Are you actually ready to own a dog? Emotionally, the answer might be yes, but you need to be practically ready too. It’s a big responsibility. If you want to ensure that you’re prepared in terms of the finances and the time you have available then take the following suggestions on board.
Be prepared to help them settle into the household.
The first step to checking that you’re ready to own a dog is asking yourself whether your household is prepared for them. More importantly, you need to ask yourself whether you and your family are prepared for a pet. Is it right for you at your current stage in life? If you and your partner work a lot and your kids are all busy at school then there might not be anybody at home to look after your dog for the majority of the day. You’ve got to view things from the perspective of the pup too.
But even if you have the time for them (as we’ll discuss later), you also need to be prepared to help them settle into the household. Training is crucial during those early days. You need to make sure your dog knows how to behave in your home, but they also need to be able to get comfortable. Whilst they’re learning how to use their potty, you might want to look at wee wee pads to get for your dog. This will help them as they adjust to their life in your household.
Be prepared to show them affection on a daily basis.
You might see dogs as relatively independent creatures in comparison to humans, but the truth is that they often crave more love and affection than people do. They’re not wild wolves anymore; they have a lot of love to give, but they also need a lot of love in return. We’ve talked a lot about keeping your dog healthy, but their emotional wellbeing is just as important as their physical wellbeing. The best way to look after your pup is to show them affection on a daily basis.
In other words, you’re only ready to own a dog if you’re ready to give them time. Looking after a dog is a constant job, much like bringing up a child. You need to play with them. They’re not just there for occasional cute Instagram pictures. Show your dog genuine love and affection. Talk to them too. They might not speak English, but the sound of your voice is incredibly soothing to a dog. Your pup will see how much you care if you communicate with them.
Be prepared to keep them healthy.
This entire article discusses ways in which you can be a responsible dog owner and take care of your pup, but keeping them healthy is about more than simply being there for them. You’re only ready to own a dog if you know how to take proper care of them. There are so many rescue dogs out there because so many owners are negligent and ill-prepared to take care of a puppy. Make sure you practice preventative care. To keep your dog healthy, you need to make sure you brush their teeth and take them out for walks or runs on a regular basis. Physical activity is essential to your pup’s wellbeing.
