The Big Question - Should You Own a Dog

To be completely fair, everyone should consider owning a pet. The companionship an animal gives to a human is extraordinary but………before you jump on adopting a pet, one must first truly look at a few factors. How you truly answer these questions will determine if this is the right time for you to adopt a pet (dog) and begin this long term animal and human relationship.

Time

As with children, dogs take time. Beyond training, feeding, and simply enjoying their presences, dogs require exercising, grooming, and interaction with their pack. While you may think that a dog’s pack is just the other dogs around it, it also consists of its human family. Not spending enough time with the human pack can cause depression along with inappropriate behavior, such as chewing or tearing up things.

Yes, this destructive nature is part of owning a dog; it is also due to the desire for attention. This is very similar to a child acting up. In other words, negative attention is better than no attention. In many situations, this in turn leads to the dog being dropped off at the shelter and viewed as a problem.

In the end though, this situation was caused by the human owner because the amount of time required to properly take care of a dog was not considered. If you are lacking on time but willing to pay someone to properly take care of your dog then it may be time to adopt one. On the other hand, if this is not an option and/or you are too busy to feed, water, and exercise your pet along with spending time with them than this is not the proper time to own a dog.

Space

As much as a dog needs the basic necessities of life, it also needs space. This includes space in its indoor habitat along with its outdoor environment. If you do not think this should be a consideration, think about that friend you have that has that large dog in the small apartment. Just the simple presence of the dog causes things to be knocked off of tables and mayhem.

The same can be considered when you think of a large dog trying to run in a small backyard. An example of this can be pictured if you think about cartoon Clifford the dog trying to be comfortable on a “tree lawn” or “road verge.”

Financial Resources

Dogs, just like children, require money. While you may think the smaller the dog the less the expense is true, in actuality there is no substantial correlation. Beyond food, bed, grooming and toys, dogs require doctor (Vet) visits for shots, worming and fixing. Also, in some areas, a license is required, which is not free. Depending on the type of housing by which you live in, you may find that there is also an additional cost. All of this on average can add up to $3085 the first year of ownership.

While you can find some discounted serves on grooming and fixing, all in all if you cannot afford the full price of services it is a good idea to skip the ownership until your monetary situation can afford a dog. If your heart is still set on getting a canine companion, take a walk through the animal shelter. Many of these dogs were purchased or adopted with good intent. But the financial stress of pet ownership caused them to be abandoned or surrender with the hope of a better life.

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