I’m thinking of getting a new dog but I’m not sure if I have enough time/money. How can I find out?

Esme

First of all, if you have any doubts about whether getting a dog is the right thing to do then it probably isn’t a good idea. You need to be fully committed to a dog from the moment you get it. It’s a much better idea to wait for a while until you are certain you can look after a dog and give it the care it needs.

Things you need to think about are:

• Can I financially afford a dog? (Not just the purchase fee, but also food, toys, equipment, grooming and medical care)
• Do I have enough time for a dog? (Dogs need care throughout a day, not just at one or two times during it)
• Can I provide enough exercise for the dog? (Dogs need daily exercise throughout their life)
• Do I have the time to train the dog?

There are many more considerations before getting a dog, but these should get your started. You need to be sure you can provide for all the dogs need before you get one.

All the best,

Richard

Some of the basic questions you should ask yourself when thinking about getting a dog are:

• Does your work or lifestyle allow you to give them time needed to a dog?
• Do you have enough money to support a dog?
• In ten years time, will you still be able to care for a dog properly?

The first point it probably the most important. A new dog needs lots of love and attention if it is to be happy. Do you have enough time to feed, exercise and train a dog? Not to mention spending time with it generally to form a strong bond. Dogs are sociable animals and hate to be on their own, so if your lifestyle means you won’t spend much time with the dog it may not be a good idea to get one.

Most new owners also don’t fully realise the financial cost of owning a dog. When doing the maths to see whether you have the money available you need to think about food, grooming costs, training equipment, toys and medical costs. Generally a dog will end up costing more than you budgeted for because of the small things like leads and toys, so make sure you remember that.

The last one is especially hard to answer as who really knows where they will be in ten years time? A lot can change in a decade, but it is important to consider that a new dog is likely to live for at least this long.

Training a dog can often be frustrating – not to mention tiring! However it is essential if you want your dog’s life to be a happy and fulfilled one.  Training should start as soon as possible and should be a daily event. If you don’t think you’ll have enough time to train or exercise your dog each and every day then that could be a problem.

Having a dog is great most of the time, but you must be prepared for the occasional inconveniences. They can be fantastic pets and wonderful companions but as an owner you must be willing to accept responsibility for the dog – through good and bad times.