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Everything To Consider When Getting A Dog
Bringing a dog into your family is a joyous occasion, they provide us entertainment and companionship, affection, and love. But owning a dog is a massive commitment. There are a lot of things that you need to keep in mind if you are thinking about bringing a cute pooch into your life. Here are the many areas that you need to consider before you commit to taking a dog home.
Dogs Require Lots Of Attention
There are many dog breeds that will require a lot of your time and attention. On the whole, dogs need to be walked daily, with a lot of breeds requiring a much longer walk, or even the chance to run around off their lead. Think about how much time you will be able to guarantee that you can give each day. Also, work out where you will be able to walk your dog. If you live in a built-up area, are there any parks nearby?
Dogs are clever and when they are awake, they need stimulation. This means that you will need to play with them and interact with you. If you want a pet that sits in the corner, a dog is probably not the best choice for you. At times, your dog will want affection from you, and they will want to give you affection. Make sure that you are going to be able to make time for this.
You Are Responsible For The Health Of Your Dog
From the moment that you bring your dog home, you are responsible for their health. When it comes to health problems associated with dogs, these will differ between breeds, and it is important for you to understand what the different problems they will face may be. If you know that your dog is more than likely going to need a procedure to help them with a certain condition at some point in their life, it is worth finding this out before choosing that dog. Vet bills can be expensive, and if you know that your dog is likely to have problems with their hips for example, then you can plan for this situation, and keep some money aside for an emergency.
You should keep a check on your dogs health and keep an eye out on changes in their attitudes to eating, going out for walks, and if they are sleeping less or more than usual. Knowing when to take your dog to the vets will help you catch a problem early, and will keep your dog healthy.
Similarly, you should keep your eye out for signs of aging in dogs. As sad as it is, you will very likely see your dog through its entire life cycle. From puppy to pensioner, you will need to deal with the challenges that come with their age group.
Food And Exercise
Just like us, dogs can become overweight if they are not eating a healthy balanced diet. Many dog foods are full of sugar, fats, and preservatives. Check out the ingredients list and think about how healthy the food is. If you are always giving your dog this type of food, it is probably the same as them eating fast food for every meal.
Exercise is something that is obviously going to help to keep your dog in trim, but aside from the benefits to your pets hearts, lungs, and weight, exercise is something that will be greatly beneficial as it will provide them with a great deal of mental stimulation.
Dogs Are Emotionally Intelligent
Your new furry family member will be able to provide you with a great deal of love and affection. They can be terribly perceptive when it comes to reading human emotions, and very often, a well-tuned in a dog will be there with an empathetic look or hug when you need it the most.
But your dog will pick up on negativity from you, and if you display anger at or around them, then they will be very likely to react to this unfavourably. It could make them withdrawn or scared of you, or it could cause them to become aggressive.
Another concern regarding your dog’s emotions may be surrounding separation anxiety. Your dog may not like being left alone, and as soon as you leave the room it may cause them to panic, bark, or scratch at anything and everything. If you find this is the case, you may need the help of a professional behaviourist to help your dog overcome these issues.
