Tips for bringing home a new dog

Key Factors to Consider Before Bringing Home a Furry Friend

Are you thinking about getting a dog? A dog can be a wonderful addition to your family and change your life for the better in countless ways. It is also an enormous decision and responsibility, so you need to take your time to consider if this is the right time for a dog. Keep reading to discover our Top Tips for bringing home a new dog or furry friend.

Time/Lifestyle Commitment

First, you need to make sure that you can dedicate enough time to a dog and that it will fit in with your lifestyle. A dog needs to be walked daily and have a structured routine. You also need to make sure that someone will be at home enough for them – you should not leave dogs on their own all day long. You also need to make sure you have enough time to train and bond with them.

Financial Responsibility

A dog is also a large financial responsibility. In addition to the cost of the dog itself (which can be high for pedigree breeds!), you will also have vet expenses and insurance coverage to arrange – these can also be expensive. On top of this, you will need large dog beds so your dog has their own space for sleeping, food, toys, and various other items to keep them happy, healthy, and safe at home.

Breed Selection

Breed selection is one of the most important decisions, yet also one many neglects. You might like the idea of a large breed, but if you live in a small one-bedroom apartment, this could be an issue! This is why you need to carefully consider the type of dog that would be a good fit for your lifestyle – there are even online quizzes that can help you decide on the right breed for you. You should also make sure you do plenty of research, speak to anyone you know who has a breed you are interested in, and find a good breeder.

Training & Socialisation

You want your dog to be well-trained and social with other people and animals. This does not happen on its own, so you need to consider how you will train and socialise your dog and be willing to take on the inevitable challenges this presents.

Introducing a dog to children

Remember to always supervise your dog and child. Make sure children are calm, and they are standing still or sitting when the dog is first introduced. They can encourage the dog to come to them by offering a treat. Ask the child to try not to stare as the dog could find this be threatening. Try to avoid sudden and loud noises.

Benefits & Challenges

You also need to weigh up the benefits and challenges of bringing home a new dog, so you can see if a dog is the right decision. A few of the benefits include:

• Companionship
• Mental health benefits
• Daily exercise
• Happy memories

A few of the challenges involve:

• Training
• Ongoing costs
• Bad behaviour
• Separation anxiety
• Not leaving them alone for too long

Hopefully, the information in this post will come in handy. A dog can improve your life in many ways, but you need to make sure that now is a good time and that you can provide a safe, healthy, and happy lifestyle for the dog.

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