There are three essential elements you’ll need to be able to provide when adopting a dog. Those are food/water, exercise, and love. Although that sounds obvious, you must create a warm and caring atmosphere for your newly adopted dog. You’re taking them from familiar surroundings to a new home full of different smells, sounds, and sights. It’s a lot for anyone to take in, let alone a pup.
As you prepare to adopt a dog, consider your environment. Living in a house with a backyard versus an apartment should determine the size and type of dog you plan to take. For apartment dwellers, smaller dogs might be easier to manage. You also want to make sure that your apartment building accepts pets before you set out to adopt one. If you live in a house with a backyard, make sure you have a secure fence surrounding your property. Although you’ll be providing a safe home for your dog, that doesn’t mean they won’t wander off.
Another key consideration when adopting a dog is how this will impact on your schedule. A dog needs exercise. Merely putting them in a backyard while you’re at work isn’t enough. They should be walked at least twice a day, if not more. Dogs need to get out and become familiar with their surroundings. Not only will they be satisfied to leave their own “marks” but they’ll be able to sniff out the neighborhood. This provides them with a strong sense of belonging to a specific place. If you live along and work long hours and can’t always walk your dog, there are plenty of dog walkers in every neighborhood. You’ll become more aware of them with your new pet. For a small fee, these walkers will make sure your pooch is given a good workout. And yes, when walking your dog, you’re going to have to clean up their mess. If this is something you don’t want to do, then adopting a dog might not be for you.
The other major decision on adopting a dog is whether you’ll be getting a puppy or an older house trained dog. Adopting a puppy will give you plenty of cuteness, but it can also be very stressful training a dog to do their business outdoors. A dog that is a year old or older most likely has already been house trained. That doesn’t mean there won’t be the potential for accidents, but you’ll be amazed at how easily an adopted dog can adapt to a new home and routines.
There will also be a period of adjustment for your adopted dog’s diet. Some dogs will gulp down anything that is put in front of them. Others are a bit more finicky. Ask what type of food the dog has been fed and start them with that. If you want to change their diet, introduce the new food a little bit at a time until they become adjusted.
Some many resources and books go into depth about how to train a dog. Mostly it is you who needs to have the training! Adopting a dog can provide companionship, fun, and unconditional love. Who wouldn’t want that in their lives?
Pety O’Brien
Bulgaru