Whether you have always intended to add a dog to your family or your little one’s have begged you for a pet, adopting a puppy is a big decision.
There is nothing more exciting than adding a new pet to your family, but it’s important to ensure that now is the right time. If you add a dog to your home at the right time, it can be an amazing experience. However, if it isn’t the right time to add a pet to your family, you could end up regretting adopting your new family member.
Dogs are loyal, loving and a lot of fun, but when they are new to your family they can take up a lot of time. So before adopting a new puppy, it’s important to make sure the time is right.
To help you ensure adding a puppy to your family is right for you, here are a few things to consider:
Can you afford the cost?
The first and most important thing to consider is whether you can afford the cost of adding a puppy to your family. You might love the idea of having a dog of your own, but if your financial resources are already stretched, now might not be the best time.
It’s important to remember that the initial cost of the puppy isn’t the only expense you need to take into account. Your puppy will need vet checks, vaccinations, training, insurance, and lots of other things.
Do you have the time?
The next thing to consider is whether you have the time to take care of a new puppy. A new puppy needs a lot of time and care, and can’t be left for longer than a couple of hours. So if you work full-time and are out of the house all day, then getting a puppy might not be a good idea.
However, if you are willing to pay for a dog sitter, then this might not be so much of a problem. As long as your new puppy has some company during the day, he or she should be just fine.
Are you willing to invest in your puppy?
Aside from having to pay an initial amount to purchase your new pup, you will also need to invest in him or her in other ways. Your new puppy will need training classes to grow into a well-trained dog, and these classes don’t come cheap.
You will also need to invest in your new pet in terms of toys, food, and other things he or she will need. An important thing all new puppies need are dog beds and cages, which don’t come cheap. Dogs who have a dog bed in a cage tend to be better trained than dogs who grow up without a cage, so it is worth the cost.
Do you have space?
It might sound like a silly question, but big or small, dogs need lots of outdoor space to run around in. If you live in a high-rise apartment or don’t have a garden of your own, then this probably isn’t the right time to add a dog to your family.
If you have answered yes to all these questions, then you may well be ready to add a puppy to your family. Just make sure that before you get a puppy, that you consider what it takes to be a good pet owner.