Have you been hoping to add a dog to your family for the longest time?
If you’re thinking of becoming a new pet owner, there are a couple of things you should consider before committing.
Consider Costs
The annual cost for feeding and caring for a dog typically falls between $420 to $780. Plus, sometimes dogs can need emergency medical care as well, which typically gets expensive. You also should consider fees that might come up for kennels, pet sitters, or dog walkers in the event that you go out of town. You should be sure that you are comfortable with the amount of money you might need to spend before you bring a dog home.
Breed Research
You should also be researching breeds in order to understand how certain dogs might fit into your family. Make sure to do some research about the breeds you’re interested in and find out if the dog’s typical energy levels and temperament work for you and your household. If you have children, you should especially consider dogs that do well with children. You don’t want to adopt or purchase a dog that might clearly be incompatible with children.
Lifestyle and Commitment
Having a dog will change your daily routine: you’ll need to make sure that your pet is fed, walked and exercised on a daily basis. Many dogs need regular walks in order to remain healthy. If you typically work long hours at the office or travel extensively, a dog might not fit into your lifestyle correctly.
Remember that bringing home a new dog is one of the greatest joys of life, but it’s important that you are fully prepared for the responsibility and capable of taking it on.
Conifer Canine is your source for professional dog training! We employ certified trainers who have proven their skills in training a variety of dogs. We welcome all dogs: large or small, mixed or purebreds, problem dogs or those who just need some tuning up.
