Today the alphabet takes us to the letter D in the A to Z Challenge, and it’s time to discuss deciding to get a dog. While every day, some families and individuals find their animal companion that will enjoy a happy and active life with them for the duration of their life span, so many more people are adopting a pet they’re not ready for, that will eventually end up back at the shelter. An average 6-8 million pets are surrendered to the shelter each year, with 3-4 million of those eventually being euthanized. You can help cut down on these senseless deaths by ensuring a few things before adopting a pet.
1. Are you ready for the costs and responsibilities of having a pet?
The expenses of having a pet don’t stop there. With new cats, dogs, ferretts, and more, you’ll have to be able to afford the damage they’ll inflict as well. When I first got Arie, she luckily was not a big chewer–Even then, I had to have my carpet cleaned several times and replace a pair of shoes. Emergencies also arise, as do emergency vet expenses. Even common problems, like UTI’s in dogs, cost you for a vet visit and treatment.
If you can afford to have a pet, are ready to love one for the long haul, and have the time to spend with them for walking, feeding, vet visits, and more, you’re ready to move on to the next question.
Are you ready for a large breed, active dog, or a smaller, more laid back couch companion? Photo by mattscoggin via Flickr.
2. What kind of a dog should you get?
You’re heart is set on a dog, you have the funds you need to support a furry addition to your family, and your schedule allows you time for training, walks, and play time. Now, it’s time to decide what kind of dog fits your lifestyle. When people adopt dogs that don’t fit their lifestyle, both the people and the dogs often end up miserable. That Shih-Tsu may look sweet, but these notoriously hard to train and stubborn dogs can be too much for someone who can’t handle little mistakes in the house. Are you a couch potato? Your Border Collie could develop destructive behavior when you aren’t able to meet their exercise needs. Mixed breeds, or mutts, still require this consideration. One trip to the shelter isn’t enough to know if the doggy behind the glass is right for you–You need to spend time with a dog before bringing them home, and ask about their temperament. Many shelters offer overnight trials with pets so that you can see how a certain dog fits into your life at home before you make the set commitment to give them a forever home.
Here are a few considerations to keep in mind while selecting a dog:
- Is this dog the “breed of the minute”? Disney’s Bolt and Miley Cyrus’s adoption of Mate, her White German Shepherd, pushed this breed into major popularity. Now, I see tweets every day from people who probably shouldn’t get a shepherd wanting one, just because their popular. i.e., one girl tweeted that she wanted a White Shepherd just so she could name him cocaine. Can you say #fail?
- Does my house/apartment/condo/flat/etc fit this breed?
- How much time/energy do I have available to walk, play with, and train this dog?
- Do I want the dog to be affectionate? protective? trainable?
- How much time do I have for grooming?
As sad as it is, adopting a dog means understanding and being prepared to say goodbye to them one day. Photo by JanGlas via Flickr.
3. Can you truly be committed to a pet?
Being committed to a pet goes so far beyond the financial and time commitments. When you adopt a pet, you adopt them for life. Are you ready to stay with your dog if they develop health issues, such as seizures or cataracts that hinder how the see? Are you prepared to live through the sleepless nights of howling in their crates during crate training, to leave your vacation early because your dog is sick at the kennel, or to pick a different apartment because the one you’re in does not welcome your dog? Having a dog changes your life–even in the end. On the day you bring home that bouncing puppy or your newly adopted adult dog, you need to be prepared for the day you go into a vets office to say goodbye to them forever. Having a pet is like a miniature marriage–that commitment must survive through rich, poor, sickness and health, until the end of a life separates you. While it’s hard to think about such things, stories from our friends and family, and even movies (ala Marley and Me, My Dog Skip, Old Yeller) all tell us that this is something we have to be prepared to handle.
Are you considering getting a dog? Do you have one, and have other recommendations for those considering taking the leap? Share your thoughts.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I want to take the leap and get a dog, but am forever on the fence, cos I don’t feel ready.
Look forward to your challenge run…
–Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012
Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge
Making that leap, when you’re responsible, is tough. Just go through the questions in your life, and try to think if you’re ready. A great way to find out is to ask a friend with a puppy or a new dog if you can pet sit for them for a Sat-Monday. That way, you see how things would be on the weeekend and on a workday, and get a feel for your life with a dog.
Cocaine?! Super classy >.>
I occasionally think a second dog would be lovely, and sometimes think that Elka is all we need right now. My fiance typically always thinks that Elka is all we need right now!
Hahaha! I think Elka would do so well with a new companion, at least from what I know about her.
About cocaine…I know! I literally face-palmed after I read it. Who would do that to a dog?
Maybe “Cokie” would be a cute call name? (though I doubt it’s where it came from originally!)
I don’t Cokie the cat got his name from the substance, but you never know! I’ll have to check in and see.
Actually, I’m Cokie Kokopelli the Kitty Kachina. Koki(e) didn’t look right, so they spelled it with a C.
=^..^=
http://www.cokiethecat.com
I couldn’t agree more – I think it’s really important to spend the time before getting a pet to make sure it’s really the right decision – we’ve seen way too many times people in pet stores getting a Dog and the decision seems to be influenced by a child’s desire to have a cute puppy that they see….
Great post,
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy
So true Snoopy! A child’s pleas for something in the moment should be weighed carefully by parents. It’s a HUGE decision, and nothing that should ever fall completely on the idea of having a cute puppy…it’s about having a pet that grows with you for their lifetime.
Misery Mistress took that ‘what dog to get’ and was most disappointed she didn’t get any shepherds. She got a husky at one point and quite a lot of collies and setters. Didn’t matter how much she changed the answers she still couldn’t get a shepherd.
We think the time commitment and the money are equally important. And after that, because we are living in a flat here in Gibraltar, we would add that not having an overly barky dog might be a good idea so the neighbours don’t get annoyed.
The first time I took it, I didn’t get a shepherd either, but I did the second time. Their description of a shepherd says that they are hard to train, which I don’t agree with, and I think skews the results. That’s why instead of being 95%+ for me, Shepherds were only a 92% match.
Okay, seriously, that last picture of the dog breaks my heart
Cali has had allergies her entire life and has cost us a fortune, but she is worth every penny 
Great post!!
I’ll admit–it was hard to choose that picture. I wondered if it would be too much. I actually do some work with Deceased Pet Care, a pet funeral home and crematorium in the Atlanta area. They’ve helped me to think through things for Arie in the future, and it’s been a big help! Arie also has allergies, and she’s prone to UTI’s, so vet bills are a way of life sometimes.
The unfortunate thing about such a great post is that people who really need to rethink their decision to get a dog are the ones who rarely put in the time and effort to make sure it will be a happy choice for the owner and the dog. I know so many “serial” pet owners. The ones who bring home a cute puppy, won’t get it it’s shots or spay/neuter and then when it turns into a dog off it goes, until the next one. I know one family that barely has the first dog out the door before the second puppy is coming in.
Lifestyle changes are an important consideration as well – I can tell you honestly that divorce is as stressful for the family dog as it is for the rest of the family.
As sad as it is, I completely agree with your first statement about the people who need to read this post not finding it. I can only hope that, while Googling dog breeds or cute puppies, they might find it and think twice. “Serial” pet owners disgust me—I knew one in college. It’s a terrible thing for the animals, as, once they’re adults, it’s harder to adopt them out as well.
I haven’t been through a divorce (or a marriage for that matter) but you can bet my pre-nup will address pets if I ever do tie the knot.
WE are pet lovers here as well. You are right – pets are a huge commitment. From the chewing and rambunctiousness of puppyhood to the incontinence of old age, they can do a lOT of damage and cost a lot of money. We said goodbye last summer to our almost 16-year-old husky mix. It was heartbreaking. But we’re planning to get a dog within a year or so, so this was an appropriate post for me.
Cheryl, I’m so sorry to hear about your husky. The first dog I lost my family had for 15 years…It was almost unbearable because she had been with us for the majority of my life. Getting a new dog, when the time was right, was a wonderful experience though. I’m sure that you and your family will find the perfect dog for you.
oh my gosh, can i please get on a plane to ATL and come hug you for writing this? i know a bunch of people i would like to beat over the head with a printout of this blog post.
Thanks Lauren! Feel free to beat them with a link!
Great name, Cokie! Thanks for weighing in.