If you’re thinking about buying a pet you’ve probably already had it in your mind for a while. It’s a big decision to make, no matter what kind you get. In essence you’re deciding to add to your family. For that to happen, everyone needs to be on the same page. Careful though, bringing a pet into your home isn’t always so simple. If you’re thinking about doing it at the moment you might want to reconsider. It’s easy to think about bringing in a pet into the home at the moment. You might be stuck there yourself. Perhaps on lockdown depending where you are and how badly Covid-19 has hit your area. As such, a pet might be appealing. Perhaps for company. Something to keep the kids busy. Yet, when things settle down and you go back to work, how will it all work then? Before you make your decision based on today’s environment, try and think about the future and think about how a pet would fit into that reality. Not just your current one. With that out of the way you can move ahead logical. These tips can help adjust your mind to the right kinds of items you need to be thinking about before getting a pet. Good luck!
There’s A Lot Which Comes With The Pet
It isn’t just going to be the pet. You’ll need all the varying accompaniments that come with them. This can be quite expensive especially if you’re buying it all in one go. Each pet will need different things like cages and toys etc. If you’re raising it from a very young age, like puppy or kitten you might need more specialist equipment. You can get a lot online at petparentsbrand.com but make sure you shop around. You might need a cage or crate, walking leads for dogs, litter boxes for cats etc. Read more about the different types of litter boxes on ExcitedCats.
Make sure you do your research so that you know what items you’ll have to buy. If you’re going to do it, you have to make sure it’s all done properly. You don’t always have to buy the high end stuff either, it’s about research and reviews to ascertain whether they’re good or not. There are long term costs too. For example pet food is a constant purchase you’ll be making weekly. As are, though hopefully less frequent, vet fees. Some of these can actually be fairly sizable. Make sure you’ve got the monthly income to cope with these expenses before going ahead and buying the animal. Check out this great resource for 54 Powerful Pets Statistics You Need to Know before making your final decisions.
Have You Got The Time?
If you’re getting a pet you’ll need the time to devote to them. Sure, this time may vary depending on the pet in question. Dogs naturally need more time devoted to them than cats. But taking dogs as an example you’ll need to be able to walk them, mostly at least once a day. You need to check if your able to do this every day without fail, otherwise it’s simply not fair on the animal. Look at the job you have, the career you hope to be in. Does this tie in with getting a dog? If you’re spending huge amounts of time out of your home then you might not be able to get the animal you want. It doesn’t mean you can’t get an animal altogether though. A cat might be more appropriate for the time poor. Or even something smaller altogether. This is probably one of the most important things you need to clarify before making any impulse purchases. Speak to your partner and work out the time you have between yourselves.
Are You Allowed?
Another thing to consider is whether you’re actually allowed
Have You Got The Space?
You need to know whether you’ve got the right space or not. This is certainly the case if you’re going to get a dog. Having a garden can be useful for example. If you live in a small house or flat it might not be worth getting a large animal. Think of smaller types of dog you can get instead. Like a pug or french bulldog. Going for a german shepherd or something similar might not be the best idea. This is certainly the case if you get a husky, who will tear the place apart if you don’t have the space. Be realistic and do your research first. If you’re going to get a cat, consider a proper litter box for small spaces. Be realistic and do your research first.
What Are Your Future Family Plans?
If you’re planning on having a child in the next year or so it probably isn’t wise to think about getting a pet. At least a pet which is a lot of work like a dog. It’ll just make everything a lot harder. Consider waiting a few years until your child is a bit older and can better handle themselves around an animal. A newborn is tiring enough, nevermind with a dog demanding daily walks etc. thrown into the mix. You might be used to animals and think you can handle it. Just do a little bit of research first to make sure you get it right. Better than regretting the purchase down the line.
If you are deciding on getting a dog, make sure you get the right breed. Do some research. Take Huskies for example. They need two walks a day. If you’ve only got the time for one walk a day get a dog which requires less. There are also some which require more training than others. French bulldogs are notoriously stubborn and hard to train while labradors take to things easily but require more walking. These are the ups and downs you need to consider and weight to ensure you get the right breed for you and your family. Others are known to have worse temperaments, or be better around strangers. If you have a lot of visitors you’d be better to have a dog which suits this lifestyle. Same with children. Some are better than others. Take Malamutes for example. They have a high prey drive and can easily revert to their wolflike nature. If a child is crying or running, and is much smaller than the dog, it can trigger the prey drive. A bit of research here goes a long way when thinking about buying a more exotic, or larger dog when you’ve got a young child or toddler running around the place.
Consider A Rescue
Whatever kind of animal you’re thinking of, getting a rescue is better than approaching a breeder. For a start it means rescuing an animal from a shelter. Giving it a loving home and a great life. Breeders often operate below the regulations, so make sure everything is above board is you really do have to go to one. Rescue centres are great these days and allow you to view the dogs online before you commit to anything. Again, just do your research first to ensure it’s right for you. In fact, the rescue centre might decide your not right for the dog and refuse your application, so make sure you fulfil any criteria before starting the application to avoid disappointment. It usually centres around how much time you’ll have for the animal and if you’ve got the funds to keep it fed and healthy.
Can You Take It To Work?
A lot of places of work are taking an increasingly more lenient approach and animals in the workplace are becoming more common. Check with your employer to see if it is possible. Of course this usually applies to those who work in office-like environments as a pose to people who are out all day. If you can take it to work, check the fine print. You might not be able to do it all day or there might be some kind of rota you need to apply to simply because they might not be able to have the place completely full of dogs. It’s something to bear in mind if you are considering switching your role or changing career too. If your dog gets used to it and then suddenly you can’t do it anymore it might be bad for the dog. Separation anxiety is strong with dogs who historically are pack animals. In some more than others of course. It’s still something to be aware of. You can’t always predict what’s going to change or happen in your life either, but it’s worth talking over with your partner.
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