Here are some questions you should ask yourself if you’re thinking about getting a dog for the first time:
1. Am I consistently home enough hours daily? You shouldn’t plan to leave the dog on its own for more than six to eight hours daily. Not only are dogs social animals (so they need companionship), but they also need to go outside to do their business. Imagine if someone told you that you couldn’t go to the bathroom for 12 hours straight and then punished you for having an accident. Make sure you can meet the dog’s needs before you bring one into your life.
2. Am I financially capable of caring for a dog? The average cost of owning a dog is estimated between $90 and $290 per month. If you can’t afford that, you aren’t ready to care for a dog. Your actual cost may be slightly more or slightly less, but you need to be prepared to spend money on food and vet bills, at the very least.
3. Am I committed to this long term? Dogs can live up to 18+ years and you’ll be responsible for this dog for the duration of its life. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than to have to give your dog to someone else to care for. They become like members of your family. On average, large breeds don’t live as long as small breeds, but you should check the average life span for the breed you want before you commit. Westhighland White Terriers and other small breeds tend to live into the late teens while the average life span for a Great Dane is only seven years.
If you haven't had a dog growing up, you may want to dog-sit for someone else's so you can get the hang of it. Of course, everyone thinks puppies are cute, but that doesn't mean everyone should have one. Dog ownership is not something to be taken lightly. In lieu of owning a dog yourself, you might have work experience that could let you know you're qualified to own a dog. For example, if you've spent a great deal of time volunteering at an animal shelter, or if you're learning how to become a vet tech, you'll be intimately familiar with the needs of your soon-to-be pet.
