Is Your Family Ready for a Dog?

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Here are 10 questions to ask yourself before making the important family decision to get a dog

By FindingFido.ca

Bringing a dog into your household is a big decision that will have a huge impact on your family’s daily life. If you do it right, your new dog will enrich your lives in so many ways. If you don’t plan and research the decision, it can cause heartache, expense and guilt.

Here are some questions to help you make a smart, informed decision:

1. Are there any big changes on the horizon for your family, such as moving, baby due, extra work hours, major renovations, etc?

2. If you rent your home, are you sure that dogs are allowed?

3. Does anyone in the household have allergies to dogs?

4. Can you afford a dog?  The first year will cost you $2,000-$3,000 and annual costs will be $1,200 - $2,000 depending on the size of dog.

5. Do you have experience with dogs?  If not, have you spent time with friends’ dogs, looked after a dog in your home, gone to a dog park, read books about raising dogs?

6. Why do you want a dog? For companionship, protection, an exercise buddy, friend for the kids, to participate in dog activities? Your answers will help you decide what kind of dog would suit your family best. Remember, kids can help, but adults must take ultimate responsibility for the dog.

7. Do you have a safe, fenced backyard?  If not, someone will have to take Fido outside to relieve him or herself – and that will be numerous times a day if you get a puppy!

8. Is everyone in the household supportive of getting a dog and committed to participating in the daily routine of walking, playing, training, feeding, grooming and picking up poop? Not just for the first few months, but for the next 10-15 years.

9. Are you committed to spending the time to research what kind of dog would be best and where you should get him or her? Do you want a puppy or an adult? Do you want to adopt from a humane society, SPCA or rescue? Or will you look for a caring, reputable breeder?  Either way, Finding Fido has all the information you need.

10. Are you ready for the unconditional love that your new Fido will bring? If you make a smart, informed choice and you spend time training, socializing and raising your dog, you and your family will have a new best friend.

The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies has launched a new website, www.findingfido.ca, to help people make informed decisions on whether to get a dog; if so, what kind; and to make sure they get one from a reputable source. They want to make sure people don’t support cruel puppy mills and backyard breeders that exploit dogs for profit.