This is not to scare you but help you make the right decision. Being completely sure whether you want to get a dog is very important, to avoid a change of mind that you have made the wrong choice, only to want to send it back to where you got it from. This will help prevent causing distress to the dog or any animal.
1. Do you have room for your dog?
Regardless of whichever dog you are considering getting, it will need enough room that you are probably using now for other things, to run around.
Any type of dog whether it being small, lazy, big, they will need room to move around, sleep and somewhere to ease themselves. You will need to prepare beforehand on how to prevent it from getting to a place where you do not want it to be.
2. Do you have time for your dog?
Busy as we are, with the pressure of work, social life and our day to day activities, finding time to spend with your puppy to teach it some rules or just to play with it can be a real challenge! In addition to that, there is a need to keep your dog and home clean.
You need to get it right; a dog is not a toy that you can put aside or switch off when you have other things to do or when feeling tired and want to rest. It needs companionship, care and constant training which will probably be the most difficult in the first few months of bringing it home.
If you haven’t got time but still decide to get a dog anyway, just be aware that life will not be that easy for both of you. There is no harm in waiting until you are ready to have and care for a dog.
3. Do you have enough money to care for your dog?
Having a dog creates extra financial expenses and you will not be able to maintain your dog’s health, natural being by only just feeding it with leftovers. There is more to that than the cost of dog food.
Be prepared for a list of recurring expenses, visits to the veterinary Clinic, clothing, leads, collars, coats, beddings, toys, yes; all kinds of dogs love toys because it means you as their owner, will be spending time playing with them.
4. Do you have the strength you will need to care for your dog?
Dogs come in different sizes and characters but you will know which one suits you. Regardless, you still need to be fairly fit both physically and mentally to get the most out of your human/dog relationship.
Taking your dog out for a walk will be good exercise for both of you but you need to be able to keep up with your buddy, making sure it doesn’t go where it should not go until you get it well trained to know the sidewalk rules.
There are times when you will need to lift your dog off the examination table at the vet, or off the furniture and you can only do that when you have the strength.
You will also from time to time need emotional strength to deal with issues that may arise as you care for your dog. It could be your personal issue, or the dog falling sick.
