Five Ways To Tell That You’re Not Ready To Own a Dog
If any of the following 5 statements ring true,
you should re-examine your
reasons for wanting a dog and your ability to properly care for one.
1. You’re Always Really Busy with Work and Don’t Have Much Downtime
In order for your new dog or puppy to bond with you and properly acclimate to
its new surroundings,
you’ll need to set a lot of time aside just for him.
You
can’t just pick out a puppy, bring it home, play with it for a while and then
forget it.
You need to spend quality time with your new family member.
This
means lots of playtime (especially for puppies),
two or more walks outside
every day and obedience training.
If you don’t spend time with your pet, you’re
just asking for trouble.
Often, neglected pets will act out by engaging in
destructive behavior.
Furthermore, if your pet is alone too much, he will not
be properly socialized.
This may result in his being unduly fearful of
strangers and other animals which,
in turn, may cause him to become
aggressively defensive towards them.
If you are too busy to spend quality time
with a pet, t
hen wait until your life is a little less hectic before you adopt
one.
2. You Live on a Very Strict Budget and Can Barely Afford to Pay All of Your
Bills Every Month
Dogs are never really free, even if you are given one as a gift.
First, you
have to pay for a good quality dog food.
If your dog is a very small breed,
this may not be of much concern.
If your dog is a large breed, however, food
can cost over $100 a month.
Second, you’ll need to provide your dog with
routine medical care like spaying or neutering, annual vaccinations and exams
and dental care.
You also have to be prepared to pay for any emergency medical
services.
Third, depending on the breed of dog, you may need to have it
professionally groomed and this can cost a lot of money.
Even if you groom the
dog yourself, you’ll still have to pay for the grooming supplies.
Fourth,
you’ll need to be able to afford miscellaneous items like dog dishes, toys and
other goodies.
If you can’t afford to take care of your dog in an appropriate
way,
then you should put your puppy adoption plans on hold until you are in a
better financial position.
3. You Only Want a Dog for Protection Purposes
A dog, even one that has been specially trained to guard your home, is more
than just a security device.
It is a living creature who deserves to be loved
by the people who adopt him.
He should be treated as a part of the family and
should be treated respectfully.
Guard dogs need consistent and caring
interaction with their owners.
Otherwise, those same qualities that make them
great at guarding their territory
(alertness, aggressiveness and
possessiveness) can turn them into “bad dogs” if left on their own.
If you are
not prepared to accept a dog as part of your family
for the long haul and
socialize it appropriately, then you should not adopt one.
If security is truly
a concern,
you should have a security system installed in your home.
4. Your Kids Need Something to Play With
If your kids are bored and need something to entertain them, then buy them more
toys.
Don’t buy your kids a dog unless they really want one and can see it as a
living creature instead of as a toy;
and, certainly don’t buy your kids a dog
unless you want one too.
Let’s face it.
You may say that the dog belongs to the
kids,
but the adults in the household will ultimately be responsible for its
care, feeding and medical expenses.
Don’t bring a dog into your home unless
both you and your kids understand
that adopting a dog makes him a part of your
family for life.
5. You Want a Dog Because You Want to Breed It and Make Lots of Money
First, successful and reputable dog breeders are in the business because they
love the dogs they work with.
Often, someone develops a breeding business only
after years of having had many dogs of a particular breed as pets.
Good
breeders have years of experience with the breed and know everything there is
to know about its traits, history and physical characteristics.
They also love
to educate others about the breed.
Second, the bills associated with the
feeding and care of the dog far surpasses any income he will generate,
especially for the first few years.
Buy a dog because you love the breed and
cherish him as a part of your family.
Maybe a business will come from it later
on.
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