Congratulations on your decision to adopt a dog! This blog post will provide some thoughts and considerations you should know about before or during the adoption process.
Costs: If you’re adopting from a shelter, they usually charge no more than $150 for dogs and $50 for cats. If you adopt from a breeder, it may cost several hundred dollars. Keep in mind that pet insurance can cost as much as $20 per month for cats and dogs.
Home Inspection: It’s important that your new pet feels right at home in its new surroundings. You may want to have your house inspected by a professional before the adoption. This will give them an idea of what changes need to be made to make your house safe for your new animal.
Vet Bills: The cost of veterinary care for your pet can vary based on its size, age and breed. You should be prepared to spend at least $500 in the first year for expenses like shots, spaying/neutering and emergency visits. While it’s important to provide excellent care for your pet, you should also plan to create an emergency fund in case of accidents or unexpected visits to the vet.
Breed Specific Issues: If you adopt a dog from a shelter or breeder, make sure that they’ve checked their health history. Many breeds are prone to genetic defects which require expensive surgeries. For example, pugs often suffer from severe breathing problems due to their short snouts; Golden Retrievers often suffer from hip dysplasia due to their large bodies.
Food: Food can be expensive, especially if you buy high-end brands. You should consider the dietary needs of your breed before you adopt. For example, smaller breeds need lots of protein while larger breeds need more carbs. Be sure to ask the shelter or breeder about your pet’s specific dietary requirements before committing to a food plan.
Grooming: Grooming supplies are very important for pets with medium or long fur coats like Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus. The better maintained their coat is, the healthier they’ll be in the long run! Combs, brushes, toothbrushes and nail clippers are all important tools to keep your pet well groomed and healthy.
Time: Dogs and cats both require lots of time and attention. If you’re not home too often, this may not be the right pet for you! You should consider hiring a dog walker or having someone come in to feed and play with your pet if it’s alone for much of the day.
There are many considerations before adopting a new furry friend, but hopefully this blog post has provided an idea of what’s to come! Adopting from a shelter or breeder can be a great experience as long as you go into it knowing what needs to be done. Best wishes on your search!
Adopting a dog isn’t as difficult as getting a baby is
“It’s not difficult!” hmm maybe for you, but there are many that would disagree with you. For example, I was at my local pet store yesterday and I overheard 2 women talking about which dog they should adopt. One of the women said she wanted a puppy because they’re just so much more fun to play with than adult dogs. The other woman agreed and said it doesn’t matter if the pup is only going to be 5 or 10 pounds full grown because she was planning on adopting a maltese/shih tzu mix anyways.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! There’s another myth we all need to stop believing: That we can treat an animal like a child and decide whether we want one based on size. I would’ve said something but I could tell they weren’t interested in what I had to say, so instead I thought of writing this article.
There are many reasons why adopting a dog is actually easier than getting a baby for the first time parents.
1) Dogs are SMARTER! It’s true, there are tons of studies that have been done to prove it. According to recent research, dogs possess the ability to read human facial expressions just as well as humans can themselves!
2) They’re healthier! The life expectancy of an average dog is only 11 years old while babies should live up until their early 20’s.
3) You don’t have to change your lifestyle around them by much other than taking them outside to go pee and poop. With babies, you have to change your entire schedule around them. You can’t just leave a baby home alone for 12 hours straight or else they’ll get sick or even worse, die!
4) They don’t need as much attention as a baby does. After feeding them and walking them outside, you can pretty much do whatever you want for the rest of the day…or night depending on how long your walks are. A baby on the other hand needs constant attention or else they’ll cry which would only make things worse since then you’d have two crying babies who are hungry and tired at the same time!
5) No “stroller” anxiety when taking your dog out for walks. A lot of parents I’ve talked to have told me that they wouldn’t even dream of taking their baby out for a walk because the stroller would get dirty. The same thing applies with dogs, but all you need to do is take them to the local groomers and they’ll clean them right up!
6) No one’s mad at you for leaving your dog home alone while you run errands. With babies, every parent knows someone who has gotten in trouble for leaving their kid at home by themselves while out grocery shopping or what not.
7) Your dog never threw up on your brand new carpet! Even if they did it’s easy enough to get rid of any stain or odor with something called “stain-away”. You can pick that up at any local pet store.
It’s also important to keep in mind that not every dog is the right pet for you! You should consider hiring a dog walker or having someone come in to feed and play with your pet if it’s alone for much of the day. Dogs are very social animals so they need lots of companionship otherwise they’ll start getting lonely which can lead to depression…which can lead to destructive behavior!
Take care of the dog and treat it right
In order to have a healthy and happy dog, you have to take care of it and treat it right. To do that, you will need to feed the dog a healthy diet, provide them with proper exercise, and give them a comfortable place to live. A lot of people ignore these things when they get a new dog, but they are essential in order for your pet to grow up healthy and happy.
Feeding your dog the right diet is one of the most important things for its health. If you’re not sure what type of food to give it, speak with a veterinarian to find out more about which types are best suited for different dogs. Providing your dog with enough daily exercise will help them maintain their fitness. Certain breeds require more exercise than others, so make sure you know what kind of breed you have before making any assumptions on how much they should be exercising. Finally, make sure your dog has a comfortable place to sleep at night that is away from too much cold or heat.
Don’t forget that dogs are living creatures
It’s very easy to get caught up in feelings of love and gratitude when you get a new dog. You might want to give into every whim your pet has, but don’t forget that dogs are living creatures with basic needs that you have to meet in order for them to be happy. Make sure you’re fulfilling their daily exercise requirements and giving them the right type of food before trying to make any other requests. If you can do these things consistently, then feel free to let your dog sleep in bed with you or even share certain privileges like eating from the table.
