A Responsible Decision to Own a Dog: 5 Things to Consider Before You B

A Responsible Decision to Own a Dog: 5 Things to Consider Before You Buy a Dog

Have you felt that something is missing for your happiness? Have you dreamed of a dog that would bring joy to your home? Do you want a dog to join your household? We fully support such a desire. However, we would not want the decision to have a dog to be made impulsively or emotionally. Bringing a dog into the home causes a revolution and involves several limitations. One of the greatest tragedies that can happen to a dog is sudden separation from its current owner – being abandoned in the forest or given to a shelter. Shelters already house too many abandoned and forgotten dogs.

It’s wonderful that you want to join the dog owners’ community. However, before you buy or adopt a dog, give yourself some time to think. Having a dog, as almost every experienced owner knows, brings great joy, satisfaction, and many benefits. But you must not forget that it also involves sacrifices, costs, duties, and difficulties. Below we present the unpleasant aspects of having a dog (you can learn about the advantages in the article Why it’s worth having a dog. 5 benefits of living with a dog.), read them carefully and honestly assess your attitude towards each of them.

1. Whim

We have various whims influenced by the moment or emotions. We visited a friend who has a beautiful Labrador and felt that we also want a dog. Remember not to act too quickly. As the saying goes - haste makes waste! Immediate fulfillment of the desire to have a dog can have tragic consequences because we did not fully realize the responsibilities and costs. After a week, the charm may fade when the puppy chews our shoes. We may lose patience for daily walks.

Our advice is this – if you have decided you want a dog, give yourself time to "settle" the desire. Read guides, ask friends, learn as much as possible about dogs. Try to develop the habit of daily walking – walk around your neighborhood every morning and after returning from work (regardless of your tiredness or bad weather). If after learning about the dog's needs, limitations, and maintenance costs, you still want to have a dog (after a few months you want it just as much as at the beginning), then start looking for the right pet for you.

2. Costs

A dog is a new family member who will regularly lighten your wallet. Throughout its life, you will dedicate part of your salary to its needs. Some expenses are occasional, others regular (like food). If you decide on a purebred dog, you will have to spend several thousand zlotys right from the start.

Here is what your dog will need funds for:

food – cost varies depending on the breed, size, and condition of the dog. Treats and bones are also needed. It is important that the food is of good quality, the best you can afford.
visits to the veterinarian – at least one or two check-ups a year with necessary vaccinations (and more often for a puppy), you must also be prepared for higher expenses related to possible surgeries, treatments. Dogs sometimes get sick, catch colds, have diarrhea, allergies, accidents, etc. You will have to pay for all treatments.
visits to the dog groomer – if you have a dog with very demanding fur, visits to a professional dog groomer are unavoidable.
Equipment and accessories:

leash, collar, muzzle – the dog grows and these accessories need to be replaced. Also, although they can be used for a long time, they eventually wear out and must be replaced.
grooming tools – brushes, combs, gloves, scissors, shampoos, toothpastes, etc.
bed – should be replaced when the dog grows or when the bed is worn out.
bowls – one bowl for water and another for food.

tax for keeping an animal at home – varies depending on the municipality (in 2022 the maximum tax value will be 135zł), paid once a year.
covering any damages caused by the dog – biting someone or another dog, damaging property, clothing.
fine for not cleaning up after your dog – you must clean up after your dog.
PKP and PKS tickets – remember that the dog does not travel for free.

3. Responsibilities

Having a dog involves various responsibilities that you cannot neglect. Familiarize yourself with the list of tasks below that you will have to perform regularly – and no excuses are allowed because this concerns a living being.

regular feeding – the amount, frequency, and quality of food should be adjusted to the dog’s needs, age, condition, and health. In the case of a puppy, feeding is much more frequent than for an adult, healthy dog. The food should be of the best quality. Check the composition of the food.
rRegular walks – you should take your dog for a walk several times a day (at least 3 times, and much more often in the case of a puppy). And of course, we don’t mean just a short round around the block. The dog needs to run, expend energy on fetching and playing (it would be good if it had dog friends). Importantly – the dog must go out EVERY DAY and you can’t make excuses citing bad weather, tiredness, or a cold. Sometimes the dog also needs to go out at night (puppy, sick, elderly).
dog safety – remember that a dog in the city should be on a leash, and in crowded places and public transport, it must wear a muzzle, especially if you have a dog from the list of aggressive breeds. It is unacceptable for a dog to relieve itself on children's playgrounds.
chip – every dog should be microchipped and registered in the database.
cleaning up after the dog – this is the least pleasant part of the walk but mandatory! Dog waste must be picked up and thrown into a trash bin.

Sometimes you also need to clean up the mess made by the dog. And on autumn-winter days, remember to clean the dog's paws after returning from a walk.

regular grooming – the type and frequency of grooming depend on the breed and the dog's coat type. The least demanding ones need to be brushed at least once a week. Procedures such as tooth brushing (preferably daily!), ear, eye, nail care, and baths are also necessary.
check-up visits to the vet and ensuring mandatory vaccinations
learning obedience and basic commands – at least so the dog does not pose a danger and the relationship with it is satisfying. Additionally, dogs like to learn new things. It is worth emphasizing that training a dog requires patience and time.

4. Time

When you have a dog at home, you will be somewhat "on a leash" yourself. You must take into account that the dog will take some time from each of your days:

time for play and spending time with the dog – a dog is a social, companion animal. It needs contact with people and often suffers when the owner leaves it alone for a long time. You need to find time for it, which positively affects your relationship with the dog. Playtime can also be used to teach new things, which dogs usually enjoy (they hate boredom!).
time for training and obedience – if you decide on a puppy, you must dedicate a lot of time and attention to it at the beginning.
sudden, spontaneous longer outings (meetings with friends after work, parties that last until morning) should be limited.
getting up earlier, watching less TV, etc., to take the dog for a walk.

5. Responsibility

This term covers many aspects related to having a dog at home.

Family – it is extremely important that every family member agrees to have a dog and is willing to take on the responsibilities that come with it. Before the dog arrives at your home, it’s good to agree on a few details so as not to confuse the dog later (e.g., whether it can get on the couch, which words you will use for specific commands, who will take the dog out in the morning).

Allergy – make sure that no family member is allergic to dogs. Not only fur but also saliva can cause allergies.

Breed – you should choose a dog that fits the family's lifestyle. If we work a lot, don't choose a dog that needs close contact and suffers from separation. If we don't like to overexert ourselves and mostly stay at home, don't choose dogs that are extremely energetic and need hours of running to function well. If we live in a small studio apartment, forget about huge dogs for whom space is very important. Responsible choice means not condemning the dog to suffering.

Long-term commitment – responsibility for a dog lasts 10-15 years or even longer.

Vacations, holidays, trips – an extremely important matter often linked to dog tragedies! Most dogs end up on the streets and in shelters during vacation periods and around holidays. Remember, you can't take a vacation from your dog. Vacation times may seem troublesome when you have a four-legged friend. However, nowadays, vacations and dogs are not such a problem, and those who abandon their pets are those who didn't want to use the available options. Below we present your options for vacations. Consider them carefully and be prepared for such a possibility. If you are reluctant to spend extra funds, it means you shouldn't have a dog.

Taking your dog on vacation – many hotels are pet-friendly. Look for such hotels and plan your vacation in a place close to nature where your dog will feel comfortable. If traveling abroad, remember current vaccinations and to bring the passport and health booklet (you must always have it with you on the trip). Check the regulations in the destination country regarding arriving dogs; in some cases, the dog must undergo quarantine.
Dog hotel – if you can't take your dog with you on vacation, find a good dog hotel. There, your dog will have care, walks, and playtime. Check the place before your trip.
Petsitter – this is an alternative to a dog hotel. The caretaker can take the dog to their home or stay at your place during your absence.
Family and friends – if someone in your family or among your friends loves dogs and can take good care of your pet, leave your dog with them.

Remember to leave (or take with you) the dog food needed for the vacation period, the health booklet, toys, and a bed or another familiar item soaked with their scent so they feel safe in the new place.

Remember petsitter services when you get sick, work a lot, and can't properly take care of your pet's needs (like walks).

If you have reached the end of the article and your enthusiasm hasn't faded, congratulations – it's time to start a new chapter in life – you can invite a dog into your home. Also, look for specialists in your area – a dog trainer, a behaviorist, and a veterinarian. Good luck!

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