There is never dull moment when expanding your family with paws.
Keep reading if you're considering:
- Shelters vs Breeders
- Puppies vs Adults vs Seniors
- Big dogs vs Small dogs
- …Plus a handful of other key points that are often missed when considering to bring a pooch home.
Considerations before adopting your new dog
WARNING: There is no turning back now!
It is a done deal…you are already thinking about it…
You found yourself gleaming at puppies and wanting to play fetch with the stranger’s dog down the street [all the time]. It may be time for you to let yourself be rescued by a pooch of your own.
Let’s face it dogs are special.
Nothing against cats because kittens are cool, but then they grow up into cats. Since cat allergies exist in my life, dogs have gotten all of my attention in the mammalian pet area.
So what should you be considering when adopting a dog? What responsibilities are involved in caring for your new four legged addition?
Well-mannered pooches follow at least a handful of commands like sit, stay, fetch, and drop it among other things. They make great listener’s too [most of the time] and have a ton of love to share.
However, the canine family of pets is a bit more demanding than some other pets.
Puppies are like children in the sense that they need liquid food, soft food, and then move up to completely solid food. They need to be potty-trained, and disciplined.
Yes, they get rewards for good behavior and in some cases they get time-outs.
Although dogs do not have unsupervised homework, the new doggy parents always have homework. Rest assured, doggy parents include the children in the home.
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Rescue or Breeder
What is the specific breed in which you are interested? Or will you know what you are looking for when those sweet eyes capture your soul? There are many of resources available to help you locate the four legged companion that best fits your lifestyle and needs.
>> Rescue
- Many dogs end up in shelters every single day. Some are abandoned, strays, others are turned over for loving reasons. There is a good chance with patience you may find your furry companion in a shelter.
- Rescue dog fees are relatively low
- Up to date with vaccinations
- Already spayed/neutered.
>> small dogs
- This is where you can find a specific breed, color, gender, and sometimes age of dog that you are looking for. [BTW: There are rescues dedicated to purebreds]
- Pure bred or specialty bred dogs usually carry a higher price tag.
- Vaccinations and sterilization may not be included if desired.
Also make sure the breeder is reputable. There are many puppy mills in existence which operate under a cruel business model. If you are looking for a puppy of a specific breed, then a breeder may be the way to proceed.
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Puppies... adults... Seniors...
>> Puppies
How can you say no to that face? Puppies will worm their way into your heart with those eyes and that furry WigglyButt.
These little pooches need guidance and lucky for you they have yet to form bad habits [hopefully]. Do not be surprised if your 4 ½ month old pup already has bad habits. Things to consider with puppies:
- House training a puppy takes time, but remember you will be starting this process from scratch with a very small bladder and limited bladder control in mind.
- They are not born with teeth, but they come full of curiosity. How ready are you for the sharp needles puppy teeth? They are ready for chomping!
- Keep in mind puppies are fast learners. They need to be guided and taught everything! With great discipline, these curious minds can have great manners and maintain their personality.
>> Adults
- At least a year old. Some may consider 1 year old to still be a puppy, but by this age they are eating adult food.
- Adult dogs have habits. They have already been influenced by the world and their personalities have formed. So maybe they are already house trained or crate trained.
- Maybe they know some commands and are quite obedient. If they do not understand commands, depending on their temperament, they may need a strict regimen to guide new habits and break off the old habits.
- These dogs already know what other creatures they want as friends (ie: cats, children, other dogs).
- With the right fit, adult dogs are trainable!
>> Seniors
- Most senior dogs are mature and calm. Yes like humans, they can be stuck in their own ways, but you can teach an old dog new tricks!
- Tender love and care is what they seek as their bones and muscles are not as young as they once were. With that being said, senior dogs often have more veterinary needs than the young prancers.
- They can make great companions. Plus every dog needs a loving home regardless of age. These old souls have seen plenty in their day. Some of these old souls may surprise you, since they can have as much spunk as the pup next door.
Dogs of all ages need to be properly socialized and new habits can always be formed!
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big dog
little dog
Moving on… size matters! Which way will you go? Big? Small? What can your living situation happily accommodate? What can your financial situation reasonably accommodate?
>> big dogs
Go big or go home!!! Well…
- BIG dog, big POOP. They eat more food, and what goes in must come out.
- Many large breed dogs have a shorter life span unfortunately, but that does not mean they do not have love to give!
- Many times their temperament can be milder than that of tiny dogs [Not always, this breed and training dependent]. Big dogs offer great protection even if they are a big baby!
- Last but not least… no matter how big they are, they will still want to cuddle and be a lap dog. [Yes, that Great Dane of yours still wants to schnuggle with you on your love seat at 100+ lbs.]
>> small dogs
Some simply perfer small dogs for their size.
- They eat less…so usually poops are smaller.
- Great for apartment living. Some living quarters have a statute of weight limitations for dogs.
- Many dog services are weight based [grooming, boarding, etc.]
- Small dogs can be yappy, which is great alternative for a door bell, but they can be quiet as well.
What else should you consider?
There is definitely more than meets the cute adorable puppy eyes. Every dog parent and parent-to-be should consider these next points.
Get ahead of the game and be aware what it takes for you to have a happy pooch companion. Don’t just go for a 10/10 on the cute scale [although this is a definite plus]!!
get ahead of these afterthoughts
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potential temperament
This is important if you have other animals or children. Do you frequently have guests visiting? Proper socialization is necessary because many dogs can be great with other animals or children, but temperament can change if they are not properly socialized.
Dogs are bred with varying characteristics and strengths. These are domesticated animals, but they still have instincts and teeth.
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vacations
What happens when a vacation comes around? Time to look for a dog friendly hotel, the perfect boarding facility, pet sitter, family member or friend!
Dogs like vacations too! How able are you to take your new buddy with along for the ride? Just know they won’t want to be cooped up staring at four walls in a lonely hotel for days or weeks?
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lifestyle
How active are you? Does the breed you are considering like to lounge or sprint daily marathons? Do you have a fenced yard for free running or a few comfy spots in the house for sun bathing? What kind of allergies do you have?
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indoor .or. outdoor
Depending on the climate and breed of the dog, will the pooch be living indoor, out door, or free range? Most dogs like mud and air conditioning. Go figure!
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financial responsibility
It goes without saying that there is a definite financial responsibility that comes along with taking care of a pet, let alone a dog of any size or breed.
- Yes, there is pet insurance for when things go wildly wrong or for preventative measures.
- Yes, there are trainers who will train you and your doggy companion.
- Yes, there are gourmet food shops for canines and spas as well.
All of this, even when we cut back on the fru fru doggy stuff, still costs a chunk of change [like children with extracurricular activities but without college]. Common costs may include, but are not limited to:
- Food/treats
- Training
- Vaccinations
- Flea and heart worm prevention
- Grooming/ pet hygiene
- Toys
- Medications/vitamin
- Boarding/pet sitter
- Emergencies
Let’s be real: If you are going into this with the mindset that dogs are all fun, no work, and veterinary bills are imaginary, then adopting a dog may not be for you.
If you do not have at least 10 minutes a day to dedicate to their happiness, then adopting a dog may not be for you.
They wait allllllll day to great you with joy and kisses, only to have folks say “ughhhhh no!” They deserve love.
I am not trying to steer you away from adopting a buddy because there are so many pooches that need a home and want to share their love!
summary
There is much to think about when deciding to adopt a pooch including, but not limited to: from where to adopt, what kind of dog fits in your lifestyle and budget, and of course names!
Despite the responsibility, there is so much love to go around.
Treat them well, they are forever grateful and happy. Your furry buddy will treat you like they haven’t seen you in ages even if you stepped out to get the mail.
Close one eye [because you need the other one to keep reading…] and picture yourself coming home after a day of school, work, or life in general.
As soon as you get home there is a cheesy smile with a bouquet of wet kisses waiting for you every day! What are you waiting for? Let a dog rescue your heart!
There is never dull moment when expanding your family with paws.
What else should we be thinking about before adopting a pooch? Leave a comment below!
