This is one of the questions that haunts the minds of many people who want to adopt: Am I ready to have a dog? Will I know how to take good care of him? And it should be that way, having a dog is a wonderful experience and at the same time a challenge that should not be taken lightly. It is an important decision that could change the life of a person and their entire family.
As much as you die of love seeing all the dogs on the street, before seriously considering bringing one home, first, you should analyze your life and see if you have the space and time possible to dedicate to your future best friend. Remember that a dog is not a pretty accessory, nor a guardian of the home; he is a member of the family, an unconditional companion.
Before taking the step, take a look at this article on our site where we will talk about the minimum requirements that must be met before getting a new pet. You will see that you yourself will answer your question Am I ready to have a dog?
Why do you want a dog?
It is important that you ask yourself this question, and also, answer it as honestly as possible Think about your life, but also think about the life of the dog. Open your mind, explore the reasons why you want to have a pet and determine where your state of mind is, if we are talking about a stable decision or a somewhat spontaneous one.
What kind of person you are? Are you willing to take care of another creature completely? Are you assertive in your behavior and your way of educating? How do you structure your dynamics?
Observe your life and you will find all the necessary clues to reach a conclusion. For example, take a look at your home. Is it clean and organized? You don't have to be a clean freak, but the condition of your home could tell a story. Keep in mind that for a dog to be happy, and therefore, its owner as well, it must be provided with a structured life that will have to have rules, limits, but also a lot of protection and love.
Commitment and responsibility
Are you ready to commit to having a pet for the next 10 or 17 years? This is the first question you should ask yourself, because having a dog is just that: a commitment.
Like any other member of the family, it represents a long-term obligation, and I do not mean obligation in the negative sense of the word, but rather, referring to the fact that it is a bond that you will not be able to breakIf you have children, sit down to have a family conversation, expose the subject and see how each one feels about the idea (in every sense of the word) of having, caring for and keeping a pet.
There are people who think they adopt a dog and then if it doesn't work out, they give it away or abandon it. This should not be like that; a dog is a creature that deserves a home to be loved through thick and thin, in sickness and in he alth and everything in between. If you can't commit to having a dog by your side this time, you definitely shouldn't have one.
Time and dedication
Assess if you have time available in your life for the arrival of a canine friend. Observe how you distribute your time during the day and decide if you have free hours to take him for a walk 2 to 3 times a day, offer him affection, teach him obedience or, simply, to play long and hard until their energy is exhausted.
You will have to make your dog a new priority that does not collide negatively with your old priorities but rather balances and complements them. In addition to the aforementioned, there will be plans in which he can accompany you, such as on mountain walks, but in other cases it will not be so. You must have a responsible person to leave him with if you go away for a weekend, remember that the dog cannot be alone for more than 8 hours a day, otherwise Otherwise behavioral problems may begin to appear.
Having a dog can represent the missing piece in your puzzle if you have free time and want to have a faithful and noble companion by your side. Of course, you must also return the loy alty that he gives you.
The right money and environment
Having a dog is not free and they do not feed on the air. In fact, having a pet requires a monthly budget for its maintenance. You will need to consider whether you are financially ready to care for a dog. It's not like having a baby but dogs also generate expenses. Some to consider are:
- Sterilization
- Pipettes
- Vaccines
- Food
- Toys
- Bed
- Brushes
- Stool bags
- Belt
- Harness
- Hairdressing
- Prizes and snacks
The most important is without a doubt the veterinary cost Remember that some diseases can be expensive to treat, for that reason having some savings should be essential. Apart from what was mentioned above, we must also assess the possibility that our dog may need a visit from an ethologist or canine educator at some point. Just as we might need a psychologist, if your dog suffers from a behavioral problem we should also take him to a specialist.
Also evaluate your home and the neighborhood where you live. Analyze if you have enough space so that the dog does not feel trapped in your absence and can move comfortably. Also, it would be good to live in an area that is close to natural open spaces where you can take your dog for long walks, where he can play freely and socialize with other neighboring dogs
Before adopting a dog, take a test
If you think you are the perfect candidate to have a dog, on our site, we recommend that you do a test before taking the big step. Ask a friend who has a dog to let you take care of it for a couple of days. This will be just a small sample of what it means to have a dog, but it can give you a feeling.
Multiply those days by years and multiply the experiences, care, food, etc. Maybe this essay will help you finally know if you're ready or not to jump into the water. Another way to know if your time has come and, in addition, if you feel somewhat ready to take another step, is to act as a "foster home" and take care of dogs for a longer period of time, while they are found a home and a family. appropriate.
