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Think before you get a dog. Everyone is seduced by a cute puppy, but before selecting that puppy or older dog, ask yourself these questions:
Buying a dog on impulse, to satisfy your child's demands or even to teach a toddler responsibility are common reasons why a dog ends up in a rescue center. The responsibility of having a family dog should never be undertaken lightly. Instead the decision must be made by the entire family to welcome the dog as part of the family. You should encourage the children to contribute to its care. Remember that you will have 10-15 year responsibility of looking after the dog over its lifetime. Inquire into whether you are making the right decision.
People fail to consider that a dog will cost money over its life-time! After the purchase price there will be:
a) vaccinations and vet bills, b) food, c) bedding, d) toys, e) collars and leads, and f) the cost of training classes. Understand that some breeds are a lot more expensive to keep than others, so its
important to research which breed suits your lifestyle, budget and family dynamics.
Do you have a lot of spare time? A new dog / puppy will demand a lot of time. Hence, if you are never home, then you may have to reconsider your options. Dogs are social animals that want to live in a pack. They need company and do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. You'll need to be around to feed the dogs; puppies feed at least three times a day and adults once or twice. They need regular exercise and ideally taken for walks every day, regardless of the weather! They need to be trained and to be socialized. Some breeds take up a lot more time than others, once again research is needed.
Do you want another child? Because puppies are like children - when they are good they're delightful, but when they misbehave...! At night puppy will get lonely and howl every night for a week! When You're tired he will be ready to play. When it's raining, he will want to go out. And while you were out for the afternoon, he became lonely and bored and chewed your $300 shoes.
Are You moving house soon? Are you considering changing your job? Is a new baby on the way? Classic reasons for a dog ending up in a rescue center is that people do not consider unforeseen changes in the future.
Take our dog quiz to help select an appropriate dog - CLICK HERE
To see a full list of A - Z dog breeds - CLICK HERE
To see a dog breeds comparison chart - CLICK HERE
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