Should I Get a Dog? Key Things to Consider
Adopting a dog can be an incredibly rewarding experience. It means welcoming a new member into the family, and creating a deep and special bond with another living creature.
Dogs can encourage us to get active and exercise daily, they provide companionship and can help us socialise. Some studies have even shown that owning a pet can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, decrease feelings of loneliness, anxiety and symptoms of PTSD.
Dogs can also have benefits for the whole family! Raising a dog can help to teach kids about responsibility, and theyâre a lot of fun too!
However, with great reward comes great responsibility - welcoming a dog into the family means accepting responsibility for that dog for the rest of their life. A dog might only be a small part of your world - but for your dog you are their whole world!
Check out these articles to find more reasons why getting a dog can be beneficial for you and your family:
Commitment
Owning a dog means taking responsibility for their emotional, physical and financial needs. Dogs require a lot of time - they require plenty of regular attention, daily walks (sometimes multiple times a day), feeding every day, training, vet visits and more.
They can also restrict freedom and limit spontaneity - your dogâs needs will always need to be taken care of regardless of social events or work obligations that might pop up. Holidays will need to be planned around care for your dog - this can be expensive too!
It is also very important to take into account whether owning a dog is financially viable for you and your family. Its not just the initial cost of the dog that needs to be considered but the cost of food, vet care, boarding fees, grooming costs and more.

Lifestyle
Another essential step to take before adding to your family is evaluating your lifestyle and assessing how a dog will fit in. Do you work long hours out of the home or travel frequently? Will you be able to exercise your dog daily and provide them with adequate attention and interaction?
Are you planning on expanding your family and bringing a baby into the home in the near future? Will this change the time you currently have available to spend with your dog? Do you already have kids at home and do they know how to interact with dogs appropriately? If you are bringing a new baby home a great resource is this article - 'Introducing Your Dog To Your Baby'.
Do you live in an apartment? Is there enough space for your dog and where will they toilet? If you're renting - are dogs allowed? Check out our guide on 'Renting With Pets' for more information on the legalities.
Consider What Type Of Dog To Get
So - youâve decided that a dog is the right choice for you! The next step is deciding what sort of dog you are wanting to adopt.
Do you want a puppy or are you looking for an adult dog who is already toilet trained and knows some basic commands? Perhaps a senior pet is more suited to your lifestyle!
Adopting a puppy requires a lot of patience and a commitment to training. Puppies will have accidents that need cleaning, they will also inevitably chew something you donât want them to! Perhaps an adult dog that has already learned the ropes is a better fit for your family.
Rescuing a dog can be a great way of giving a dog in need a home however, its important to listen to the rescueâs assessment of a dog first. A dog that has a history of being anxious and nervous is not going to be a good fit for a house full of young children.
If you are looking to adopt a dog through a breeder then ensure that you arenât just choosing a breed based on looks. Breeds will often have strong genetic traits e.g. Border Collies have a huge amount of energy and a strong drive to âworkâ - can you meet these requirements?
Does anyone in your family have allergies? Some dogs will shed more than others. If excess hair is going to be an issue in your home, then stay away from breeds like German Shepherds.
We have a number of articles to help you make an informed choice.