Unfortunately, animal shelters are full of dogs that have been brought in and dropped off merely because the previous owner did not take into account everything that they would need to do to take care of a dog. And if you have spent any time in an animal shelter at all, you know how heartbreaking it is to walk in and see all of these great animals without homes. This type of sight will slowly eat away at you if you have a soul at all.

Getting a dog is not exactly a walk in the park, there is so much that can happen when you have one, which is why it is important to be on the ball. Maybe your dog stopped eating the dry food, they keep pacing, or they are scared to go further than the back garden. All of these things can be a worry, but with love, kindness, and compassion, you can support your new dog in any way that you can so they will have a good life.

Take the Time to Plan First

Have you ever heard the saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions? This quote can directly apply to bailing on an animal after adopting them. Once you bring in that dog then it should become an instant family member. They will love you unconditionally and all you have to do is provide them a home and take care of them a bit.

Before you run out and adopt a dog, make sure that you have an adequate amount of time to spend with them. If you work all day and then go out at night as well and nobody else is back at the house, that dog might be better off with someone else. Plus, if you don’t want to take the time to walk them frequently and get them exercise, then you need to reconsider your decisions. Dogs are complex creatures and will be with you for many years. You also may find that you have to pay attention to your dog’s mental and physical health. You’ll also need to think about where you’re getting the dog from. Will you be buying from a cobberdog breeder? Do you want to adopt a dog? There are lots of options!

Owning a dog will require you to pay attention to every detail about them, and notice when something might be wrong. For example, if you notice that your dog breathes quicker when he or she’s asleep, then you may start to wonder “why is my puppy breathing so fast?” and be left with no answer because you do not know enough about how to care for dogs. Physical health is not the only health you will need to take care of with a dog either. As we have dogs for a long time, over the span of that certain issues to do with mental health could develop, which need to be properly taken care of. Always have access to a reliable vet for advice, and potentially look at invesitng in stress relievers for dogs if any issues do occur.

So, it is essential that you learn as much as you can about them beforehand, and also pay attention to their subtle behaviors and habits. For you, it might feel like you are just welcoming a dog into your house, but for that dog, you are changing its life dramatically by providing it a loving home.

Know Your Veterinarian

Your dog might need to have its shots updated, fixed so it no longer can reproduce, and have various other checkups down the road. You may not think the checkups are needed at first, but as your dog ages, it will eventually need some medical attention. This is why the bond with your dog’s veterinarian is important. Find a vet that you can trust and lives kind of close by. After all, you won’t want to jump in the car and drive for an hour to a vet while your dog is suffering.

Consider Everything

If you plan ahead on these issues, you will be able to be ready to welcome in a four-pawed new family member.

• Where will the dog sleep? In your bed? In a doggy bed? In your child’s room?
• What will the dog eat? Do you plan on giving it table scraps and dog food? Do you know what dogs should and should not eat?
• Do you have the time to commit to the many issues that can arise in dogs?

Is everyone going to love this dog? You don’t want a family member that is not fond of animals.