Committing to the Responsibility of a New Puppy in Your Home

Bringing a new puppy into your home is a commitment for the life of that dog. If this is your first puppy, you need to understand the cost and commitment that you are making for the next ten or more years.

The first part of deciding to bring a new puppy into your home is deciding on the right dog for you. Nearly all puppies are adorable when they are eight week old bundles of fur. "I had no idea he would get so BIG!" is not a statement you want to be making in six months. Take the time (hours upon hours if need be) to match your family and your home with the right dog. A dog's energy level is a huge part of this decision as well. Just because a dog is considered "medium sized" doesn't mean that he'll be easier to handle than a Great Dane. Don't fool yourself or your breeder into thinking that you'll have time to properly train and maintain a border collie or a springer spaniel if you live in an apartment and go to school full time. Take into account your work hours, how much money a doggy day care costs, veterinary costs (including potential breed-specific health problems), training costs and the cost of dog food. If fed a proper diet, one dog's food can cost as much, in and of itself, as the food you buy for two people. When you include treats and toys (who wouldn't want to buy a squeaky toy for your spoiled little pooch?) you'll easily push the dog's maintenance bill over $200 a month. Also take into account that a dog cannot be left in the house all day long if you are sick. They still have to go to the bathroom, and need to be exercised or walked. If you cannot do it, you will have to have the means to pay for somebody else to do it. Granted, a very small dog is much easier to deal with in this situations, so if you're making the decision to own a dog alone, this may be something you want to consider. Likewise, a dog cannot be left outside all the time either. It is abuse to leave a dog in a situation where they have no access to shade, or food and water. With the weather being what it is, there is rarely a time when leaving your dog in the backyard all day can be considered a good thing. Taking the time for potty training and basic obedience training will make a significant difference in your dog's happiness and your happiness in the long run. Whether you are spending a huge amount of money on a purebred dog, or whether the pup you're bringing home is one from a shelter with absolutely no determined heritage, the costs of keeping your pooch healthy and happy go far beyond buying a bag of generic dog food once a month and pouring it into a bowl. When dealing with a dog, always remember the golden rule. Treat them as you would be treated. You'll find that they will only find a way to treat you better.

And the very most important part of owning an animal who would rather kiss our face than cower at our presence is the way that you intend to treat your dog now and in the future. We are only as worthy of a dog's love as our most frustrated moment can attest. So please, if you have a tendency to get angry and strike out, get a punching bag - not a puppy.