There’s no getting away from the fact that dogs bring a lot of joy and excitement to people’s lives. Having a canine companion can even do wonders for your mental health, and your furry friend will always be happy to see you.
As you can imagine, getting a pet dog can also be beneficial if you’ve got children. But, it’s worth keeping in mind that there are facts people don’t tell parents about what it’s like to introduce a dog to a family. On that subject, here’s what you need to know:
Puppies Need Lots of Attention
One fact that puppies and young children have in common is that they both demand lots of fuss and attention. If you’ve got babies, toddlers, or young kids in your household, and you feel physically exhausted a lot of time, puppies will only amplify that fatigue!
Getting a puppy is okay if you have older children, but a puppy can be more than challenging if you’ve got very young children in tow. With that in mind, you may wish to consider getting an older dog that won’t keep you on your toes 24/7.
If you have a backyard, you can utilize this space to set up fun games for your beloved dog. Just with some simple stimulation activities and space to run around, can be a real life-changing experience for new puppies and great for when they get older too. Make sure your backyard is set up appropriately and is safe for them to run around. This may include an electric dog fence to section off the space that they can use, as well as clearing out all clutter and poisonous plants that they may have access to. You can also use your garden as a safe space to invite your friends and their dogs, so your dog can learn to be sociable in a familiar environment.
Dogs Need Specialist Diets
Some people might say you can feed a dog almost anything, except for toxic foods like chocolate, of course. However, only professionals like veterinarians will tell you that your future pet dog will need a specialist diet to keep fit and healthy.
For example, greyhounds must consume dog food that has a high protein content. Other breeds may have similar requirements. If you stick to healthy dog food brands and choose products suitable for your dog’s breed, you shouldn’t have any problems.
Foster a Dog Before Offering a Forever Home
The trouble with relying on dog descriptions from rescue centers and breeders is you actually have no idea how a dog will act around you and your family. It’s crucial you offer a dog a forever home only if you’re satisfied everyone, including the dog, will get along.
Arguably the best way to achieve that is by fostering a rescue dog for a period so you can accurately assess the dog’s behavior and temperament. It’s imperative to do that if you’ve got babies and young kids in your home, so no harm comes to them.
Elderly Dogs May Have Extensive Medical Needs
There’s no denying that you’ll get a rewarding feeling by adopting a dog from a rescue center instead of a breeder. As you can appreciate, rescue centers often have elderly dogs, and many will typically have extensive medical needs.
You need to consider if you can afford to pay for such a dog’s medication, veterinarian appointments, medical tests, and so forth. Also, some pet insurance companies may not provide cover to elderly dogs with pre-existing medical conditions.
Should You Still Get a Dog?
Lots of families with young children have a pet dog, and everyone has a joyous time together. There’s no reason why you can’t achieve the same outcome. Just make sure you consider the above points before looking to give a dog a new forever home.
Category: PetsTags: morning four podcast
