What to Ask Yourself Before Bringing Home a Puppy

Isn’t this puppy cute? It’s so easy to see an adorable puppy, pay for it, and take it home thinking that everything will work out.

My neighbor’s grown granddaughter did that. She saw a cute Beagle puppy, paid for it, took it home, and then found out she could not keep a dog at her apartment. So she asked my neighbor to keep it. On the surface it seems like a happy ending. But there’s more.

This same granddaughter saw another cute Beagle puppy and bought it, thinking her boyfriend would keep it for her. But he couldn’t have a dog, either. So she called her grandmother, my neighbor, and asked her to keep this puppy for her, too.

Since my neighbor doesn’t want to see any dog suffer, she took in both puppies, and she likes them. They are VERY cut. But that means she now has to take care of a number of dogs, and she is not young.

So before you take on the commitment of bringing home a dog there are several vitally important questions you need to consider and below is an outline of some of them.

How big?

How big is your house and garden? A huge Great Dane in a small flat is obviously not a good idea. A bigger dog does not always need more exercise than a smaller one but WILL require more space. Also you need to consider what size of dog you can physically handle.

How old?

You need to decide if you want a puppy or a more mature dog. Obviously a puppy will require far more hard work initially - it will have to be house trained among other things - but you can train the dog to your ways. An older dog may already have acquired bad habits which will be very difficult to eradicate but a more mature animal will require less exercise and will be more likely to tolerate being left alone for a couple of hours or so.

Good with kids?

This is obviously of vital importance if you have children regularly visiting you. You need to consider that if a dog has not been used to young children they may be frightened of them and that fear may turn to aggression. Some dogs may have had a bad experience with teenagers and will therefore be wary of them. You need to think as to how the children and the dog will interact with each other.

Good with other pets?

If you have a cat or other small pets you don’t want a dog that will chase everything that moves. If you have a cat it may take to living outside because they don’t feel safe indoors if it is constantly harassed by the dog. So a major consideration when selecting your new dog is to try to determine if they will settle in together. Although this may not be easy it is really important.

Easy to train?

Although all dogs can be trained if you know how some will will learn quicker than others. Ideally if you want a well trained dog you should find a professional trainer with a good reputation who will teach you the basics of how to train your dog in the correct manner - remember you will be taught to train your dog.

Can you afford a dog?

Remember to keep a dog properly will cost money. You will obviously have to buy food but people forget that your dog will also need toys, collars and leads. The training will also have to be paid for. Probably the biggest expenses are vets fees although you can take out insurance to cover these. Also you may need the services of boarding kennels when you go on vacation. Many people overlook just how expensive it can be to look after a dog properly.

The above information is not intended to stop you from giving a dog a good home but it should help you in making an informed decision - and don’t forget when taking on a dog it is a long-term commitment so make sure you are ready for it.