4 Things To Think About Before Adding A New Dog to Your Home

 

When it comes to bringing a new dog home, you will likely have many questions about how best to train them, what to feed them, how much exercise they need, and so on. Getting the right pet help is essential to help you ensure you are raising your new pup exactly how they need it and put what you know into place.

When it comes to things to know before adding a new dog to your family, it's essential to consider these points before choosing your breed, whether you are buying a puppy from a breeder or adopting it from a shelter.

What The Breed Needs

Before bringing any dog home, you must know exactly what the breed needs. Some breeds are more high energy than others needing multiple long walks per day; these are dogs such as the Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and Boxer. Other dogs are working dogs and require a lot of mental stimulation to help fulfill their breed needs, such as the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Terriers, and Belgian Malinois. While hounds require a lot of exercise and stimulation and need to be allowed to sniff and put their scent-tracking noses to work through activities such as man trailing and scent games - this is why they're popular dogs for search and rescue purposes and are used in airports and by police for this reason.

What Time You Can Dedicate

New puppies especially need a lot of time and attention, much like new babies. They need to be trained in all the basics, from toilet training, socialization, manners when greeting people, avoiding puppy destruction, and more. This isn't a quick process, and you will need to devote a lot of time to training and supporting your puppy so they grow into happy, healthy, well-rounded dogs. If you cannot dedicate this time, a puppy might not be the right choice for you right now.

Adopting an older dog means they're more likely to have their basic training, but you need to give them time and space to settle in and get used to your home, routine, and lifestyle. 

Generally, you need to follow the 3-3-3 rule when adopting a new dog; 3 days to decompress from the shelter, 3 weeks to learn your routine, and 3 months to fully settle. This is just a guide. Some dogs adjust faster, others slower, but they still need your time and patience to support the start of their new life.

What You Can Afford

Pets are expensive, even the healthy ones. You need to feed them good quality food with a high meat content, whether kibble, wet food, or raw. You need to buy them bedding, toys, leads, collars, and tags as a minimum; pet owners should also factor in other costs such as pet insurance, replacing toys, and bedding when they grow or become damaged. Additional expenses can include dog walking boarding, higher home insurance costs and replacing furniture or home accessories due to damage, and improving security for your home to avoid them escaping. If you cannot realistically afford all of these expenses, you will struggle to give the dog what it deserves, and you or your new pet might suffer the consequences.

Size

Lastly, you need to consider the size of the dog you want and the size of your home and garden. Larger breeds such as Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, St Bernards, and Newfoundlands, for example, grow into really large dogs and will require more space and exercise than a chihuahua, for example. You need to consider the fully developed size for the breed of dog you are looking for, the strength, as larger dogs can really pull when being walked, and if your home can accommodate them. If not, or you are living in an apartment, a smaller dog might be better for you, or you can compromise on a greyhound; although large in size, they have a slender frame and are considered the world's fastest couch potato as all they want to do is is lie down and snooze and aren't physically demanding at all.

There is a lot to think about when it comes to bringing a new dog into your life. You need to be sure you are ready for the commitment and you are aware of the breed characteristics to ensure it is the right fit for you, your family, and your home. Thinking about these points prior to making a firm decision will help to avoid making the wrong choice and ending up having to return your pooch.