Animation Source Forums

Do you think you are ready for a new dog?

Are you mad that your parents aren't buying you that new dog?

Do you think you can handle a dog?

Well, read this.


First of all,

Are you ready for a new dog? I am surely not getting my child any dog unless I know their ready and can care fully themselves for a dog their going to be caring for 10+ years.

Are you going to be the one paying for Dog Food, Shots & Vet Trips, Toys, Crate, ect or is your parents?

Have you researched any dog breed or anything on dogs at all?
How much time in a day do you have for this dog?
Can you groom? know how to groom?
How much money can you put into this? Dogs aren't cheap.
Do you have a vet you trust?
Can you walk the dogs daily?
What sort of exercise do you plan to with the dog?
How big is your house?
How big is your yard?
Is your yard fenced?
Do you have any other animals?
Is any of your animals good with other animals?
Anyone in your family scared of dogs?
Do you have the money for food, crate, puppy classes, vet trips, ect
Do you have the time to train this dog?
Why do you want a dog?
What plans do you have for this dog?

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"Can YOU afford to keep this dog-
Can you afford to buy the dog?
Can you afford it’s spay neuter if a non show dog?
Can you afford vaccinations?
Crate?( anywhere’s from 40-400ish)
Toys? (10- unlimited)
Blanket? (25)
Leashes? (40)
Collars? (20)
Food?(20)
Licenses?(8)
Obedience class-(100+)
(Remember all these things either need to be renewed or wear out and need replacing. Another side note these are low prices, not what some of us pay for things, so depending on you, is the price range. I pay a lot more for all these).

How much time do YOU have-
Do you have the time to house train a puppy?
If you get an adult, do you have time to work with problems?
Do you have the experience to train?
The time to train?
Time to exercise?
Groom?
Socialize?
( these things can take up hours out of your day, and a lot of them are on going never ending.)

Is everyone in your family in agreement-
Even if this dog is just yours and yours alone it’s not fair to bring a dog into a family where one or more family members doesn’t not want the dog. It’s the same as children, what child wants to feel unwanted but a certain family member. ALL family members MUST feel the same or at least be willing to enjoy the dogs company. Bringing an unwanted dog into the house isn’t fair to the dog.

Plans-
Some are going to university, what do you plan to do with the dog during this time?
How about work- have something arranged?
Depending on your age you may have kids in your dogs life , are you prepared for this type of a challenge or will you simply give the dog away? Abandon it because something else has come up.
Do you want to show?
What sort of shows?
Have the money to do this? Showing isn't cheap.

Other dogs in the family-
Do you currently have dogs?
Will you still have time for them and a puppy?
Can you give them the care they need plus a new dog?
Are they good with other animals?"

Somebody on Furry Paws(#10951) wrote this. All credits go to them.

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You have to understand a dog is never free, neither is it ever easy. You should think about that. If your parents say no right now, it's no. Consider all of this.. And plus, are THEY the ones paying for everything? If their the ones paying for the cost of the dog, food, crate, toys, vet, ect ect then it's only fair for them to say no.

Remember, a dog is not a toy. You don't put it back in the closet when you are done with it or give it away when you know your done with it. The animal is for life, and something YOU should be fully caring for 10+ years. I know dogs that even live up to 20 years.. Are you sure you can even handle that?

Ask yourself this too. Are you only getting this dog just because of a dog you seen on TV? Are you only getting this dog because you seen a well-behaved Border Collie and want a dog just like that? If that is the reason or any reason close to that, please don't don't don't get a dog. Just please don't.

What if the dog you are getting or something ended up having some sort of genetic problem?

Be smart about it. And don't be mad if your parents don't get you a dog.

If you just want someone to cuddle with, sleep with, ect then consider buying a stuffed animal.

Thats so true.

wow, it's a book... but you're right...i want a dog because im so lonely, my family is in our house, but.. they're so away from me... and also, i dont have a good life, a dog can help-me to make my life better, and also... i will giving a house to one life...
but i think that i can't pay all that for a dog, they're really expensive...

*Applauses* Wow! You're an expert, I think that this will come in handy, thanks for posting it here . Dogs might be a handful sometimes, but if you teach it to behave well, keep it healthy and build up a good relationship with it then it all will be paid off

I do hope people read this and take note, i didn't get a dog of my own until I was 16 and even then she was a handful.
She's a pure-bred German Shepherd and she's my best friend, XD.
She was a pain at first, you know, watching her hips, house training and stuff but it was worth while, when we got her she was pretty snappy with food and pulled a lot on her lead but now I can put food on the floor infront of her and tell her to leave and she will and she no longer tears my arm off on walks, XD.