Is Your Family Ready For A Four-Legged Addition?

Sooner or later, the question of getting a dog is going to be raised in your home. Whether it’s the kids asking, or something you decide you want for yourself, you can expect the conversation to happen at some stage or another. 

Dogs are wonderful, and they can bring a lot of joy to your home. They become a part of the family, and can be great companions for the kids and yourself. But just because you want a dog, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right time to get one.

Do you think your family is ready for its own four-legged addition? Take a look at some of the following considerations. 

What do you know about owning a dog?

Dogs are among the most popular pets, there are so many reasons why people love them! They are loving, funny, loyal and have all kinds of other qualities that make them such great family pets.

But what do you actually know about owning a dog? You’ll need to do your research around getting a dog to give you a better idea of what’s involved and whether it’s something you’re really ready for. Alternatively, you could offer to look after a friend or relative’s dog to see how they could fit in with your family’s lives. 

Can you afford it?

Dogs can cost a lot more than you realise. Understanding the full cost of owning a dog can be a big eye-opener if you’ve never owned one before. From the initial cost of getting a dog, to making sure you can cover insurance, vets bills, food and more, you’ll need to do a lot of calculations to see if a dog can fit into your budget. Beyond the initial cost, a healthy dog will have few costs beyond food and appointments for vaccinations, flea and worming, etc, but you need to be prepared for the other costs in case your dog needs extra care in the future. 

What type of breed is best for your family?

There are a lot of different types of dogs, and some are better suited to family life than others. You’ll want to find a dog that is happy around children and other possible pets, and one that is easy to train - something that will make a dog much easier to handle in a busy family home! You might also have other considerations, such as having a dog that doesn’t shed hair all over your home. 

One of the most popular family dog breeds is a Labrador retriever, and you can learn more about them and their different colour variations to see if they’re the right fit for you. Remember that your dog doesn’t have to be a pure breed either, there are a lot of dogs out there in need of rehoming, and you could be doing something wonderful by choosing to bring them into your home. 

What are your future plans?

A dog may be something you want now, but will it fit in with your future plans? If you plan on going away a lot, who’s going to be able to take care of the dog while you’re gone? Are you going to move house and move to somewhere that’s smaller? 

Think about your future plans before you bring a dog home, it would be awful to have to rehome them because they no longer fit in with your plans.

Can you juggle taking care of the kids and a dog at the same time?

Taking care of the kids and a dog at the same time is a big undertaking. It can be difficult to juggle when you have young children, but there are actually a lot of people who manage it just fine. Getting a dog when your child is a young age could be wonderful to help them bond, and means they’ll have a friend growing up. 

Dogs can easily fit within a busy family lifestyle, but you’ll need to make sure you’re organised to juggle it all!

Are your kids ready to take on some responsibility?

Teaching your kids responsibility is one of the most important life lessons to teach your kids at home. Getting a dog can be a good way of teaching them to be responsible for something else, especially if they’re the main drivers of getting a dog. Older children can help out a lot with a dog, including taking them for walks, while younger children could help with feeding, grooming and of course, playtime. 

Getting a dog might be a lot of work, but if you can share the responsibility between the family, it will all become a lot more manageable. 

Is your home a good environment for a dog?

You’ll want to give a dog the best home possible, but is your home even suitable for a dog? Making your home more secure, tidying away hazards and being ready to deal with toilet training are all things you need to consider before you get a dog. You should also think about whether someone will be with them during the day or if you’re going to need to make walking arrangements. 

It can be a big adjustment bringing a dog home, but if you make some changes around the house, it can work.

Are you ready for all the adventures?

While there are a lot of serious things to consider about getting a dog, you need to think about all the other incredible possibilities. Dogs are a lot of fun, and will be sure to put a smile on all of your faces. They make great pets to have around children and you can be sure that there’ll never be a dull moment. The puppy stage can be tough, but as the dog matures, it can become easier to take care of, fitting right in with your family life.

After considering everything above, is your family ready for a dog? Take a look at a new puppy checklist to make sure you have everything you need ready to bring a fluffy new addition into your home.