They are always thrilled to see us, even if we've only stepped out for a few minutes. And of course, they always do silly things that make us laugh.
While living with a dog has its benefits, it can also restrict the amount of time you spend always from home and amount of money have for yourself. Dogs need to be looked after, they need to be fed, walked, and played with daily. Planning a trip with your family will require the additional step of deciding whether to bring your dog along or look for a dog sitter. When planning your monthly budget, veterinary expenses and food expenses will need to be included. So there are a few things you need to think about when deciding "should I get a dog". Even if you are ready to sacrifice time and money to raise a dog, you also need to consider if your family is ready for a dog.
Is you family ready for a dog - should I get a dog?
Before you get a dog, you need to make sure everyone in your family is ready for a dog. If anyone isn't ready for a dog, it can cause tension and disagreements. Causing the dog to be the victim when the family decides it's too much trouble and gets rid of him. If you have children, it's vital to choose a dog who is kid friendly. This means looking for temperament tested dogs and going through proper obedience training. If you have dogs or cats, are you sure they will accept the new dog? Some breeds have predatory instincts that make them unsuitable to live with other dogs or cats.
I have allergies - should I get a dog?
5-10% of people are allergic to dogs or other pets. If you are one of those people, look for breeds that trigger few allergy problems. Breeds such as Portuguese Water Dogs, Poodles and various terriers have slower shed cycles than most dogs. For this reason, they shed less and their coats do not stop growing at 2-3inches typical with most dogs.
Conclusion - should I get a dog?
I hope by now you have the answer to “Should I get a dog” and you know whether your family is ready for the full time commitment of caring for a dog. If you hesitated to any of the items above, then maybe getting a dog now may not be the best move. Give it a couple years or until your lifestyle is more settled, then read this page again and see if you are ready then. I stress again do not rush into getting a dog because tens of thousands of dogs are put down every day because people don’t think before getting a dog.
If you are confident that you can provide the time, energy and money to raising a dog, then continue reading my next topic on “How do you get a Dog”.