Choosing the right dog for you and your family:
For most of us, we adopt dogs to be part of our family. Unfortunately some people adopt a dog for the wrong reasons or do not select a dog that is a good fit for their family,
Remember that getting a dog is a minimum commitment of at least 6 years and possibly as long as 15 years. So when you considering this important decision, don’t think only about your lifestyle today, but also what it might be like in the future. Following are some important things to consider before getting your new dog.
Things to Consider:
- Will you be doing a lot of travelling?
- Will you be moving residences?
- Is your lifestyle a good fit … your current amount of exercise/activity, your time away from home, long hours at work?
- Do you have children? If not, will you be having them in the near fututre and will the dog be good with them?
- Do you prefer a short hair dog, medium length, or long hair dog?
- Do you mind if you get a dog that needs grooming every 8 to 10 weeks?
- Are you willing to sit down and brush your dog on a regular basis to prevent matting?
- Do you want a non-shedding dog?
- Do you want a dog that’s hypoallergenic?
- Is the breed that you are considering a high energy dog?
- Does the dog you’re considering require a run for at least 1 hour a day for him to release build up energy and be a better dog?
- Will the breed your considering be good with other dogs?
- If the dog your considering is a rescue dog, do you have the knowledge to deal with the possible issues that this dog may have?
- If you already have a dog, would the new dog be a good fit with your existing dog?
It’s a BIG decision:
Adopting a dog is a serious decision. Consider all aspects before bringing a new dog into your family. This would prevent hurting some family members that have become attached to the dog. It is a commitment that everyone should honour from the beginning to the end.
