5 things to consider before getting a dog

The decision to add a dog to your family is a big one, and one that should be thought about really carefully. There are plenty of things to consider before getting a dog but here are 5 really important things to think about:

1. Breed of dog

Doing research into the breed of dog you might want is probably the most important thing to consider. Are you prepared for everything that comes with a large breed? Can you deal with how much certain breeds shed? Maybe you know you want a smaller dog. Make sure you put the time in to find out what dog breed is best suited to you.

2. Day to day life

Right now, Covid is playing a big part in how we live our lives from day to day. Someone who once worked 9-5 in an office might now be furloughed or working from home. This means that they might be at home a lot more than they normally would be. Being at home all day with a dog now is one thing but what will happen when you finally go back to work?

3. Finances

Pets of any kind can cost a lot of money for many different reasons. If you’re looking at buying a dog then certain breeds can cost big money. You also have to think about the kind of food they need, toys, accessories and most importantly, insurance. Can you afford all of this and what if you need to pay for an emergency vet visit?

4. Training time

Unless you’re adopting a dog that might already be trained, you are going to need to put in quite a bit of time with your new dog. It takes a fair bit of time to train your dog to do even simple things like sit and wait, let alone be okay off a lead or to not chew all of your furniture.

5. Pet proofing

There is more to think about than just making sure your new dog doesn’t chew all of your furniture. Asking why they’re chewing could be a good start, and experts like Cynthia Maro can hold some useful answers when it comes to taking care of a dog’s teeth. Dogs get into anything so think about whether or not you can make sure the rubbish is somewhere they can’t get to. Is anything around your house toxic to dogs if they accidentally eat them?