There is no denying that a puppy can be a lovely and welcome addition to your home. In fact, once your children get to a certain age they’ll probably start on a campaign to convince you that your home simply isn’t complete with a four-legged furry friend. However, between the promises of walking it every day and their assistance that they’ll clean after it a dog is a big commitment – so you may well be asking, should we get a puppy?
Day-to-Day Life in the House
One of the first things to think about is what is day-to-day life like in your house – is a puppy likely to be on its own for hours a day when you first get it or do you often all need to be away overnight? Puppies take much more day-to-day care than a pet such as a cat or a hamster so you’ll definitely want to consider daily life and the effect a dog will have on it before you commit to a new furry family member.
Is Everyone In?
A dog affects the whole household – even if it’s just for the first few weeks when your puppy can be whiny when learning to settle at night. Although not everyone has to be on board when you get a dog it is a good idea to chat it through with the whole family and see who is happy before you go ahead.
The On-Going Costs
Dogs definitely have a cost attached to them and this is something to think about when getting one – not only the day-to-day costs of feeding them but annual vaccinations and the possibility of veterinary costs if your dog gets into trouble. This isn’t a reason not to get a dog, but it is something that you’ll want to think about in advance.
The Long Term Commitment
Dogs can be an amazing member of the family, but it would be unfair to get one with plans to rehome it a few years later when you get bored. O course there are always unavoidable scenarios but when getting a puppy you should consider it to be one that will be in your life for a good number of years, so you need to ensure that you are ready and prepared for that level of commitment.
If you have been wondering should we get a puppy and have any thoughts to share, we’d love to hear them.