When it comes to your family, there is always something that you need to be thinking about. It might be the stage of the baby to toddlerhood, weaning, potty training, starting school, and general parenting life but you may also face the decision of whether or not having a pet dog will add value to your family. For some, the answer is yes, but have you thought about it? With that in mind, here are some of the things to consider when asking if a dog is a good addition to your family.
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Will your children embrace it?
One of the first things to think about would be whether or not your children will embrace a pet dog. Right now they may be loving the idea, but you do need to think about it in the long term, and whether or not this enthusiasm will last. A great tip would be to involve the children in your decision-making process. Perhaps ask them about the chores they want to do for the dog, such as feeding responsibilities or walking and exercising the dog. Making your intention clear from the outset will help you decide on this.
What type of dog should you have?
The next thing to think about would be whether or not you know what type of dog you want to have. There are so many different types of breeds and some of them will require more attention than others. Smaller breeds may not be so energetic, whereas larger breeds may need a lot of walking.
Where will the dog go when you take a vacation?
You also need to factor in what happens during vacation time. Some families will love to take their dogs away with them, if it is possible. But for some vacations that may not be something you can do. This is when you may need to seek out local dog boarding to see whether there is anywhere that can take care of your dog while you away. There will also be the costs involved and ensuring you have budgeted for it.
Do you have the space for a dog?
A significant factor to think about would be whether you have the space for a dog, whether you choose a big breed or a small one, a dog will need a place to sleep and rest. So you might want to think about this as an option. If you don’t have the space then a dog can soon become an issue, which is something you don’t want.
Can you make the commitment?
Finally, can you make the commitment? The thing you need to think about is whether or not you can walk a dog each day, whether you are not leaving a dog on their own for too long, and whether you can look after a dog. It is adding to your family, and so you need to treat it in the same way.
Let’s hope that these tips help you to decide whether a pet dog is going to be a good addition to your family.
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