6 Considerations Before Adopting A Dog

1. Grooming

This must be considered carefully before you adopt a dog as they may not be for you. This is the case as some dog breeds need more grooming compared to other dogs, such as frequent brushing on their coat. One example of a dog breed that barely needs grooming and just need dirt and loose hair brushed from their short coat includes Beagles. Whereas other breeds such as Golden Retrievers, have long coats that require brushing every week or sometimes even days. Before adopting a dog, you must consider and question yourself;  how much grooming you're willing to do and if you’re a busy person or not.  A dog that needs a lot of grooming may not be for you.

2. Dog Sizes

This must be considered as different sized dogs such as tiny, small, medium or large dogs need different provisions. For example, tiny dogs such as a Chihuahua may be hard to keep safe as they are tiny, measuring up to 12 inches tall only and may  be stepped on or even sat on accidentally. Therefore you must consider if you and your family are cautious enough to keep the tiny dog safe, otherwise a bigger dog may be better suited. Large dogs may also be hard to keep around the house. You must consider the fact if your house or apartment contain enough space for large dogs to move around comfortably and safely. Large dogs such as a greyhound tend to need to use up a bigger space as they are huge, measuring up to 22 to 26 inches tall. You must also consider if you or your family members are able to handle and control a large dog as they are known to be more aggressive if they are not kept in check. Therefore, before adopting a dog, sizes must be considered, otherwise a medium size dog may be best suited for you and your family.

3. Fur Shedding

Shedding is another dog trait that must be considered before adopting. Some dog breed shed more than other breed, some dogs constantly shed throughout the year, whereas some other dogs shed small amounts of fur throughout the year. This trait must be considered carefully on different breed dogs as you must question yourself, are you able to clean up the fur shedded from a dog such as a German Shepherd constantly and not be annoyed? If you are able to do that, that dog may be for you, however, if you don't think you are able to stand that, a dog that barely shed such as an Irish Terrier  is best for you!

4. Aggression Handling

Some dogs may need a great deal of socialisation at a young age from the owner and other adult dogs or puppies to prevent aggression. Dogs that have poor handling or no socialisation at an early age could become an aggressive dog out of natural instincts. You must consider if you are able to socialise with young pups and spend time with them in this critical period, or not. Allowing your puppy to play with others puppies of a similar age also allows them to recognise that other dogs are equals and thus, prevents fear aggression that may manifest out of their natural instincts.

5. Daily Exercises

Some dogs need a set time of daily exercise for a few hours, whereas other dogs may need short walks. Dogs that are known to be work dogs or sport dogs must need high intensity daily exercise for more than an hour.  You must question yourself whether  you or a family member are able to exercise your dog and walk with them for over an hour daily, or not. This must be considered as working dogs and sport dogs are known to be easily bored and cause mischief at home, and thus daily exercises and walks allows the dog to behave at home as they work out their energy and overly active minds to become tired. Daily exercises for these dogs are also shown to make dogs more healthy, so this is a factor that must be considered carefully.

6. Experienced Owner

Are you an experienced dog owner? Some dog breeds need an experienced owner who is able to handle and understand the type of breed. Dog breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and Akitas need owners that are able to set boundaries and rules at an early age and be able to train them firmly, physically and mentally or they may become destructive and aggressive easily.  You must have experience and patience, using time and effort to train these types of dogs as some working dogs may be highly territorial, highly energetic and have a dominant nature. If you have never owned a dog, you should adopt a dog that is suitable for first time dog owners such as as a pug or a golden retriever. A golden retriever may be easier for an inexperienced owner as they are easier to train and known to be friendly and get along with people easily.