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Is a Puppy Right for You?

Home / Is a Puppy Right for You?

Time Commitment
How much time do you have to devote to the puppy?
Are you willing to commit to the dog for its life?
How patient are you? If you get frustrated quickly with repeated mistakes, training, etc. then maybe an older dog would be better for you.

Puppies require making time for socialization, training house training, multiple feedings, middle of the night potty trips, and other activities. If you cannot devote time to raising the new baby properly an responsibly, now is not the time to bring a puppy home.

Socialization
This is the most important job of a puppy owner and cannot be put aside or delayed one second.
At this young age every moment is significant, so if you are not ready to do all of the work needed to raise a well-adjusted and confident adult a puppy is not for you.

Housing
If you don’t own the house you live in, you have to check with your landlord to make sure you are permitted to own a dog. A lot of dogs are returned to shelters, shortly after their adoption, because they weren’t allowed to live there!

Lifestyle
What is your lifestyle like? Are you an active family that spends time hiking or going for long walks? Or are you more of a couch potato? Some dogs require a lot of exercise daily, both physical and mental. The half hour walk given to a dog with low energy is far from adequate for a high energy dog. Please do bear in mind that small size does not equal less energy. Some very large dogs have lower activity level than many smaller dogs. Size is not always relevant when it comes to how much energy and exercise a dog requires.

Can you afford the expenses?
All dogs have expenses, but puppies require extra expenses for vaccines every few weeks.

Think Long Term
What will happen to the dog if you start a family?
Can you socialize the puppy now to any eventual changes that may occur in your family structure for example a new baby in the family?
What if you have to move? Is there someone that can care for your dog if you have to leave without him, temporarily or permanently?
Where will your dog stay while you are on vacation? Will he come with you?

Human Medical Issues
Are there any allergies or medical conditions in your family that could cause issues resulting in having to return the dog?
If so, you have to consult your doctor before even considering adopting a pet.
Also consider the strength and energy levels of this dog when it is an adult when considering your own situation.

Grooming
All dogs need grooming but some may require professional work. Others require only a few minutes of going over with a brush once a week as well as regular attention to teeth and nails. All dogs shed to some extent. Also, coat length does not mean a breed will shed more or less. A short-coated breed can shed just as much as a medium to long coated one.

(source material: https://www.northeastanimalshelter.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Is-a-puppy-right-for-you_.pdf)

 

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