How to Know if You Can Get a Dig
"Should I go a dog?" It's a common question among animal lovers, and for good reason—becoming a domestic dog parent is a big responsibility. So, do you lot call up you're finally ready for a dog of your own? Make sure yous've checked these items off of your new-dog-to-exercise list earlier making your way to a reputable breeder or shelter.
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You've Washed Your Research
If you're wondering, "Am I prepare for a domestic dog?" the first stride is to get educated. One of the most of import things you tin can do earlier adopting your beginning domestic dog is research, research, research, says Victoria Schade, dog trainer, speaker and writer of "Bonding with Your Dog: A Trainer's Secrets for Edifice a Amend Relationship."
"Talk to people who have gone through the rescue process if you lot plan to prefer a mixed breed dog, or talk to owners of the same breed if yous have a specific type of domestic dog in heed," she says. "Read electric current data about dog care, fifty-fifty if you lot've owned a dog in the past—things have inverse so much in the past ten years."
Fortunately, there'due south no such thing equally being over prepared, she adds, so gather equally much information as you can as soon as you determine you'd like to add a dog to your life.
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You've Got the Time
If you've got a rigid, packed schedule, the answer to "should I get a dog" is, well, possibly non. You know yous're going to have to make some fourth dimension for your new pup, but you'll want to include time for grooming, vet visits and enough of regular walks, even on those days when the weather won't cooperate or you don't experience similar going out.
"A person is ready to exist a domestic dog owner when they've done a significant amount of soul-searching to decide that they have the fourth dimension and energy to welcome a dog into their home," Schade says.
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You're Fix to Go Up Early ... And Often
Okay, so y'all've got time on your easily. But are yous set to make time in the wee hours of the forenoon and waning hours of the evening to take your dog out? If you bring home a puppy, they'll need to go out every three to four hours until they're fully firm-trained, and then you'll want to anticipate a few nights of interrupted sleep.
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You've Puppy-Proofed
If y'all've got your eyes on a puppy, you'll need to make sure your home is puppy-proofed from acme to bottom before bringing the little guy or gal dwelling house. Put away shoes, valuables and anything else your puppy may chew on, embrace exposed wires and outlets, make the garbage can inaccessible and use baby gates to narrow the area where the dog tin can roam effectually your home, Schade says.
Even if you aren't planning to bring home a young dog, you'll nevertheless desire to exercise some house proofing and make certain you're stocked with gear to keep them busy.
"Prepare your home as if you're bringing home an eight-week-old puppy, even if your new dog is an adult," Schade says. "Invest in busy toys that you lot tin can stuff with treats and pick upwards bones to keep your dog busy."
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Yous've Had "the Talk" With Yourself
"A big indicator that a person isn't fix to own a dog is attempting to juggle their life in order to brand a dog viable," Schade says.
You lot'll want to be honest with yourself and make sure that, fifty-fifty if y'all do have the time, you're ready to commit to being a responsible pet parent. Sit down downwardly and accept a wait at your family, job and other life commitments. Ask yourself, "am I set for a dog," and, if it seems like yous're not prepared to focus your attention on raising a dog, information technology may not be time to take one abode.
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You're Open to Learning
A skill Schade says is most important for new pet parents is to learn is how to read their dog.
"By learning to empathize your dog's body language, you tin tell when he has to go outside, when he'southward feeling overwhelmed and when he's signaling discomfort, which can help to avoid any number of mistakes," she says. "Our dogs piece of work so hard to understand united states, so we should do the same for them."
Practise some research on understanding a dog'southward body language before you lot take one domicile and exist open to learning as much equally yous can about your new pet's beliefs in the first few days and weeks you spend together.
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You're Ready to Deal With Poop. And Mud. And ...
Dog parenting means dealing with all kinds of icky fluids—like drool, vomit and urine. You'll bargain with waste matter daily as a dog owner and, if you happen to have habitation a particularly mischievous pup, may deal with a multifariousness of other unpleasant things on a regular basis.
Prepare yourself for this particularly fun part of pet parenting by stocking up on poop bags, wipes and carpet cleaner before you really demand to utilise these items.
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You've Got Some Cash to Spend
From their domestic dog food, to their canis familiaris toys, to their vet bills and any other unexpected costs or medications, dogs carry considerable expenses with them from puppyhood throughout their lives.
While some puppies may have had their kickoff rounds of shots or may fifty-fifty be spayed or neutered by the time you take them home, you'll want to check in on these things before leaving the breeder or shelter.
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You've Sat Downwardly With Your Family
You'll desire to make sure everyone in your household is on board with welcoming a dog into the family by discussing information technology together and outlining a program for each person's responsibilities. Talk to your children about the role they tin can take in caring for and raising the new dog and brand certain you've got a schedule in identify for walks, mealtime and playtime that works in conjunction with your family's calendar.
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You've Found a Vet and Trainer
Talk to pet parents in the neighborhood or do some online research to find a vet and a trainer that you lot can bring your dog to within the first few weeks of bringing him or her home. Feel free to accept a visit to the vet to take a await at the facilities in person and talk to your potential vet about whatever questions yous may have about bringing dwelling house a domestic dog.
When information technology comes to looking for a trainer, consider registering for puppy kindergarten or obedience schoolhouse classes as early every bit possible so that you tin can begin socializing them as soon as they come domicile.
Accept yous checked all of the above off your prospective pet parent list? If and so, nosotros have good news for you: Your answer to "Should I get a dog" is a resounding yes!
Source: https://be.chewy.com/pet-parenting-pet-lovers-10-signs-you-are-ready-to-own-a-dog/
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