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Owning a dog isn’t the same as getting a new piece of tech, furniture, or a toy. This is a living, breathing, thinking, feeling being. And you’ll be responsible for its welfare from now until it crosses the rainbow bridge in the very, very, very far-off future. So, if you want to give your doggo a high-quality life, you have to be willing to make sacrifices for it. On top of that, you have to have the resources to provide it with everything that it needs to be a happy and healthy pet.
As Petmate points out, you have to know for a fact that you have enough space in your home for the type of dog that you want. Larger dogs generally need more space than smaller breeds. What’s more, if you don’t own your home outright, you have to make sure that your landlord is okay with you bringing an adorable pet into the property.
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Moreover, you have to consider whether you’re financially stable enough to take care of a pet. It’s not just food that you have to pay for! There are lots of veterinary expenses. Plus, you have to invest in toys that stimulate them. And you have to have enough of a cash buffer to weather any potential emergencies.
“Vet bills and common medications such as flea, tick, and heartworm prevention can be costly for even generally healthy pets. Older pets, special needs pets, certain breeds with known issues, and medical emergencies can incur additional costs. Spaying and neutering, while elective, can be quite costly, too,” Petmate explains.
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My first dog got misdiagnosed by veterinarians for weeks. By time I found someone who would take us seriously and help, she was too far gone. She had a fungal infection called blastomycosis. It was too aggressive and unchecked, so she died in the backseat going to an emergency vet.
Later, I got a perfectly normal, healthy dog that was diagnosed with megaesophagus within the first year. He can live a long, relatively normal life, but he eats in a high chair (bailey chair) 3 times a day (and has to sit there for 30+ mins every meal).
You never know when a diagnosis will turn your life upside down.
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Finances aside, you also have to be willing to put in the time, energy, and emotional investments to make this whole pet ownership thing work. That means being disciplined enough to walk and feed your dog on time, being patient enough to train it, and having the flexibility to balance everything with your other responsibilities in life (work, parenting, social life, hobbies, etc.).
In short, you have to ensure that your lifestyle is compatible with owning a dog! If you’re constantly traveling for work, you’ll have to look for friends, dog-sitters, or pet hotels who can look after your lovable doggo. This can get pretty expensive. Plus, your pet might get separation anxiety if you’re hardly ever around. Why get a dog if you never spend time with it?
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On top of that, if you’re a sedentary person, getting an active dog that loves being outdoors can be disastrous if you’re unwilling or unable to keep up with it.
Also, make sure that your partner and family are on the same page as you. If you want a dog but they’re on the fence, things could get tense.
Meanwhile, DogsTrust notes that you have to be willing to plan your time around your new pet. “You can’t jet off on any last-minute holidays or plan spur-of-the-moment day trips. If you do, you’ll need to bring them with you or arrange for them to be looked after.”
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Like, you just spent the afternoon with great new friends and they invite you to stay for dinner? Or your date asks you to spend the night? You can't because you have to go home to walk and feed the dog.
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She's hard to connect with. You try to interact with her? Pet her? Just chill on the couch with her?
No. Ball now. NOW. 24/7. Endless ball. Always staring laser focused on the ball.
Take ball away? Freak the f**k out looking for ball everywhere. Find new random object to bring to you and stare at. It is ball now.
Hair. Hair everywhere. Always.
I've had many dogs in the past that I have owned and loved, but this one is hard. Endless ball.
She has a big yard to run in and can go do so at any time. She comes in panting, exhausted from running in the yard. The moment she comes in... Ball.
I wish I had a dog that would just relax on the couch for a bit.
Because dogs love having a set routine, you have to be happy to provide it. And you have to be willing to make all of these sacrifices for years and years to come.
“You need to be sure that you can commit to them long-term. As far as you’re aware, do they fit in with your future plans? [...] Of course, we can never plan for the unexpected. But, by doing your best to ensure that it’s highly likely you’ll be able to commit to dog companionship long-term, you’ll reduce the chances of having to rehome your dog in the future,” DogsTrust states.
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Do you have any pets at home, dear Pandas? What would you say are the biggest upsides and downsides to owning a dog, cat, bird, or any other animal? How do you work around those drawbacks?
Let us know what you think in the comments below! And if you feel like sharing, you can post a photo of your adorable animals at the bottom of this list, too.
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Puppies depend on you to survive, and when they turn into adult dogs, though they require less supervision if they have been appropriately trained, they are still 100% dependent on you. You MUST feed them daily, you MUST take them out for the bathroom, daily. You MUST take them to the vet when they get sick and then give them their medicine.
Not only that, they aren’t necessarily easy. Some dogs don’t like men. Some don’t like children. Some are allergic to grass. Some need antidepressants or doggy Xanax. Some are reactive and will get aggressive and you need to learn their triggers and work with them closely to improve their response (if you have a hard time going to therapy to work on yourself, then you won’t have an easy time deciphering and reducing your dogs triggers).
If you think starting from a puppy makes you immune to this, then having a dog isn’t for you.
Not only that, you actually need to learn about the breed you will buy or adopt. Each has their job and lifestyle that best suits them. Your lifestyle needs to match them, they don’t need to match yours. Please do not get a blue heeler or border collie if you are not currently a very active person. A dog won’t turn you into a 5k turkey trot on Thanksgiving person. Your dog will become destructive and/or aggressive if their daily exercise needs aren’t being met.
Likewise, you wouldn’t want to get a dachshund if you want a dog to go on long walks and bike rides with, they’re just not made for it. You also don’t want a dachshund if you already have pet bunnies or ferrets!!
Also, don’t like when people snore at night? Don’t get a pug or a Boston terrier or bull dog.
Don’t like random silent but deadly farts that could evacuate a small town when you have company over? Don’t get any dog ever because they will all do this if the company you have over slips them scraps from the table or god forbid you buy the chicken and rice flavor dry food, not the salmon and vegetable one.
Don’t like dog fur on your clothes? Your dog breeds are highly limited and if they have hair, grooming is a sacred ritual and going to a groomer can be costly; but even costlier if you don’t in terms of the dogs health.
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Other than the obvious ones of having to clean up after them, take them for walks, etc. one thing that I absolutely don't miss is having to be home at a certain time to let them out for the bathroom.
If I want to stop by the grocery store and get some shopping done I have to go home first.
If I want to grab a drink with friends after work I have to go home first.
If I have a doctor's appointment after work I have to schedule it around making sure I can go home first.
And obviously it extends to vacation, you need to either take the dog with you, board it, or pay someone to watch them, which isn't really a hassle, it's just an added expense and travel is already so expensive.