Contents
Is a Dog the Right Pet For You?
How to Choose a Dog Breed
The Ten Most Popular Dog Breeds
How to Choose an Individual Dog
Where to Get Your Dog
How to Bring Your New Dog Home
Responsible Dog Ownership
Children and Dogs
Dog Health and Nutrition
Veterinary Care for Your Dog
How to Groom Your Dog
How to Train Your Dog
Learn more with these titles from Barnes & Noble
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- How to choose a dog that’s right for you and your family
- Where to get a dog and how to get it settled in your home
- How to groom and train your dog and get the best veterinary care
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Is a Dog the Right Pet For You?
Getting a dog is like bringing a new family member into your life. It’s sure to fill your home with love, but it’s also a responsibility. Before bringing a dog home, consider the time, expense, and commitment that dog ownership demands.
Time
Dogs require at least an hour or more of your time every day. Some dogs require even more daily attention, depending on their specific breed, coat, size, and age.
- Walking: Three times a day for at least 10–15 minutes per walk, and considerably more for puppies
- Feeding: Twice a day (5 minutes per feeding)
- Playing and exercise: At least 30 minutes per day; more for a high-energy breed
- Grooming: Ten minutes of brushing per day; more for breeds that require specialized grooming
- Vet visits: Annually for an adult dog; more often for puppies and senior dogs
Expenses
Dog ownership is not cheap. The annual cost of feeding and caring for a dog averages around $600 dollars, with considerably higher expenses in the first year. Costs also depend on the size of the dog: expenses for large dogs are a good deal higher, in part because large dogs eat so much more food.
The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has provided the following cost estimates for small, medium, and large dogs:
Dog Size |
First-Year Costs |
Annual Costs Thereafter |
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Small |
$810 |
$420 |
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Medium |
$1,190 |
$620 |
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Large |
$1,580 |
$780 |
These costs typically break down in the following way:
First-Year Costs
- Spaying or neutering ($75–125)
- Crate or carrier ($30–100)
- Training classes ($60–120)
Ongoing Costs (Per Year)
- Food ($160–350)
- Grooming equipment ($25–30)
- Leashes ($15–25)
- Collars ($10–20)
- Toys, treats, rawhides, bully sticks ($60–150)
- Annual vet checkup ($150–200)
- Other medical expenses ($150–200)
- Professional grooming ($100–400)
- Ownership license and registration ($15)
Depending on your specific dog and your lifestyle, you may also have expenses for emergency veterinary care, private one-on-one training lessons, and pet sitter fees when you’re away from home overnight.
Commitment
Most dogs live for 10–15 years, so getting a dog requires a serious long-term commitment. To determine whether you’re ready to commit, consider these questions:
- Does your residence or neighborhood allow dogs?
- Can your home be made secure for a dog? For example, can your yard be fenced?
- Do you work more than 10 hours per day? If so, you’ll need a daily dog sitter.
- Do you have children? (Some breeds of dog are better suited to interacting with children.)
- Is anyone in your home allergic to dogs?
Dealing with Dog Allergies
Many people suffer allergic reactions, such as nasal inflammation or watery eyes, when they come into contact with a dog’s saliva, urine, or dander (the dead skin all dogs naturally shed). Contrary to popular belief, there’s no such thing as a completely nonallergenic dog. All dogs, hairless or otherwise, have the potential to cause allergies.
If you’re dead set on owning a dog even though you know or suspect that you’re allergic, you do have a few options.
- Interact with a dog before you buy: Not all dogs cause allergies in all people. If you find a dog you like, play with it and allow it to rub against you and lick your skin. If you have an allergic reaction, then that’s not the dog for you. Not all allergies are immediately apparent, however. If you find a dog to which you aren’t allergic, note that in some cases it can take weeks for allergy symptoms to arise.
- Medication: There are anti-allergy medications on the market that help some people suppress allergic reactions to dog saliva, urine, or dander. Consult a doctor to obtain prescription medicines to treat your symptoms. If you’re taking anti-allergy medication, you should still interact with a dog before you bring it home, just to be safe.
Fostering a Dog
If you’re unsure whether you want to commit to a dog, a great way to find out is to foster a dog. You can sign up as a “foster owner” with a local animal shelter or rescue group (see Where to Get Your Dog). The shelter or rescue group will then send you dogs in need of temporary homes. Foster stays for a dog may last from a few days up to a month or two.
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