Things to Consider Before Adopting a Dog
Unprepared Dogowners Can Become Dog Shelter Statistics
Oct 14, 2009
Unlike cats, dogs are pack animals and they need social interactions. It is easy and fun to think about the types of food, the brand of dog bed or the colour of the leash before bringing a puppy home. However, domestic dogs have their decision-making ability taken away from them by domestication. They and their owners do not share a common communication system. Dog owners need to consider the needs of their dogs and how the needs can be met before bringing one home.
The following are a few basic considerations and many of them can be easily overlooked until the puppy is brought home. Envision what the daily routines and annual events would be like, hour by hour, day by day, and week by week.
Choosing a Dog Breed
If there is an option, in additional to personal affinity, pick a breed that would lead to the least amount of potential conflicts to members in the household such as barking, shedding, energy level and size. Adopting a breed that constantly sheds will not bring welcomed companionship if someone in the household has OCD.
Financial Responsibility of Keeping a Pet
The list below provides some examples of additional outlays:
- Periodic vaccinations
- Veterinarian bills
- Annual licenses
- Grooming - particularly for the breeds which do not shed and need their hair cut
- Cleaning supplies (e.g. a new vacuum cleaner and weekly duster refills to clean up the dog hair)
- Foods & treats
- Toys
- Dog walkers (if necessary)
- Pet sitting or dog kennel fees (if the dog cannot accompany travel)
Spatial Accommodation for the Puppy
Most potential dog owners will likely consider where to let the puppy sleep and where to put the crate. However, there are many other new household re-arrangements that may affect daily routines.
- Dog bed or crate - Where should the bed or crate be placed so it will not be in the way and the dog will feel safe when it curls up to sleep at night?
- Dog food - Is there room to put away the bags of dry kibbles? Is there room in the freezer for raw food? Where will the food bowls be placed so visitors won't trip over them?
- Cleaning supplies - Where should the towels be kept so they can be grabbed as soon as the dog comes into the house from a walk on a rainy day? Where will the new heavy duty vacuum cleaner be kept?
- Kennels - Is there a kennel or dog daycare centre nearby for the days when the house cleaners come?
Daily Routines for the Dog
Envision what the daily or weekly routines would be from the moment of getting out of bed to setting the alarm before turning off the lights.
- How many times a day does the dog need to be walked?
- How long do the walks need to be?
- How much time is needed in the morning to walk the dog, fix the meal, clean up the dog hair on the floor before going to work?
- Is the neighbourhood safe to walk the dog at night to allow it to relieve before bed?
- Is the winter weather too prohibiting to walk the dog during the winter months due to health reasons?
- Is there time to spend with the dog on walks and at dog parks?
- How often would the floor and the upholstery need to be vacuumed, mopped, or dusted and how would the cleaning be fitted into the daily routines?
Lifestyle Changes
- Puppy stage - Puppies will need to be taken out for them to relieve more often. Many people take the number of months of the puppy's age and add one. The sum is the number of hours most puppies can hold their bladders. In other words, there will be midnight walks and trips home from work in the middle of the day.
- Feeding - Will dry kibbles or raw food be fed? If it is raw food for holistic believers, can a strict cleaning regiment be maintained to avoid salmonella?
- Spontaneity - Last minute overnight get-away trips will likely be a thing of the past. Are there overnight care facilities nearby that accommodate reservations with decent advance notice?
Dogs can bring a lot of joy to people's lives. They have been considered companions for humans for many years. As such, they deserve people's respect. The last thing a dog needs is to be adopted from a shelter or brought home from a breeder and then returned / taken to the shelter because the owners could not cope with the life changes because of oversight.
There are many authoritative references in the market that help prospective and new dog owners learn how to develop mutual trust and respect with their new family members. Cesar Millan is well known for training dog owners to be pack leaders while Turid Rugaas teaches people how to read and understand signals dogs use to communicate among themselves.
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