QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE ADOPTING A DOG

There are a couple of things to consider before you decide to adopt a dog. First, make sure that everyone in your family and/or household is on board with it and involved in the process.

Choosing the right dog to be part of your family is crucial for a happy ending. It is very important to figure out what type of dog will fit into your lifestyle.

This requires some serious soul searching and asking yourself some potentially tough questions. We have compiled a list for you here: these questions are not meant to scare you away from adopting a dog. Far from it! Hopefully they will help you to be thoughtfully prepared for bringing a dog into your life:

1. Can I afford a dog?

Dogs are expensive, regardless of whether you adopt a puppy or an older dog. It costs around €2,500 a year to care for a dog and you'll most likely have them with you for over a decade. Annual costs will include your dog’s licence, pet insurance, food, vet care (often unexpected), medication, vaccinations, leads and collars, bedding, grooming, toys, training, dog sitters and kennels for holidays.

2. Do I have time for a dog?

By adding a dog to your family, you are taking on the responsibility for another life, so make sure you have time to dedicate to caring for your pup. Dogs – especially puppies – require lots of love and attention. If you travel frequently, often find yourself working extended hours, or will be leaving your pup alone all day, you may want to reconsider your timing on getting a new dog.

You might need to enlist the help of a dog walker or doggy day care, if you have to stay away from your dog for more than 4 hours a day.

It’s also important not to forget the fact that a dog needs to be walked every day: it helps to fight boredom and provides much-needed mental and physical stimulation for your dog (and yourself, too).

Dogs also require grooming. That includes brushing, bathing, teeth cleaning, nail trimming, ear cleaning. Of course, these chores can be outsourced to professional groomers, but they have to be included in your dog’s routine.

3. Will exercise with my dog fit into my daily schedule?

Whether it’s a new puppy or a 9-year-old adoptee, your dog needs exercise, and depending on the breed, they may need to get more steps in than you’d expect. While it is true that a puppy needs more exercise than an older dog (albeit in smaller bursts, and not long walks*), you need to make sure you have the time to commit to exercising your dog on a daily basis, whether that be going for a morning and evening walk, throwing a ball around the yard, running, etc.

*Puppies can't go on full long walks until they’re approximately six months old to protect their bone and joint development

4. Do I have the patience to train a puppy? 

Training a puppy isn’t easy. Puppies are naturally curious. They will chew and destroy stuff and require training to become well-behaved.

The same goes for older dogs – even if the dog was previously trained at another home, your dog will probably need to be re-trained – especially if it’s a rescue. Try not to get mad if he has an accident or chews something – he may be nervous and will need time to adjust, just as a puppy would. Be patient, gentle, and caring. Take every accident as an opportunity to learn – for both you and your dog.

Some puppies/dogs would benefit greatly from being taken to training classes; but even without that, training a puppy basically happens all day every day. That mostly means discouraging bad behaviours and reinforcing positive behaviours. Consistently. Training sessions are also a great way of developing a bond with your dog.

4a. Is having a lush green lawn important to me?

When you bring home a puppy, you can pretty much forget about a perfectly manicured lawn.

Another thing to remember is that weed killers can be harmful to your dog if ingested, so you might need to learn to live with some wild flora in your garden.

5. Am I prepared to adopt a dog with ‘baggage’?

As we know, rescue dogs can come with various (behavioural) issues, such as separation anxiety or resource guarding. Or they might be fearful of human interactions, for example. Dogs like that don’t need us to feel sorry for them, they need us to confidently guide them towards a secure and safe future.

In some cases, dogs with challenging behaviours will require professional help – can you see yourself committing to that?

6. If I already have a dog, how should I select a companion for them?

·        Think about your current dog’s personality. Try to find a dog that will match or complement your dog’s personality:

A shy dog might benefit from a confident canine buddy;

A senior or low-energy dog might find a puppy a bit too much, so a calm adult or even another senior dog might be just right for them.

If your dog has any behavioural issues, ask yourself, ‘should I get another dog?’ because those issues might only get worse if another dog enters the scene.

·        Another important factor to consider is your dog’s size and gender:

Dogs of opposite sexes tend to get along better, and, in general, we recommend adopting dogs of opposite sexes, as long as they are neutered, of course.

7. If circumstances in my life change, how will my dog be facilitated?

We know that life throws many things at us, most of which we cannot predict. Therefore, it’s crucial to remember that dogs live 10–20 years, and as a member of your family, they will be implicated in the changes in your circumstances. Such as losing your job, moving to another country, or returning to the office. How will the dog be looked after?

Maybe you don’t have kids yet, but perhaps you plan to have them one day – are you prepared to be patient and train your dog to accept a new ‘centre of attention’ into the household?

For those working from home, consider the changes in your daily routine when you might have to return to the office. Will your dog be left alone for a long period of time and will you be able to fit in exercising your dog along with work and commuting?

If you are renting, you will need a permission from the landlord to bring a dog home, and if you need to move, finding a rental that allows pets is increasingly difficult. So, this might be another thing to think about.

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Yes, it may seem like a lot to take in but maybe that’s the point – adopting a dog is not something you can do on a whim, it’s a lifelong commitment and therefore deserves some serious consideration.

You are, after all, about to bring home a new family member, someone who will share countless moments of happiness with you, and some sorrow, too, no doubt.

And later, you will often find yourself thinking that you could not imagine your life without them. And it’s as good as guaranteed that the feeling will be mutual😊