Ok, so you have decided to get a dog. A perfect friend – man’s best friend but before you go ahead with getting one, it is important to know the following 5 things that will ensure you make the right decision.
Choosing the Right Type of Dogs
Choosing The Right Kind of Dog that suits the family (with kids, no kids?), style of living (do you travel a lot?, do you have space constraint at home?), do you have kids at home who is allergic to dog hairs..the list goes on. Getting a dog is like having another family member who is likely to stay with you and your family for the next 10 to 15 years. This is a big commitment to make therefore it is extremely important that you pick the right type of dog. And in case you are not aware, a certain breed of dogs tend to shed lots of hair during certain periods of the year..be warned. It is definitely not an easy task to get the perfect match. Take your time, do not rush into it, and regret later. Never buy a dog and give it away as a gift. The recipient of the dog may not be mentally prepared to live with a dog and most importantly, that person may not even want to have a dog in the first place and that poor dog may end up in the streets.
Spending time with the Dog.
Will you or your family members have time to play and train the dog? Do you have time to shower it with love and caring for it plus giving it your attention when it is sick? Dogs are very much like us, they need to have basic grooming. They need to be fed and have you spend time with it (walking it in the park).
Plan Your Expenditure Well
Always plan your budget well for many expected spending that is part and parcel of breeding and training a dog. It does not matter if you are going for dog crate training or just obedience training, there will always similar expenses that you will need to be prepared for. Below would be a list that you may want to plan and set aside some budget for. Never be taken by surprise as getting a dog may be more expensive than you think.
- Training ( some form of obedience training)
- Food
- Medical & vet expenses
- Basic grooming
- Toys, Dog House etc.
Living Area for The Dog
Do take some time off and consider the living area for the dog you are planning to get. Is the type of dog you are getting suitable for staying in an apartment or is it the type that are more suitable running around in the backyard? Even if you got the wrong type of dog, you will need to give it some time to get accustomed to it’s new environment. If you are staying in an apartment with neighbors all around, you should never get a dog that bark a lot or you are gonna get into lots of trouble with your neighbors.
Never GO for Looks
A cute looking dog may not be the type that is suitable for your current living environment and worse still, that “cute” doggie may end up tearing up your expensive clothing at home or chew up some important letters that you have. It is always prudent to do your due diligence and it is best to seek advice from the shop you will be purchasing from on a whole range of recommended breed that will be suitable for you.
Getting a dog involves a lot of commitments and responsibilities. Doing your research well before getting one would be your best bet for you and your family. Once your have gotten your perfect dog, I am sure you will have a lot of dog-related questions and you may want to read up some dog training tips to bring it up to speed with your expectation and living lifestyle.