***Collaborative post***
A lot of people want to get a dog, but not everyone currently has the kind of lifestyle that a dog really needs in order to be cared for and respected properly. A dog is an animal with emotions that needs to be given the attention, love and care it deserves, and if your lifestyle prohibits you from being able to do all that, then it is not going to be worthwhile getting a dog. You will need to change aspects of your lifestyle first, or consider getting another pet which has different demands and needs altogether.
Let’s look now at some of the aspects you will need to consider when you are trying to work out whether your lifestyle is suited for a dog or not. As long as you have thought about the following, you are much more likely to be able to get a dog.
Do You Have Space?
Generally, a dog needs quite a lot of space in order to live happily. While you can technically have a dog in a smaller area, and of course this is much easier if the dog is of a breed which tends to be quite small on the whole, you should nonetheless make sure that you have as much space as possible before you even think about getting a dog. Dogs need to move around freely and be able to exercise, which is why having a yard or garden is really important, even if you are also taking them for regular walks. If you don’t think that you have enough space in your home, then you might not be able to get a dog.
Are You Active?
You personally need to be at least fairly active physically if you want to keep a dog, for the obvious reason that they are going to need to be taken for regular walks, and if you are not able to do this then you are not really able to look after them properly. That doesn’t mean that you have to be running marathons every day – but you should have no problem with going for an hour’s long walk every day, and perhaps even twice a day. If you need help, you could of course hire someone or ask a friend to help you, and if you can do that routinely then you could still comfortably get a dog and ensure they are looked after properly.
As well as being active enough to take them for walks, you need to be strong enough to ensure that they don’t get away from you when near to busy traffic and other dangerous situations. You’ll want to get a good quality, strong leash from a Dog Friendly Co, and you’ll also need to make sure that you are able to keep your dog under control no matter what. If you think you might not be able to do that, or the walker that you have hired can’t, then the dog might end up getting into danger.
How Often Are You Home?
Many dogs are left home alone for hours each day. As long as they are comfortable, well-fed and watered, and have lots of things to play with safely, then this is not too much of a problem, except for certain larger breeds who might feel a little stuck indoors this way! But you do need to make sure that you are not going to be out all of the time, as that can pose a very big problem indeed if you have a dog. If you have a lifestyle that keeps you out of the house for ten or twelve hours every day, with nobody home to care for the dog, then you are probably not in a position to have a dog just yet. Wait until your lifestyle is a little less busy before thinking about getting a pooch.
Can You Love Them?
Finally, what a dog really needs most of all is love, care and attention. The main and final question you need to be asking yourself is whether you have it in you to put all of your devotion into your little pooch. If you think that you can do this, then that is the single most important thing, and it’s a good sign that you are ready to have a dog. If not, then you are going to need to make sure that you are building up and developing this quality within yourself first. After all, your dog needs love just like you.
