Have you been considering getting a dog to add to your family? Maybe your children have been asking for one, or you want some companionship around the home. Whatever the reason, getting a dog is not something you can just do on a whim; you’ll have to put in plenty of research first and ensure you know all you need to know so that you and the dog itself is happy and settled. With that in mind, read on for some ideas to get you started when it comes to the things you need to know before getting a dog.

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Dogs Are For Life

There is no way to predict how long a dog will live for, and different breeds have different lifespans. However, what we do know about dogs is that they live for a lot longer than guinea pigs and hamsters or fish, for example. On average, a dog lives for about 13 years. That’s a long time, and it’s a big commitment; you’ll need to take care of your dog for its entire life, and that means playing with them, feeding them the best food, taking them for walks, taking them to the vet when they are sick, and generally being there as a companion for your dog just as they are a companion to you.

If you can’t be sure you’ll be able to do this for your dog’s whole life, it could be that a dog is not the right pet for you. They take a lot of looking after, perhaps more so than any other pet, and they will look to you for everything. You will be their entire world, and if you don’t want that responsibility, it’s better to opt for something other than a dog.

You Need To Choose The Right Breed

Every breed of dog will need different things to keep them happy and healthy. Larger dogs need more exercise, for example, and they will probably also need more food. Smaller dogs can escape through smaller gaps in fences and gates, so you’ll need to properly dog-proof your outside space (and in fact, you’ll need to dog-proof your entire house to be safe). Some dogs shed more, some are more prone to certain illnesses, and so the list goes on.

It’s a good idea to research different breeds so you know which ones will work in your situation and which should be avoided. If you have children or other pets, you’ll want a type of dog that’s good with them. If you have a small outside space, you’ll need a dog that doesn’t need a lot of room. The list goes on.

Whether you are buying a puppy or you are adopting a dog from a shelter, understanding which breeds to avoid and which would work out best is crucial. You can save yourself a lot of problems and heartache by having a list of the breeds you can manage best.

Dogs Can Be Expensive

When you hear that dogs can be expensive, you might automatically think about the pricier breeds, and if you’re not interested in buying a purebred or a puppy and you want to adopt a dog, you might not think this issue applies to you. However, the truth is that the cost – or not – of the dog initially is only the start; you’ll need to pay for things for its entire life, and that can be expensive. It’s crucial you can afford everything your dog will need, otherwise it would be unfair to take one into your home.

Some examples of the things you’ll need to buy and pay for when you have a dog include vet bills and pet insurance, toys, bedding, food, dog sitters, training classes, grooming, and more. It’s best to work out the monthly cost of these things and ensure your budget can handle them before you get a dog. Remember, different dogs will cost more or less each month depending on their size (smaller dogs eat less), their coat (short-haired dogs will cost less in grooming), or age (older dogs can be more expensive to insure).

Find The Right Food

Cheap dog food can be very nasty when it comes to how it looks and smells, and if you wouldn’t eat it, is it really fair to ask your dog to? When you realize that this processed food contains very few – if any – nutrients because of the ingredients and how it is made, you’ll see that it won’t be the best thing for your dog.

The best food for your dog is natural food. However, this doesn’t mean just feeding your dog the same as you’re eating or allowing them to live off scraps – this can be bad for them as well because dogs can’t digest all human food properly. You should always buy food formulated for dogs. A good natural food option is Dr. Marty Nature’s Blend, which is never processed and is instead made up of meat, vegetables, fruit, and seeds.

What you need to do is research the food that your dog can eat. For example, is brown rice safe for dogs? If you don’t know, it’s a good idea to find out so that when you are buying dog food, you can be sure that the ingredients included will keep your dog in the best shape. This will also help you know what treats you can give your dog as a reward. Peanut butter can be a great option, but chocolate must be avoided at all costs – the more you know, the healthier and safer your dog will be. Research can also help you identify a good dog food for your cupboards, and you’ll find many a Badlands Ranch review (as well as reviews for other brands) online, so it’s well worth reading a few of these if you’ve identified something you are particularly interested in buying for your dog to try.

Get A Microchip

Microchips are little devices that can be inserted non-invasively between your dog’s shoulder blades, just below the surface of the loose skin. When scanned by a vet or shelter, it will reveal your pet’s unique identification number. Microchipping your pet at the vet can help you find them if they ever get lost. It’s likely that the dog you adopted from a shelter was chipped there, but you should verify this information before bringing them home. It just takes a second for tragedy to strike when you lose your pet, but a microchip can greatly increase the odds of a happy reunion.