Are You Ready for a Dog?

Ahhh, the family dog.  Every family should have one, right?  He can provide affection, protection, and amusement.  He'll teach the kids responsibility.  Walking him will give you a reason to get some exercise.  On the surface, getting a dog seems like a good idea and a simple decision.  But that cute little puppy is going to grow up into a much larger adult who could be with you for upwards of fifteen years.  How many other purchases you make are going to be around that long?  Probably very few.  Therefore, the decision to get a dog (and which dog to get) should be made as carefully as you would make any large purchase or long-term investment.  Unfortunately, not all people put much thought into the decision to get a dog, which sadly results in millions of unwanted pets ending up in animal shelters around the country.  Before you go ahead and add a canine member to your family, be sure that you are ready for the commitment of time, money and energy that are required to raise a happy, healthy, well-adjusted pet who will be a pleasure to live with and admired by the neighbors.  That way, you can be sure to avoid adding one more unwanted dog to the millions who are homeless already.

Here are some of the things to consider before getting a dog.  If you can (honestly) answer yes to all of these questions, then a dog just may be the right pet for you!  If you answer no to any of them, you might want to consider another pet or put off getting a dog until a better time.

• Are you willing to commit to caring for an animal that could live for 15 years or more?
  Granted, life circumstances change, and sometimes unexpected things happen and people can't keep their dogs.  However, if you know that in three years you'll be moving to new place and you won't be able to take your dog, or if you're planning to have children in a few years and know you won't want to have a dog and a baby at the same time, or you can think of any reasons now why in the next fifteen years you won't want to have a dog, then don't get a dog now.  It's not fair to the dog or you. 

• Are you willing and able to pay for all the costs associated with owning a dog?
   These include not only the initial purchase price, which can be several hundred dollars or more for a purebred pup from a reputable breeder, but also hundreds of dollars a year in food, toys, obedience classes, and of course vet bills.  Along with this, consider what you would do if you had an unexpectedly large vet bill because your dog is hit by a car or breaks a leg in the yard.  Are you willing to pay hundreds or possibly thousands of dollars if it means your dog will recover?  Or are you not willing to spend that kind of money on an animal?  There is no right answer to how much a person is willing to spend to save a pet, but that's not a decision you want to be making while your dog is bleeding on an exam table.  And if you are not willing (or able) to cover the costs of basic maintenance and vet care, as well as the occasional emergency (because we all have them), then a dog may not be right for you at this time.

• Is someone able to be home during the day, or are you able to make other arrangements such as a dog-walking service, or doggy daycare if you work long hours?
  Dogs generally do not do well when left alone for long periods of time.  They get bored and lonely and can become destructive or develop other behavioral problems.  Puppies, especially, cannot be left alone for more than a few hours.  If you have more than one dog, and they are adults, they can keep each other company and will do better for longer periods of time.  However, if you are gone 10 hours a day, five days a week, with no one who can let the dog out at lunch time at least, you might want to reconsider getting a dog.  And you definitely don't want to get a puppy.

• Do you have at least an hour a day to devote solely to your dog?
  Dogs need quality time with their people.  Especially if your dog is left home while you work, but even if you're there all day, your dog needs time with you or other family members.  He needs to be exercised, played with, groomed, trained and loved.  If your life is full of commitments and other activities and your plans don't include one-on-one time with the dog, a dog doesn't really fit into the picture right now.

• Are you willing to attend obedience school with your dog?  Or at least teach it basic obedience at home?
  A well-trained dog is a wonderful companion, and an untrained one can be a disaster to live with.  If you are not willing to put in the time and effort (and possibly money) necessary to have a dog who knows basic manners, neither you nor the dog (or your neighbors, most likely) will be very happy.  The majority of dogs who end up in shelters or breed rescue programs do so because of behavioral problems which resulted from a lack of basic obedience training when the dog was young and easily trained.  If you're not willing to do the basics, then you are practically guaranteeing that your dog is going to end up in a shelter or relegated to the backyard.  Please don't do that to a dog.

• Are your children (if you have any) old enough?
  Although there can be exceptions, generally dogs and small children (under the age of six) do not mix very well.  Large dogs can accidentally hurt small children, and the children could easily injure a small dog.  Young children frequently do not understand how to treat a dog, and this has resulted in many tragic accidents which generally mean death for the dog.  Additionally, the energy required to care for small children may not leave enough left over to adequately care for a dog as well.  You might want to consider waiting until the children are a little older and everyone can really enjoy the family pet.

• Do you have a fenced yard?
  Although this may not be an absolute requirement, many breeders are unwilling to sell a puppy to someone without a fenced yard.  People who are strongly committed to walking their dog frequently may be able to live with a dog in an apartment, and some small dogs can get along okay without going out much if they are paper- or litter-trained.  People who live on an unfenced property, however, may be too willing to just let the dog out in the yard because it takes too much effort to leash him up and go out with him.  Moving vehicles and enticing distractions can make this a disaster for a dog who wanders off or is hit by a car.  If you don't have a fenced yard, but are really committed to taking proper care of your dog (including not letting him out off-leash and unaccompanied), you may be able to convince a breeder to sell to you.  But this is something you might want to think pretty hard about before deciding to go ahead and get a dog.

• Are you getting a dog for the right reasons?
  There are many reasons people might give for getting a dog.  Think about why you want one and consider if it's a good reason or not.  Getting a dog because you love animals and want a companion to spend a lot of time with is a good reason.  So is getting a dog to become involved in some of the many wonderful canine activities out there.  Getting a dog so the kids can learn responsibility by taking care of it is not a good reason.  Although kids can help, they are not going to end up being the primary caretakers of the dog.  You are.  Likewise, getting a dog because you saw a cute one on TV or in a pet store is a horrible reason.  Think about your reasons before making a decision, and make sure that the reasons are good ones.

• Are you looking for a new member of your family?
  Dogs are pack animals and, as mentioned, need to be with their people.  If you are planning to leave the dog in a crate most of the time, or keep it out in the backyard, your dog will probably be miserable.  If you are not willing to incorporate the dog into your daily life, then don't get a dog.

• And finally, are you ready to share your life with a living being who will love you unconditionally, amuse you endlessly, and enrich your life in countless ways?
  If so, then you may be ready for a dog after all.