All you need to know about Dogs - Pack of Pets
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All you need to know about Dogs


Dogs are by far considered as top of the best mankind companions, considering their devotion, friendship, and loyalty. All dog lovers can attest to this. Owning a dog is therefore considered a privilege and more of responsibility. The responsibility comes in the provision of shelter, food, and other needs, as the dogs are wholly dependent on the owners.

This is the price you need to pay for the pet’s loyalty and friendship, and it is definitely worth it. Dog ownership has its stern requirements and considerable commitment. Anyone thinking of owning a dog as his pet must first understand these requirements. For the dog owners, consistency in fulfilling these requirements is vital. This is what differentiates a good dog owner, with good experiences from a bad dog owner, who may end having an unwarranted distaste for dogs. So, what are the factors of consideration before owning a dog?

Factors or Requirements to Consider before Owning a Dog

Availability: Time and energy

Dogs can be like babies they need your time and energy. This becomes particularly challenging if you work the whole day and live alone. If this is your lifestyle, owning a dog may not be a wise decision yet.

 

However, you may consider owning a dog breed that is less needy or hire a dog walker. This is a solution for the desperate dog owners who do not have the time and energy to fulfill its needs adequately.

Lifestyle and Surroundings

The key thing here is; the breed of dog chosen should be compatible with your lifestyle and surrounding. This is a key guiding factor when thinking of owning a dog.

 

For example, a small space needs a small dog; a sensitive dog needs a clean and friendly environment. This is to avoid the dog getting health complications, stress or resulting in destructive behavior.

Climate Conditions

Every breed has its preferred climatic conditions. Therefore before owning a dog, you should establish the most appropriate breed for your region.

 

This is particularly important if the door will reside outside. Consulting a dog expert or a vet is required to make this decision.

Maintenance/ Affordability

It is important to afford that owning a dog means additional costs. These include veterinary costs, food as well as dog walking or other related costs. If you know you are undergoing financial struggles and owning a dog may dent the situation further, you are advised not to own one yet.

 

Food is by far the most expensive in the maintenance of a dog. This again is highly dependent on the breed type. Some breeds are very sensitive to what they eat, and others may eat almost anything. Consulting an expert about this is also advised before making any decisions.

Knowledge and Skills

As we said earlier, caring for a dog is a little like caring for a baby. You need to be knowledgeable about how to handle a dog right in the normal situation when sick and every other situation. This is especially important when you own a puppy instead of a fully grown dog.

 

How do you acquire these skills and knowledge? Consult a dog expert or a vet and read book and articles about caring for your dog. Information is power, and it will make your life with your dog worthwhile.

Qualities of a Good Dog Owner

Not everyone is a dog person. I have come across people who are allergic, have dog phobia or simply just don’t like them. Below is a set of qualities every potential dog owner should tick against and a reminder to the already owners.

 

  1. Empathetic: The ability to pay attention to the dog’s physical, health and behavioral conditions is vital. Since they cannot verbalize their feelings, learning to interpret their behavior is important.
  2. Well organized: This entails proper planning in feeding, exercising, check-ups and grooming for the dogs. This is a quality that comes handy in maintaining the health of the dog and hence saving on costs.
  3. Committed: In exchange for the love, comfort, and companionship that the dog offers the owner, the owner should be fully committed to providing the best care possible to the dog throughout its life stages.
  4. Patient: A dog is an animal, and as such it lacks the same emotional intelligence and understanding of a human being. Therefore, a dog owner needs to be patient enough to train his dog until it acquires the desired behavior or routine. Dogs may sometimes become uncooperative and misbehave, and it takes patience and persistence to train and stay them.
  5. Outgoing and friendly: Once you acquire a dog, it becomes your friend. Therefore you should treat it as such. To enjoy the loyalty and friendship of a dog, you need to be an outgoing and friendly person. However, this is also highly dependent on the breed type of your choice as per your lifestyle.

Basics of dog-psychology

In order to become a good dog owner and in addition to the above qualities, you should learn how a dog’s mind works. The following facts will give you insight on what to expect and how to treat situations while interacting with your dog;

  1. Dogs are considered smart, just like toddlers. They may not do much, but they have a certain level of understanding equated to that of a toddler.
  2. They know how to use their power; barking. We have experienced many incidences where a dog saves the day through its barking.
  3. Dogs are jealous. Anyone who has a dog or has interacted with one can attest to this. Also, they are very loyal to their owners. They are always ready to defend their owners and fight other dogs that seem to threaten their position. On a lighter note, we must say they are not all that different from human.
  4. Dogs need love and discipline. They tend to be best when these two traits are provided in an environment.
  5. Dogs learn better from other dog mentors. This fact is worth noting when training your dog.
  6. Dogs have different personality types. Read and learn the personality type of your dog to know how to treat him right.

Dogs and Children; is it a good mix?

In addition to the above factors, many parents ask; are dogs and children good together? There are differing opinions from the vets and the pediatricians over time. However, there are several factors to consider and be your judge as to whether to keep a dog when you have a child or not;

  • Age:It is advisable not to introduce a dog when then the child is very young. This is because they will not be able to relate very easily given the little or no movement they have at that age. The recommended age to get a dog, if it didn’t exist before the baby, is when the baby turns six years.
  • Responsibility:Are your children responsible? Do they do the set roles and as instructed. If you answer yes to these questions, then you can get a dog for your family when they are of age.
  • Costs involved:Dogs can be expensive, that fact. Taking care of a child is way more expensive. The big question is; can you comfortably afford to take care of a dog and a child at the same time. Your answer to this question is a primary guiding factor on whether or not to get a dog.
  • Age of the dog:The options are two; a puppy or an adult dog. The main difference is the level of caregiving required. Puppies are delicate and require more attention and care compared to the adult dogs. Therefore, when one has a child, it is advisable to consider owning an adult dog instead of a puppy.
  • Breed:Different breeds have differently suited to different environments. Moreover, they differ in temperaments, and as such, some relate better with children than others. Before buying a dog, research the different breeds and choose that which fits the comfort of your home and children.

The ten top most common and bought dogs globally are; Retrievers Labrador, German Shepherd, Retrievers (Golden), Bulldogs, Beagles, Poodles, Rottweiler, Yorkshire Terriers, Boxers, and Pointers (German Shorthaired). Each of these breeds will be discussed in detail in another section. As mentioned earlier, it is the responsibility of the dog owner or potential owner to learn about the dog breed they own or intend to own. From the above discussions, t is clear that owning a dog and taking care of it requires time and commitment. Not anyone can own a dog. This guideline you decide if you want to own a dog or just want to interact with one.

If it happens that you just want to interact with a dog time to time, look for a friend with a dog. But if you put all the factors into consideration and feel that you still want to own one, go for it. The bottom line is, only choose a dog that suits you after considering all the factors mentioned above; this is the only way to enjoy the company and have a great relationship with your dog.