There are different reasons why people want to have a dog in their home. Having a dog is highly rewarding but could also be extremely demanding. Sadly, many people don't take the responsibilities of having a dog into account until it becomes too late.
Regardless of your reasons for wanting a dog, it would help if you did a little homework before bringing one home. Here are four important factors to bear in mind before adopting a dog:
It's a long-term relationship
Before adopting a dog, you must consider your long-term plans and how a dog would fit into them. It would be best to plan for ten to fifteen years before getting a dog to avoid sending them to shelters.
Your schedule may change
Your current lifestyle and schedule need to accommodate your dog as they depend on you for food, entertainment, and exercise, among others.
You should dog-proof your home always
Dogs are curious and love to explore their environment. This means that you must be careful about the kinds of things you leave lying around your home, especially things that are potentially toxic for them.
Expenses
Having a dog comes with different expenses. Aside from basic expenses such as food, crates, leash, etc., you should be prepared for extra expenses such as vet checkups, grooming, toys, and medicine.