Having a four-legged, furry family member is the best way to ease stress after a long day of work. Imagine a dog wagging its tail waiting at the door to happily greet its master.
Here is a list of things to consider before getting or adopting a new family dog.
1. Consider the ages of each family member.
If the family has children less than seven years of age, toy-sized dogs and less five months old puppies are not suitable as they have sharp milk teeth and toe nails that might cause unintentional injury to the child. These may cause fear rather than love for the dog. These kids too are so playful that they may injure the dog as well, according to Pet Finder.
2. Consider who will be the primary caretaker for the dog.
Each family member nowadays is so busy with their work, school and other activities. One parent should be designated to be the dog's caretaker as children won't be responsible enough to look after the dog all the time. However, kids should be thought how to be responsible for their furry best friend, as owning a dog takes 10-15 years of being together with them.
3. Consider the budget.
Dogs are available for free from animal shelters to a thousand dollars from pet shops or breeders. But no matter how the family gets a dog, they should also consider the expenses after getting it. Consider the dog's food, grooming, toys and obedience class's expenses.
4. Consider an equal level of energy of the owner and the dog.
According to Cesar Millan, soon-to-be dog owners should never get a dog with higher energy than them. They should consider their own and the dog's age. Evaluate the dog when it is out of its cage and take some time to walk it out. Dogs need exercise and the owner should be able to keep up with them.
5. Consider fostering a dog first before owning one.
The owner has to be sure whether they are ready to own a dog or not. Fostering a dog can give them hands on experience to see if they are able to take care of it. Otherwise, the dog can be turned over to someone who is ready to love them full time.
