Virtually every kid wants a puppy, and with good reason. They are cute, snuggly, sweet and capable of bringing boundless joy to you and your family. Indeed, there are many benefits to having a puppy, including better health, increased mood and a boost to your ability to fight off allergies. However, as much fun as it is, having a puppy isn’t right for every family and under every circumstance, and you and your family must have some real conversations before deciding to get a dog. Here’s a look at some items you should think about before adopting a dog.
Think Long-Term
Puppies are great, but it’s about more than that, you aren’t getting a puppy, you’re getting a dog. This is a major commitment – one that could last you upwards of fifteen years. Are you and your family prepared for that? Do you have any major lifestyle changes coming up? Are you looking at moving in the near future?
Find the Right Breed
There are many different breeds of puppy to choose from — so many, in fact, that you may feel overwhelmed at the prospect of choosing. There isn’t necessarily a “wrong” breed for families, because by and large, breed doesn’t matter, it’s how a dog is bred and raised. However, there are some breeds that typically do better in family settings and with little children than others. Examples of these types of dogs include Golden Retrievers, Pugs, and Poodles. What is most important is that you get a dog whose temperament matches your family and can withstand whatever your lifestyle and personalities are.
Calculate Cost
Puppies can be major expenses – maybe more so than you first realize. There’s the cost of the dog, sure, but then there is food, equipment, crates, toys, vet visits and more. Plus, if your pet has an accident or illness, costs can quickly rise into the tens of thousands. As such, it is absolutely worth investigating pet insurance. This can be a lifesaver in the event of a catastrophic injury or illness. However, remember, pet insurance doesn’t cover everything, and it isn’t cheap, either.
Don’t Forget the Vet
When deciding to get a dog, it’s important that you keep pet health in mind. You have to regularly get your dog their vaccines and make sure you are getting them plenty of exercise in order to keep them healthy. You should make sure that any breeder you purchase a dog from has the appropriate paperwork, indicating that the dog has been bred in line with any appropriate standards. You also should make sure that you get a dog who can thrive in whatever climate you live in.
Make Sure Your Kids Are Ready
Adopting a puppy is a big decision, so you should make sure your kids are prepared for the responsibility. You have to make an honest assessment, are they ready to walk the dog? Clean up after it? Close all doors in the house to make sure the dog doesn’t destroy your mattress or their stuffed animals? If a child isn’t old enough to share the responsibility and understand that a dog is a life, not a toy, it may not be an appropriate purchase for you and your family.
Prepare Your Home
When you first get a puppy, you have to “puppy proof” your house. This means cleaning your floor as much as possible, shutting doors and hiding away garbage cans. Furthermore, you have to be far more aggressive about cleaning or getting things off the floor. Remember, many common household items can be deadly dangers for your dogs. As such, getting a dog really requires a shift in mindset. You have to be much more vigilant about cleaning your home and ensuring that you are protecting your new family member.
Brush Up on Dog Training
All dogs must be trained. This doesn’t mean that they need to know how to dance or rollover, but at a bare minimum, your dog should be able to respond to basic commands and listen to the sound of your voice. Thankfully, there are many free training resources available, including websites, blogs or YouTube videos. Furthermore, there are countless trainers and stores that hold basic puppy obedience classes. If you don’t know what you are doing, or want more advanced training, these places can provide you with the expertise necessary to get you and your animals where you need to be.
Avoid Puppy Mills
Puppy mills are a scourge to all good dog breeders and families. In short, they are unethical facilities that force dogs to breed as much as possible, without any concern for the health or welfare of the animals. Their priority is quantity, not quality. They are illegal almost everywhere, and terrible facilities.
Instead, consider adopting. There are countless dogs and even puppies in need of adoption, likely not too far from where you live. If there are specific breeds you want to purchase, make sure that you do so from trained, certified dog breeders. These breeders are trained and certified. Their job is to ensure the health and well-being of a puppy, and when they breed dogs, they do so responsibly, ensuring that the puppy you will adopt has the right health and temperament for you and your family.
Buy Cleaning Supplies
If you adopt a puppy, a simple fact of life is that the puppy will pee and poop in places it shouldn’t. House-training your dog is necessary and can be done with time and effort. However, until that time, you’re going to have to get used to a dog using the bathroom in your house. Watch them like a hawk and prepare yourself to do an awful lot of cleaning. As such, make sure you buy plenty of paper towels, carpet cleaning supplies, and disinfectants.
By now, you hopefully understand just how complicated dog adoption or purchasing can be. It is a real responsibility, one replete with challenges and pitfalls. However, clearly, these issues are not insurmountable, as millions of Americans bring home puppies every year. Getting a puppy can be a fantastic investment, one that can bring you and your family joy for years to come. Just make sure that you know the responsibilities it entails before you make the final decision to get one.
Read this one next: What to Keep in Mind When Moving to a New House With Kids
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