What to Consider When Looking for a Companion Dog

Are you looking for a dog? For every person that is looking to get a dog, there will be a different reason behind it. Despite all of the other reason, it would be safe to say that companionship is going to be up there. Because we all know that dogs make great companions.

They even make you happier and healthier too. But even when you’re really set on the reason why you want to get a dog, there’s still a lot of important considerations for you to make before you head out and pick up a puppy.

It’s safe to say that you’ve thought about things like the responsibility and the cost at this point. You’re a responsible adult and you’re sold on getting a dog. But let’s take a look at a few things you should think about before adopting your four-legged friend.

Your Lifestyle

First of all, you’re going to want to think about how a dog is going to work out for you. You need to objectively think about your lifestyle and if this is a good idea.

You want a companion sure, but should it be a dog?

If you’re someone that’s always out and about and you have a busy work and social life, looking to get a dog may not be the best answer – not unless you can take the dog with you. So make sure that you’re honest with yourself about your lifestyle, and you should then know whether or not to go ahead.

Their Breed

Once you’ve figured that out, you’ll then want to do some research into the kind of dog that you should get. There’s a lot of bias about dog breeds, so don’t be too judgmental and let your research decide for you instead. Make sure that you’re looking at things like personality and temperament as well as things like shedding and health to make your decision.

Health Requirements

Next, you have the vet stuff that you need to think about. Because dogs take a lot of care. You need to know about the checkups they need, particularly as a puppy but then also into adulthood. And this is important. Make sure that you know what health requirements you’ll have before you dive in. It’s important that your puppy can stay healthy too. 

Training Requirements

Training! You have to think about the pup’s training. We talk a lot about dog training here on the bog. So, you will probably know a lot of the basics. But also remember that you’ll have house training to think about with your puppy, too. Are you going to crate train your new furrend?

It’s always better to look into tactics beforehand, just so you know what to expect when your puppy arrives. Having a solid plan will save you in the long run. 

Changes You Need To Make

And finally, you will want to think over any changes that you need to make. There could be changes to your lifestyle (based on point one) and even changes to your home. Maybe you even need a bigger yard or you need to puppy proof your home. Or to “puppy proof” the house. So make sure you do these things before you go pick up your companion.

Leave a comment below, is there a doggo in your future? Or maybe you are thinking about adopting a new addition to your pack. What research have you done so far?