“Mommy, can we get a dog?”. Your child has just uttered those six little words that until now you have always dreaded hearing. You thought that your response would be to panic and reel off excuse after excuse as to why getting a puppy would be a bad idea. However, you have surprised yourself as you are beginning to wonder whether adding a puppy to your family could be a good idea after all.
The important thing to remember is that adding a puppy (or an older dog) to your family is not a decision that you should take lightly. Sure, dogs make fantastic pets; they are friendly, loyal, and loving, but they require a lot of time, care, and money. So before you rush into agreeing to add a dog to your family, it’s important that you take the time to consider whether now is the best time to do so.
To help you to make an informed decision about whether now is the right time to add a puppy to your family, below are some things to think about.
Do you have the money to care for a pet?
First things first, it’s vital to think about the financial side of pet ownership. Ask yourself, do you have the money to care for a pet? The fact is that dogs come with a lot of costs, from the price that you pay for the pet itself, to the fees for veterinary care, the cost of food, and pet insurance payments, pets don’t come cheap. It’s important to remember that the larger the pet, the more it will cost to look after. For instance, the larger the dog, the more food it eats, and the more expensive its veterinary bills will be.
Are your children old enough for a dog?
The next thing to think about is whether your children are old enough for a dog. The fact is that lots of families have dogs when their children are born, and it all goes well, but when you are adding a dog to your brood and your children haven’t grown up with one; it’s important to consider whether they are old enough, or mature enough, for a pet. Do they understand that animals deserve respect? Will they treat the puppy gently enough? There is no point getting a dog if your children aren’t old enough to give it the care and love that it requires.
Will you be at home enough?
Dogs are extremely sociable animals, which means that they often hate being on their own for longer than a few hours. If you are going to get a dog, it’s important to make sure that you will be at home enough to give him or her the love and attention that they require. Or, if you won’t be at home enough, will you be willing to pay for dog day care each day? Dogs need lots of love and attention, which is why it’s important to ensure that you are able to give them that.
Are you willing to invest in training?
If you are going to adopt a puppy (or older dog), it is vital that you are willing to invest in training. If you don’t train your dog properly, you may end up with a dog that has behavioral problems; this can lead to aggression and all sorts of other problems. That is why it’s so vital that you invest in training for your dog, to ensure that he or she grows into a well-behaved family member.
There you have it, a guide to determining whether now is the right time to add a puppy to your family. Remember, a dog is a long-term commitment and not one that you should make if you aren’t in a stable place in your life.
