Dogs are loyal, playful, and loving members of the family, and a lot of households want them, but you need to consider some vital information before adopting a dog. It’s not always fun and games; you need to think about the practical, financial, and logistical sides of owning a pup. Knowing these factors and thinking them through will only benefit you and your pup, making both your lives easier in the long run.
Can You Take on the Expense?
Before anything, you need to crunch some numbers and weigh the costs of dog ownership against your household income. While it may seem like dogs are low maintenance and don’t need much besides food, water, and the occasional bone, that’s not always the case.
Doctor Visits
Like every other living creature, dogs can get sick and will require medical attention along with regular doctor visits. These visits can cost anywhere from a hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the severity of illness. You need to have a rainy-day fund for when your dog needs medical attention, and you need to accept that there will be times you need to drop a lot of money to get them the care they need.
Grooming Necessities
Aside from potential medical costs, you need to know the type of grooming your dog needs, whether that’s cutting their fur or clipping their nails. Depending on the breed, your dog may shed their fur naturally, requiring less grooming attention. But if your dog doesn’t shed, you need to either take them to a groomer or cut it yourself.
More Spending or Doing It Yourself
Much like medical concerns, grooming costs money, and sometimes a visit to the doggy barber can cost upwards of 50 dollars. This isn’t an expense a lot of people can afford on a regular basis, so you need to accept the costs or learn how to properly cut your dog’s hair yourself.
What’s Healthy for Them
Every dog has their own little idiosyncrasies, whether it’s allergies or food preferences. One of the essential things you need to know before adopting a dog is what those preferences are or how to determine them. Without testing them, you may inadvertently expose them to things their body can’t process and will cause an allergic reaction.
Shouldering Responsibility
Having a dog is a lot like having a child; they need constant care, and you have to pay for everything. You need to be responsible for your dog’s health and do everything you can to keep them healthy and safe. Sometimes that means cutting their fur, and other times it’s taking them to see a medical professional; whatever it takes, make sure they’re cared for.
