You were just at a friend’s house that had this adorable, perfect dog and now you’re thinking… should I get a dog?
Or maybe you just watched a heartwarming movie that featured a German shepherd or Labrador retriever that was so well behaved, you left thinking, should I adopt a dog?
Adopting a dog is a huge decision. A dog’s life-span can be up to 20 years! This means if you are 24 years old, you could be 44 years old before the dog passes away. Even if the dog lives more of an average age of 12, you’ll be 36 years old!
Think long and hard about that… how do you see your life in 12 years? Married, kids, a new job?
So, let’s figure out WHY you want a dog. Are you looking for a companion to curl up on the couch after work and watch all your favorite shows with?
Or maybe a running buddy to accompany you on your morning run.
Or maybe it’s for the unconditional love a dog offers.
These are all great reasons to adopt a dog. But do you have a realistic view of what owning a dog looks like?
Ask yourself these questions before getting a dog:
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, think about whether or not you are truly ready to get a dog.
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Is it fair to get a dog and leave him alone for 10 hours a day? And then you come home from work and just want to rest or go out with friends?
If you get a puppy, he needs to be let outside to potty every few hours. And even adult dogs need your attention for more than an hour a day.
What happens if the dog has behavior issues and you need to hire a specialized dog trainer? Are you prepared to pay thousands of dollars for that training?
Whatever you decide, you are in the right place to find all of the resources you need in adopting your dog.
Here are a few articles I recommend reading:
So what’s ingoing to be? Will you get a dog? Please leave a comment below and let us know what you decided.
Debi McKee is a mom of three kids, three dogs and the creator of Rescue Dogs 101... where she guides you in your journey of adopting and raising a rescue dog every step of the way. She also volunteers for a local dog rescue and Humane Society.