| A dog can add joy to your life. The status
they bestow upon you once you are considered their master
and the love they give you can brighten up any dull day. One
may choose to have a dog for companionship or because they
need a guard, a herder, a hunter, a sled- drawer, a dog show
participant or even to act in films and dramas. Some owners
may want their dogs to perform more than one role and thankfully,
dogs do like performing multiple roles.
Before looking at dogs for sale and choosing a dog, it is
very important to check if you are ready for a dog. Once you
are ready for a dog, you would need to choose a dog you will
have to live with that choice for the next 10-15 years. Abandoning
a dog after taking him in is definitely not something that
can even be considered and therefore it is best to consider
all aspects before choosing a dog. Here are a few questions
you need to prepare yourself to get ready for a dog.
- Are the members of my family ready for a dog?
Remember it is important to speak to everyone in the house
before you get a dog home. Ensure that they are ready to
have a dog as a new addition to the family. Dogs need attention
and this means the family will have to spend some time with
the dog everyday to avoid future behavioral problems. Consider
the lifestyle of the family before choosing to have a dog.
Another important point to consider is that the dog is not
a family member for the short term but a family member for
the next 10-12 years. A dog can be considered a nuisance
if the one bringing the dog has left home for work, college,
etc. leaving behind the dog on its own. It is therefore
important to make long term plans with the dog being a part
of it. If it is a well thought out plan, future problems
will not arise.
- Am I financially ready for a dog?
After the initial expenditure of buying your pup, you will
need to give your dog vaccines and other necessary injections,
good grooming and also provide a good diet for your dog
to ensure you have a healthy dog. Each dog has different
needs that depend on the breed, age, stress levels and also
the environmental conditions. This will no doubt require
you to spend some amount of money and this is something
one needs to consider before getting a dog. Please refer
to our M- Factor page for some more information on costs.
- Is the one responsible to take care of the dog
capable enough?
A number of times, parents assume that children will be
able to take care of dogs only to find a very ill pet later.
You need to assign responsibilities to a person who is capable
of taking care of the dog and who has proven to be responsible
in less difficult tasks. Dogs will require to be walked,
fed, groomed, etc. and dog training is also a must. The
best way to proceed is to assign simpler tasks to a child
and keep increasing them depending upon his maturity and
performance on the lesser tasks.
- Are the members of my family prepared for a dog?
Everyone in the family need to understand the time and effort
involved when you have a pet dog. It is important for you
yourself to learn more about dogs and to educate your family
too. Also check out the legal requirements of your area
on having a dog. Children, especially younger ones, need
to be informed about the arrival of a dog and it is best
to get a dog when it is still a pup so that the size doesn’t
scare your child. Children also need to be told that the
dog may rip apart their toys if they don’t keep the
toys in the ‘dog-safe’ areas of the house. Your
dog will need supervision when in the company of your very
young children.
- Can my house accommodate a dog?
Depending on the breed of the dog, they will have different
physical attributes and also different needs. Some dogs
need more space while others will do just fine with a small
space. It is important to consider these before deciding
on the type of dog to bring home. The dog should be able
to adjust to and thrive in the surroundings you put him
in. Moreover, a dog will need his own space where he can
move about freely.
- Have I prepared the house for the dog?
The interiors of a house should be “dog proof”
as your dog will no doubt loiter into the rooms if he is
let loose and also bump into tables, etc. You need to ensure
that there are no breakable items within easy reach of the
dog. Ensure the dog is assigned his own space so that he
doesn’t venture onto your sofa to take a nap. A dog,
especially when it is a pup, loves chewing things and your
family will have to be prepared to lose some things if they
don’t keep them in a place where your dog cannot reach.
- Have I decided how to train the dog?
There is a lot of information that can be sought from books
and the internet on how to train your dog. Some owners choose
to have a dog trainer until the dog is trained. You can
choose what dog training suits your dog and you. Training
time is also a good time to bond with your dog. All dogs
need general dog training especially in good manners besides
specialized training based on the purpose for which you
have procured your dog. It is also best to let your family
know about what is taught to avoid confusing your dog when
he has to listen to different commands for the same action
or similar commands for different actions.
- Do I have a good vet around?
You will no doubt require a vet throughout your dog’s
life. You need to find a good vet who can not only help
when your dog needs his shots or when he is ill but also
who can advice you on how to care for your dog. It is best
to stick to the same vet rather than changing vets every
time to ensure that your dog’s history is well- known
by the vet. Some owners maintain a dog diary where they
record details like dates of vaccinations and other injections,
illnesses, symptoms and prescriptions, grooming dates, diet,
etc. This will not only help you understand your dog better
and also to ensure that you have all details if required.
If you have answered the above in the affirmative after
careful consideration of the points given, you are pretty
much ready to look at dogs for sale, and proceed to choosing
a dog and then you can look for some interesting dog names.
Your dog deserves the best and so we advise you to read as
much information as possible before your purchase to ensure
that you and your dog have a wonderful life together. You
will soon know that the time and effort you have put in is
worth it.
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