Consider These Key Factors BEFORE Bringing A New Dog Home

These first few points may not seem like dog care tips. However, being sure you are ready for a dog and understanding the amount of work a dog takes and the commitment is important. It goes a long way toward ensuring your dog's health and care throughout his life.

• Having a dog is a lifetime commitment. Be sure you have the time for a dog in your life. If you are in college, think about what will happen to the dog when you must move and begin a job. Can you find a place to live that takes dogs? Are you willing to possibly move across the country with a dog? Having moved across the country many times in my life with dogs of various breeds and sizes, I know it is easier to move with a small dog versus a large dog.

• And this leads to the question of whether a dog is right for you as a young single professional that works long hours. Or what happens to the dog when you are at work for long hours beginning your career? A dog still needs attention, exercise and care.

• Is a dog right for the family just starting out? Do you really have the time to care for a dog when you have an infant? A puppy has many demands as well as an older dog. Demands you may not have time to meet if you have or will have a newborn. Puppies need to be trained and socialized. Old dogs may need lots of medical care and physical help.

• Think about when that dog gets older, at 7, 10 or 14 years old, and starts having different medical problems. Will you be able to spend the time taking care of him then and doing all the extras that may be necessary? Such care can be carrying him outside to potty and cleaning up behind a dog that may no longer be able to control his bladder. And there may be the additional expense of vet bills including the final heart-breaking one. If you think you will just get rid of your dog at the animal shelter when he becomes inconvenient, then a dog is not for you.
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