Your children have been begging for a puppy for over a year now. You’ve been putting off the decision to get one because you’re not sure if you’re ready for a family puppy. There’s a lot of work and responsibility that goes into having one.
Your job is a bit demanding, so there’s a chance that you don’t even have the time to train the dog. You would hate to leave it cooped up all day while nobody’s home.
Dogs need tons of attention and love in order to be happy and healthy. If you can’t meet those demands, you might want to reconsider.
If you’re still on the fence, we might be able to help you make a final decision. Check out this guide to learn if it’s time to take in a new puppy.
Think About Why You Want a Dog
Before you head to a shelter or start shopping around for a specific dog breed, you need to think about why you want a family pet. If you only want one because you think your kids would like it or because everyone else has one, that’s not a good enough reason.
Taking a dog into your home is a huge commitment. Chances are, they’re going to be with you for life. It’s not a decision that you should make because you want to jump on the bandwagon.
You Have the Time on Your Hands
Getting a new dog can be pretty time-consuming. Somebody has to be around to take care of it, let it outside to use the restroom, feed it, and give it adequate amounts of love.
If you adopt a puppy, you’ll have to potty train it and teach it the rules of the house. Neglecting to do that will prevent the little one from growing into a well-behaved adult. Kind of like with human children.
If you’re never home because of work, you might want to hold off on getting a puppy until you have a less demanding job.
Your Children Like Being Around Animals
The truth is, some children are naturally terrified of animals. If this is the case with your little one, you shouldn’t force things by bringing a dog into the house. You’ll have to take it at a snail’s pace.
If you have a friend or family member who has a dog, bring your child over to their house to interact with the pet. Only introduce your kid to calm dogs at first.
As they get more comfortable with being around them, you can begin to let them play with more energetic breeds.
You Have the Finances
No matter if you’re adopting a pet or buying a pure breed dog, it’s not going to be cheap. The Presa Canario cost alone is about 2000 dollars.
That’s only one breed. You can imagine how insane the prices get. You also can’t simply get a dog and call it a day. They need food, water, toys, a bed, and more.
Many dogs have unique health needs. You’ll have to take them to the vet regularly for checkups. They need to get their shots, and you’ll have to get them spayed or neutered.
Although do remember that by investing in dog insurance you can make sure your puppy is covered for veterinary procedures which means you get to claim all or a large part of the cost of each one back. Some pet insurance providers even let you claim for preventive treatments, and have no network restrictions, which means you can use any vet you like without needing to worry. Just be sure to look out for these benefits before you sign up for your policy.
You’ve Had a Successful Trial Run
Many parents will do a trial run before getting a dog for their child. They’ll take in a friend’s dog for the weekend and see how their kid interacts with it.
Chances are if the child is responsible enough to handle the dog during the weekend, they’ll be able to take care of one of their own.
You Have an Active Family
Every single dog breed has different exercise requirements. This being said, all dogs need a chance to burn out their energy. If they don’t, they’ll find some way to occupy themselves, and you won’t like it.
Not only will the dog destroy your couch when they aren’t exercised adequately, but they could also get depressed.
Exercising the dog is much easier if you already have an active family. You can take it with you on a run or your children can play with it in a park.
If you’re looking at larger dog breeds, hold off if you live in an apartment. They need a huge fenced-in area to stretch their legs. They shouldn’t be cooped up.
Everybody Wants a Dog
Before you make a huge decision like getting a family dog, you need to make sure that everyone in your house is cool with the idea. Discuss training and pass out regular puppy duties.
If you have another pet already, you’ll have to get them on board as well. If you’re not sure where to start with this, your veterinarian might have a few ideas.
You’re Ready to Take Responsibility for the Dog
As a parent, you shouldn’t expect your child to know how to train a dog by themselves. This is especially true if it is their first puppy.
That means you have to be ready to chip in some responsibility for the dog because most of their training is going to be up to you. You’ll need to teach your child how it’s done and guide them in the right direction.
As your little one gets older, you can slowly hand over the responsibility to them, but it’s something that you’ve got to work them into.
Are You Ready For a Family Puppy?
Are you considering getting a family puppy? There’s a lot that goes into raising a pet. You have to make sure your entire household is ready for the responsibility before you bring a furry friend home.
If you don’t, having a pet might not work out, which is devastating for you and even more devastating for the poor dog. If you decide to stick to your guns and get a puppy, know that you’re not alone. Check out the Pets section of our blog to learn how to keep your new dog happy and healthy.
