When choosing a pet dog, everyone has a general idea of what breed they want. Whether they know the name or not might not seem to matter to them; “I want a small one with a squashed face” generally means a Pug but to be honest if the person wanting the dog (with the exception of children) doesn’t already know that then they have to ask themselves if they should have a dog in the first place.
Imagine being out and you ask someone what breed their dog is because you’re unsure whether it’s a pedigree dog or if it’s a cross-breed and they say it’s a “small thingy with a cute little squashed face”. You’d find yourself walking away and thinking “do they even deserve that Pug?”
If you are actually informed enough to know that you want a Pug, Japanese Akita or even a Whippet then you now have to think about living space. Is your house big enough for the breed you want? Furthermore, if you’re living in a one-room flat then a dog wouldn’t be recommended for you as it’s often cramped enough with two people in there.
The best place for a dog to live is in a large house with a relatively well-sized garden. These aren’t essential so if you have a small garden don’t completely rule yourself out; remember that you just need to make the dog feel like it’s at home. As long as the dog is happy, healthy and well looked after and you believe you can provide this then that’s one checkbox ticked.
Next there’s the thought of cost. Can you afford to buy and maintain a pet? Can you provide well enough for yourself to begin with? Obviously when you buy a new puppy you have to think of puppy-related purchases such as lactose for feeding to begin with and chewy toys for when they start teething.
Specialised puppy food is obviously best as they grow up but buying puppy products is usually an expensive endeavour. Also, it’s always nice to treat your dog every now and again with dog treats and the occasional bit of chicken. Regarding this though, on no occasion at all should you ever give a dog chocolate as it is poisonous to them.
Another thing you should think about is your own age. You could be too young or too old for a dog, as surprising as it may seem. For example you could be too young and not earning enough money due to your age (although that links to the previous point) or you may be too old and if you realise you don’t have long left for yourself, which let’s face it isn’t particularly a pleasant thought, then buying a dog is unfair on the dog itself as you may not be around to look after it for its whole life.
I know that none of this is exactly pleasant to think about but at the end of the day we have to think about what’s best for the dog.
Finally, there’s the case of if you read this article all the way through and said “Yes” to the criteria that would help your case then you’d be perfect. If you read through and had a doubt or two then have a proper think and consider what would be the best for the dog.
Also, if you said “No” to all of the above or you didn’t even make it to read this paragraph, then you’re definitely not suitable for a dog. On that note, haven’t you got some pups to look at?
