Am I Ready for a New Puppy?

Are you thinking about getting a new puppy? They’re cute, cuddly and definitely hard to resist but puppies also require a lot of care. Bringing one into your home is not something you should rush into because if it doesn’t work out, your pet is the one that suffers. She is the one that loses her home with nowhere to go if you decide later that you’re not ready.

Therefore, if you’re asking yourself, Am I ready for a new puppy?” you may want to ask a few more questions to help you make this very important decision.

The answers to the following questions will help you decide:

• Are you financially ready to take on this type of responsibility? Dogs are expensive and you will be responsible for all of her vet bills, food and keeping her safe even if that means installing a fence in the backyard. If you’re not ready financially, you may not be ready for a new puppy just yet.
• How much free time do you have? Providing food, shelter and taking care of your pups other needs is not enough. You also need to spend time with her. You will need to teach her basic commands and house train her in addition to going for walks and having play time. Have you bought any indestructible dog toys yet? If you don’t have the time to commit, then a puppy may not be right for you.
• How will you socialize your new pet? Socialization is very important. It’s how your pup learns to interact with other people and pets so you need to have some type of plan ready. You could take her to the dog park once a week or take her along when you visit friends and relatives with dogs but she needs socialization.
• Have you discussed it with everyone else living in the home? If you don’t live alone, then be sure to include your family in this decision. You need to know if they’re all on board with having a puppy in the house. Some people have allergies or other medical issues that make having a dog impractical and some simply don’t like dogs.
• Do you know how to take care of a puppy properly? Puppies require more attention than older dogs and the type of dog you get will play a major role in how you need to care for her. The needs of a large breed dog are much different from that of a small breed so you need to know all you can about the type of dog you get in advance. Therefore, if you don’t know how to care for her properly, you might want to postpone getting a new puppy until you learn.
• Is there someone else available to help care for the puppy when you’re not around? To ensure her safety and well-being, there should always be a backup person to feed, water and walk your pet in case you are unavailable. This person should know and follow all of your rules regarding your pet.

A new puppy is a lot of responsibility but if you’re really ready for one, they’re truly delightful. They can make your day a little brighter and put a smile on your face. She’ll become your best friend who is always there to greet you when you return home and keep you company when you’re alone.

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