Practical Considerations Before You Adopt a Dog

Can I afford a dog?

• Food
  To do right by any dog you must supply a nutritious and balanced diet. Check out the eating habits of various breeds of dog and visit your local pet supply store to get an idea of what you can expect to spend per month on food and vitamins. Read labels and make an estimate of monthly food costs.
  
• Health Maintenance
  You can't anticipate your dog's health any more than you can your own or your children's health. Initial and follow-up vaccinations, heartworm prevention, flea and tick prevention, and neutering are just the basic maintenance expenses for a healthy animal, which can run around $100-140 per year. Unexpected health issues must also be taken into consideration. An accident or illness can cost $500-$1000. Talk to your local vet and ask him or her to give you an estimate of annual health maintenance for the size and breed you have in mind. In addition, a good place to compare prices on pet medications is www.discountpetmedication.net.
• Training
  No matter which breed you choose, some degree of training will be mandatory. Whether it is house breaking, responding to simple commands, or walking easily on a leash, a degree of commitment is required, either by you personally or by your spouse and/or children. Do not put the responsibility on a minor child and then get upset later when training doesn't work out as expected. Don't adopt a dog unless you have made an adult's commitment to training it. If you acquire a special breed or want your dog to have special skills, check out the cost of training schools or professional trainers, and add this into your budget.
• Accessories
  While we all know that dogs don't really need raincoats and sweaters, you should face the fact before adopting a dog that you will most likely be purchasing a dog house or bed, collars and leashes, training aids, and toys. It's not only part of the enjoyment; it is a part of caring for your pet. On your exploratory pet shop visit, add up what you anticipate you will be spending in the first month (throw in that sweater if you must... ) and add that in to your budget too.
• Boarding fees
  Depending on the breed and size of the dog you choose to adopt, you may have to include in your budget kennel boarding to cover vacation time or business trips.

How much time will I spend with a dog?
Even if you've determined by now that, yes, you can afford a dog, and, yes, you and your family are committed to training it and caring for its basic needs, you've come to the most important issue. That is, to decide the crucial question of how much time you and/or your family members will be spending with your new dog.

If you are single, live alone, and have a high-pressure job that keeps you away from home for long hours, do yourself and the dog a favor... don't adopt. If you and your spouse lead very busy lives and your children are too young to accept responsibility for caring for and playing with a dog... wait a few years and the experience of owning a dog will be more enjoyable for everyone.

How much living space will a dog require?
A small or medium sized dog requires very little living space as long as it is walked or exercised daily and has access to fresh air and sunshine. The needs of a large dog or breed that requires more strenuous exercise should be taken into account. If you live in a large city, have little or no access to a park or dog run, or not enough free time to take long walks, perhaps one of the very small breeds would suit you better.

If you have antiques or expensive furnishings and plan to leave a dog alone for some hours during weekday work hours, consider how much actual living and play space you will be allowing your dog. A large, active, or boisterous breed will be unhappy and destructive if left alone in a confined area, whereas a small, quiet breed or an older dog may be content in a kitchen, porch or small back yard for limited time periods.

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