Looking for (Puppy) Love in All the Right Places
Have you been considering adding a furry family member to your household? Before you make that leap, there are some important steps you need to take, along with some tough questions to ask yourself to make sure you’re ready. Adding a dog to your household is a 10 to 15 year commitment–almost the equivalent of having another child! As such, adopting a pup should be considered seriously and with care before succumbing to those cute little eyes. Here are the most important concepts to consider:
Family and Lifestyle
The average household has one or both parents working, kids attending school and a myriad of extracurricular activities leaving you to consider whose responsibility a new dog will be and where he will fit with everyone’s busy schedule. The amount of daily effort involved can vary widely, depending on the age and breed of the dog. Regular responsibilities include feeding, grooming, daily walking/exercising, training, cleaning up messes, routine and emergency veterinary visits, etc.
Reflect on what your lifestyle is like. Are you a homebody, or constantly out and about? Do you have frequent visitors and ample of activity in your household? Do you travel often and, when you do, will you bring your dog? Do you have other pets that will need to get along with a new-comer? An honest assessment of your lifestyle will be imperative in deciding whether you are ready to add another member to your family.
