It’s never easy to make a difficult choice when it comes to a beloved pet, but sometimes it’s necessary if you need to understand whether a dog would be the right fit for you. On the surface, dogs are adorable and loving companions and should be the perfect fit for any home, but sadly a lot of dogs aren’t suitable for certain lifestyle or working schedules.
Despite the many appeals of a dog, here are six important considerations to make to understand whether owning a dog would work for you.
- How Would Your Dog Be Exercised?
Are you able to spare the time and energy needed to walk a dog yourself? Are you mobile and active enough to be able to make more than one walk a day, every day? Considering how your dog will get its exercise is important for a healthy life. If you have a routine which wouldn’t allow your dog to be walked at the right times, is there a way for you to make alternative arrangements, such as using a dog-walking service?
- Does Your Dog Fit Around Your Work and Lifestyle?
Certain lifestyles aren’t best suited for a dog, and especially if you live alone and are solely responsible for taking care of a dog. If you usually work late, have extremely changeable shifts, have to travel a lot or have a very busy social life, would you be able to care for a dog?
If you’re not willing to make any changes to accommodate a dog, then you need to think about whether a dog would be the right option, or if you can make arrangements for your dog to be cared for if you’re otherwise engaged.
- What Costs Are Involved?
Do you have a firm understanding of your own outgoings and bills? You’ll need to research how much you can expect to spend on a dog itself and also budget for ongoing costs, including food and healthcare. Understanding your current bills is key to knowing whether there is room in your budget for a dog.
- Where is Your Nearest Vet?
Having access to a vet, and having the means to get there, are both essential for having a dog. This is both for regular check-ups or treatments, as well as emergency situations. If you live in a very remote area and your nearest vet is a considerable distance away, it’s important to plan how you would make any appointments. Can you find vet services that would come to your home? Do you have a vehicle to travel in?
You should research vets that are local to your area, such as easyvet.com, which serves Texas and other states.
- What is the Lifespan of the Dog?
Depending on the breed, dogs can live for an average of 13 years. It’s important to understand the commitment you’ll be making for this duration of time, and how your future plans would accommodate a dog.
- Would a Dog Be Compatible With Other Family Members?
If you have a growing family, especially with very young children, you’ll need to ensure your dog can fit in with that. With the right training, dogs can behave appropriately and lovingly around children, but it’s important to consider what you would do if you encountered any problems between a new pet and other family members.
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