Someone once told me, if you have trouble getting motivated to take a walk, get a dog. And it’s so true. Dog owners walk 22 minutes per day more than non-dog owners. When I get home from work, I’d love to sit down and relax. It would be so easy to just ignore the need for daily exercise and binge watch a new show, glass of wine in hand. But then I look at the two faces waiting for me to provide them some adventure and I find my walking shoes.
If you have a dog, you know that look. But if your home is missing a fur child and you’re thinking about adding a dog to your home, taking the time to find the right dog is a time investment worth making. A dog is a life time (their life time) commitment, so making the correct choices now means a great fit for your family forever.
There are a few questions to ask yourself before choosing a dog.
• How much time do you have? If you have a regular schedule, are home many hours a day and are willing to make a dog part of your family life, you have great potential as a dog owner. But if you are someone who comes home from work, heads out with friends many nights a week and prefers to take whatever life throws at you, a cat may be more suited to your lifestyle. Dogs need a schedule, regular exercise and you. Yes…you. Dogs live to be with their people. If you want a happy, well-adjusted dog, it requires your time and attention. This is a hard reality for some people. But it’s the absolute test on whether you should consider a dog.
- Are you equipped to handle a puppy or does an older dog better meet your lifestyle requirements? Puppies are adorable but they are an incredible amount of work and require a huge time commitment. When you bring an 8-week-old puppy home, they will need to be taught almost everything. From potty training (a young puppy will need to go out in the middle of the night until they are 3-5 months old) to learning the difference between their toy and your new shoes, it all takes time and commitment. An older dog may already know many of life’s lessons and be an easier fit for a busier person.
- What breed of dog best fits your lifestyle? The AKC has classified dogs into seven groups based on similar characteristics. If you are moderately active, look for a moderately active dog. Dogs from the non-sporting group or terrier group fit into this category well. From a Poodle to a Boston Terrier, a Dalmatian to a Bischon Frise, you’ll find dogs with big personality, intelligence and a lover of adventure. But they are also satisfied with a 30 minute walk every day. If you are active and love longer walks, dogs from the sporting group are a good fit. Retrievers, Setters and Spaniels are in this group and will be ready for whatever adventure you have next. Dogs from the working group such as a Great Pyrenees or a Newfoundland, the hound and herding group really require a special person. If you are attracted to breeds from these groups, read up on the breed and make sure you can provide the environment they need to thrive.
Now that you’ve decided what type of dog you’re looking for and if it’s a puppy or an older dog, the next step is finding the right dog. Shelters and breed rescues are the place to start if you are looking for an older dog. It’s a myth that dogs in shelters are somehow “broken”. In most cases, they are great dogs that were let down by their human or a family faced a choice that could not include a dog. I’ve had four rescue dogs and ach one of them were great dogs. I still have two, Pippa and Bailey, and they are my shadows. Petfinder.com is a website most shelters and breed rescues use to showcase their available dogs and it’s an excellent place to start. You can also Google breed rescues for a specific breed. My dogs came from Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue and Chicago French Bulldog Rescue.
But what if you’ve thought it through and have decided that a puppy is the best choice for your family? This is where you have to be on your game. Do not buy a puppy online. Let me say it again… do not buy a puppy online. Scammers have taken to online dog selling and are stealing money from unsuspecting buyers.
But more importantly, puppy mills use the internet to sell dogs. Over 1 million puppies are sold online every year by puppy mills. One Million puppies! They create websites that make them look like home breeders, with dogs raised on farms full of lots of playtime with the kids. It’s untrue. There is only one way to guarantee you are not dealing with a puppy mill and that is see for yourself. A reputable breeder cares about who is buying their puppies. They will want to meet you, provide you with a contract and allow you to visit the parent dogs. If a breeder wants to ship the dog to you, meet you in a parking lot or just happens to be coming to your neighborhood, walk away. There are other websites that proclaim to be places where breeders sell their dogs and are really just a clearing house for backyard breeders and puppy mills. Beware of websites that have commissioned sales people. Their job is to sell you a dog, not to care about the health or treatment of its mother.
If you would like more information on how to find a puppy from a reputable breeder and avoid the cruelty of puppy mills, you can find it at StopOnlinePuppyMills.org.
Dogs add so much to our lives, both from a physical and mental aspect. They do encourage you to get off the sofa and take a walk. They are a loyal companion waiting for you with a wagging tail when you get home at night. They bring true joy to your life. And when you pick the right dog for you, you can have years of friendship and love like no other. So, go ahead… ask yourself, is a dog right for me? You might just find happiness you’ve never known before.
