I wish everyone could have a dog! There are so many awesome benefits to introducing a dog into your family, I barely know where to start listing them off!  Adopting a pooch can enrich your life, teach responsibility, and a lot about friendship too. Dogs can provide companionship, assistance with daily tasks, do fun tricks, and encourage you to get outdoors and into the fresh air! After all, there’s a reason these loving, loyal, non-judgmental furry beings have been referred to as “man’s best friend” for ….well, hundreds of years! Click the Wiki link for more details 🙂

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_best_friend_%28phrase%29

 

While I wish everyone could have a dog, for all the reasons listed above and many, many more, it’s important to recognize the responsibilities that come with adopting the right dog for you and your family, at the right time in your lives.   Here are just a few things to consider so that you can successfully come home with a dog that you, your family, your friends & neighbors, can all get behind and enjoy many years of fun together:

 

-Do you know much about dogs? If not, are you willing to learn? Educating yourself on the needs of a dog prior to adopting one will help you start off on the right foot.  Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of being a dog owner before, you can set yourself and your new furry family member up for success by being 100% prepared

-Can you afford to have a dog? Be honest with yourself! A few surprise expenses that are often not considered:

• Long lasting safe toys to play with
• Emergency veterinary bills and/or insurance
• Daycare, dog walkers & sitters for when you’re away or need an extra hand
• Additional expenses if you’re taking your dog with you on vacation (hotels often charge extra)
• Obedience training
• Depending on the dogs needs, regular grooming & dental cleaning

-Do your work hours allow you to be there for your dog consistently, providing a stable environment so as not to confuse your pooch? Your dog’s training may possibly digress without stability

-Is your neighborhood dog friendly? Are there parks, places to hike, is there a veterinary hospital nearby? Make sure you have everything you need within a short distance to make traveling easier.

-Are you adopting a dog out of emotions? It’s important to be in a calm and rational state of mind when choosing to get a dog, so make sure you make the decision to bring one home with a relaxed state of mind. The last thing you want to do is bring a dog home without considering what an impact it will have on both your lives, if you’re not ready for one yet that’s ok, there’s always tomorrow or next week, or next year!

-Are you going to be able to confidently give a dog the leadership he/she needs and deserves? Having rules and boundaries doesn’t mean that you can’t have FUN with your dog, it means you can have even more fun because your dog knows which behaviors are wanted and which aren’t

-If you have kids, do they know how to approach, greet, and respect a dog….if not, are you willing to help teach them? There are many resources for kids as well as adults on these topics so do some research and give your kids the know-how to prevent injuries and bites from happening.  It’s also important to recognize that even if your kids know how to respect a dog’s personal space, a shelter or rescue dog might not be comfortable around children because of a previously traumatizing experience so make sure the dog you bring home is one that can safely be integrated into your family!

 

Give me a shout at info@mindfulmutts.ca if you’d like more information and resources that can put you on the right path to getting your family ready to adopt a dog, I’d be happy to help! Comment on this blog to share more important tips to consider when getting a dog, your community will thank you!

XO

Stefania