5 Mindful Tips to Follow Before You Plan to Adopt A Pet*
*GUEST POST
Are you really ready to adopt a new four-legged member to your family? Then you should be ready for a whole lot of changes in your household as well. Many people take the decision of adopting a pet in haste without being mindful of the factors they will have to take care of before they plan for a pet. However, it is really important to consider those determinants to acclimatize with the changes brought about by the adoption of a pet. So, if you are certain about your decision, prep yourself up in advance so you won’t have to regret it later.
Here are some tips that you can follow for a smooth adoption so you don’t get up finding everything going crazy in your home.
1. You Must Know Your Priorities
By this we mean — you should be aware that it is a commitment for a lifetime and you will have to invest a lot of time and money to take care of a pet. Once you have already adopted the pet, you cannot evade your responsibility. You certainly have to be monetarily stable enough so you can provide a proper living place and a safe environment for the pet. Another factor that must be taken into consideration here is — whether you will be able to take out enough time if you are a busy employee living in a metropolitan city. Moreover, a lot of your money will certainly be used in shopping the pet supplies. So, it is extremely important to understand that you are ready to put in massive effort and energy, plus the finances to deal with pet conundrums.
Related: ‘How Early Should You Start Leash Training A Puppy?‘
2. Know Which Breed Would Be Suitable to You
You can bring just about any breed and keep him as a companion and look after him. However, if you are a lazy kind and you get an over-active puppy or kitty that keeps you on your toes all day long, we bet you will regret it or at least will find it hard to manage. That is why it is important that your energy levels match with that of the pets significantly. It will ensure better compatibility at all times.
For instance, if you are an active kind, look for Saluki, Border Collie or Greyhound. Conversely, Bullmastiff, Saint Bernard, French bulldog, Chow Chow or Shih Tzu are some of the laziest breeds that will hang around with you when you sit cozily on your sofa with a cup of coffee. They are best to snuggle up and watch a movie. So, basically, choose a pet that matches your personality.
3. Want to Gift A Good Life to A Special Needs Pet
Your thought is really great must say! However, you must be aware that pets with special needs require more attention and care, failing to provide which can land them in serious trouble. They also require more vet visits and perhaps some extra elements in your home to help them stroll smoothly in the house. For instance, if the dog is arthritic or short with one leg, you will have to provide some kind of support for him to walk properly.
An arthritic dog won’t be able to climb the stairs or high elevations, so furniture must be available for him to climb or slide down swiftly. So, the point is, you should know what things you would need or improvisations and changes you will require in your house before bringing such a pet. Not to mention, the finances that will be needed to handle his expenditure.
4. Research the Age Range You Would Like to Consider
Small pets, be it cats or dogs definitely need more care than older ones. Because they are yet to learn a lot of things which older ones would have already done, you might have to train them thoroughly and would have to definitely pay more vet visits for their vaccination. That is the reason age matters a lot while adopting a pet. Moreover, if you are generally a busy person yet want to have a pet as a companion, better go for an older one. This will cut short your time which goes into its training and other activities.
Related: ‘10+ Dog Toy Storage Ideas to Complement Any Décor‘
5. Adopt from A Shelter
Shelter pets have debilitating conditions and live in a poor environment where they don’t get all the supplies and care that frequently which they require. Though shelter workers do put a lot of their sweat into looking after all the pets under them, the number is so big that proper care for each and every pet is not really possible. So, it is certainly a good idea to choose your new furry pal from a local shelter.
Lastly, we just want to say — it is always exhilarating to add a new four-legged member to your household and enrich its quality of life but staying informed about the best way you can do that will be better for both the pet and the owner. Ask yourself one question before any pet adoption, — will you really be able to give that commitment to the furry munchkin you have planned to bring home??? Are you ready for the responsibility that comes along?? If the answer is Yes, go ahead and bring that bundle of joy without further delay!
About the Author
Jesse McDaniel is a seasoned writer at CanadaPetCare. An animal lover and enthusiastic about pet health, Jesse mostly writes on animal health care helping pet owners to provide the best health care to their furry friends. When she is not writing about pets, you can find her chilling with her family and her two pets, Rocco and Marley.
Getting a new puppy is such a commitment. I love their sweet little faces and watching them navigate the world and just discover things. I’m definitely saving this post for when it’s time for the addition of a fur baby in my life!
It is such a rewarding experience, especially if you take the steps necessary to make sure that you are prepared and bringing home the ‘right’ dog for your family and your lifestyle!
What great tips! My sister recently added her little ‘loulou’ to our extended family. I’m the long time doggie fan here so we did lots of chatting before her search, then it was on to find a shelter that was educated, ,caring and supportive to new fur families. She followed a lot of this same information too! Great info for future pet owners!
It is SO important to find a shelter that is going to be supportive. They are the ones that take the time to make sure that it’s a ‘good fit’ for both you and the dog, improving your chances of success. When we were looking at adopting Indy, I shared many emails back and forth with his foster mom as she got to know me and I found out more about him.
My husband wants a dog, but I have been resisting simply because I think it’s too much work. However, these tips might help me to make a more informed decision. Maybe an older, lazy breed might be best for us??
I am a HUGE supporter of adopting senior pets. There are so many incredible pets out there that are overlook for the sole purpose that they aren’t young kittens/puppies. For more info about adopting a senior, check out: https://shedhappens.net/reasons-to-adopt-a-senior-dog/
This is such great advice for anyone thinking about adopting a pet. Pets are a big commitment and definitely not something to be taken lightly. I think it’s a good idea if you can foster a pet for a short time to see how they fit with your family.
That’s a great solution to helping to find the ‘right’ pet. That or connect with a rescue organization that uses foster homes. This will allow you to talk with someone that actively cares for your potential new pet in their home. Also, with these organizations, if you do bring the pet home and it isn’t a good fit (maybe they can’t get along with a current pet, for example) they will be there for you to assist (including taking the pet back if that’s the best option).
Thank you for this thought-inspiring writing! It is so important to be both mentally, emotionally, and physically ready to make a move like adopting a pet. With so many options to consider, it is something that deserves thought. 🙂
Adopting a pet should NEVER be taken lightly! You’re committing to providing for this pet for its full life. If you aren’t ready to make that kind of commitment, it’s time to rethink your decisions!
It really is so important to do some research first before getting carried away with the decision to adopt, including the type of breed as you point out. So many people seem to look predominately from the viewpoint of ‘doesn’t he/she look so cute?’ and not consider the responsibilities and implications that go with it. I am a real dog lover so hate to see it when it is clear that a dog has been adopted only thinking about the wants of the owner and not so much about the needs of the dog. He/she will end up being a member of the family and deserves every consideration as the humans in the house do!
This is so true! As a German Shepherd lover myself, I have seen this time and time again. With the number of GSDs that are showcased in movies and on television, people quickly fall in love with how adorable they are and their popularity. However, they are a VERY smart breed… too smart for their own good. If you aren’t prepared to keep them busy, exercised and mentally stimulated, it’s quickly going to go bad. That is why you see so many GSDs in rescues and shelters around the globe.
I agree that one should assess their priorities first before adopting a pet. It does take a lot of effort, energy, and commitment. I adopted a 7-year-old cocker spaniel years ago from a shelter, and he brought so much joy into my life. Unfortunately, he was sick with a blood disorder, and he went to dog heaven after a year. I’ve been thinking of adopting another one, but I’m still waiting for the right time. There are a lot of things to consider before I do that again. Thanks for the tips!
They bring so much love and happiness into our lives, but you’re right – it’s important to make sure that it’s the right time. Recognizing that it isn’t the time now is a sign that you’re going to be a great pet owner when you do make that decision in the future!
This is such an interesting post and you’ve included some great tips. Doing research is so important when deciding to get a pet. I think people forget that different breeds have different needs. They just see this adorable bundle of fluff and think it will be easy to look after.
Yes, far too many people make a decision based solely on whether a pet ‘looks cute’ without recognizing that they are making a big, long-term commitment to this dog. One that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
It’s so important to consider every aspect of pet ownership before diving in. I am teaching some young children and recently saw a whole topic in one of the 5th grade science books about pet ownership and the responsibilities it entails. This made me so happy. Fostering an understanding of this in young children seems a great step towards more responsible pet ownership in future generations.
I LOVE that they are including it at such a young age. It’s so important to start teaching children when they are younger if we are going to turn things around and fix the problem that currently exists today with stray/abandoned pets. There is no reason for there to be so many pets discarded and forgotten about.
Hi Britt and Jesse.
Bringing home a new pet is, as your article indicates, a big commitment and not something that should be taken lightly. However, if you are able to do so then you will create a triple benefit:
1. You will improve the life of the pet.
2. You will improve your own life (there are many benefits to pet ownership).
3. You will create more space at the shelter so that they can help another pet in need.
And remember, a senior dog may be a better fit for you than a puppy. I know of a couple who love dogs and had always adopted older dogs until the last time when they decided to get a puppy. “Never again!” was the phrase used on multiple occasions during puppyhood. 🙂
Senior dogs are a great choice for those who aren’t prepared for the demands of a puppy. Plus, they are often overlooked in shelters and rescues due to the fact that they aren’t cute little puppies.
These are all such important things to consider. We knew we wanted a small breed and one fairly young (a pet had just died when we got Hugo and we didn’t want to say goodbye again any time soon). Unfortunately, the only dogs available to us that fit the criteria at the time had very high needs, couldn’t be left alone etc and we couldn’t commit to that at the time so opted for a pup instead but I would love to adopt in the future.
Recognizing what you can and can’t provide for a pup is SO important. I know that we live a faster-paced life than would be ideal for some breeds. We are often out hiking, camping, etc. That being said, we made sure to seek out dogs that would keep up with this lifestyle (and ours both LOVE it).
Great tips! And amen to taking a breed with certain activity expectations. I take seeing tons of jack Russels taken for cuddles and sofa while these are actually super active pups (I have Border Collie and JRT and they are both equally active, my border is even a little lazier if you can actually use this word about any of them)..
If you are taking a pup or cat with special needs please make sure you are ok with this kind of special need. One of my dogs have eye issues (he’s one eye blind and other eye’s vision is bad, approx +5 if you speak human terms) and my husband took very badly. his biggest fear is eye vision loss and having a pet with such issue was mentally harder than you might think. however I do think I might have blind dog in future.
It is SO important to understand the general temperament of the breed that you are considering. Our girl Daviana is a German Shepherd in all sense of the word. Sure, she’s a mix, but she definitely possesses the GSD high energy as well as intelligence. When bored here at home, she does things like turn on the shower to play in the water… There is no denying that she’s a bit of a handful lol Luckily, I’ve been raised with GSDs my whole life, so it’s nothing new to me. That being said, many people give up their ‘cute GSD puppies’ when they realize how much work they are.
These are some great tips here and things that need to be considered before adopting a pet. Fab post xx
http://www.dellalovesnutella.co.uk/
It’s always better to think it through carefully first and avoid unnecessary struggles. Right?
These are such great tips for someone who is planning on adopting a pet soon. Thanks so much for sharing these tips!
It’s a big decision, but when you make an educated, well-thought-out decision, it’s a great one!
These are some helpful to tips to make sure you are ready to adopt a new pet. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you!
I am a little embarrassed to admit that I am so not ready for any kind of pet commitment. Esp not the active kind, as much as I would love having a pet around. But better to be honest with ourselves right? My son desperately wants a cat. We already know that an older cat is a way to go, hopefully a cuddly one. We now have a house (used to live in an apartment) so it will hopefully be a good option for everyone. I love the idea of a cat on your lap during cold winter nights. And at some point down track I would love to have a companion dog. (I would probably not go for a puppy)
This is definitely not something to be embarrassed about. The fact that you recognize it and are holding off knowing that it won’t be the best situation for you or the dog in question is a sign of someone that will be an incredible pet owner when they do choose to bring a pet into the house. I do LOVE cuddling up with my cats on the colder evenings.
My favorite tip here is the one that talks about matching the breed with your lifestyle. If I were to adopt a dog right now, I would definitely need a “lazy” breed because I work at home in my office all the time. Exercise isn’t a big part of my life right now, and I hate going outside in the cold. I do know the kind(s) of dog breeds I want later down the road, and they definitely require some lifestyle changes, like a larger property to allow them to exercise, plus space inside the home because I don’t exactly want small dogs. These are some really important tips because adopting a pet should not be a hasty or impulsive choice.
Exactly! It’s so important to make sure that a dog matches your lifestyle before expecting them to fit into it. I LOVE that our pups are a little more active because we enjoy hiking, canoeing, etc. with them. That being said, they are also both content to curl up with us after and enjoy some cuddle time/attention. A dog that isn’t interested in that level of activity isn’t going to be fully happy in our ‘pack’.
This is such great advice for whatever pet you are looking into adding to your family. I think the most important is whether you can look after the pet realistically, as you say. You totally have to take into account the animal’s needs, don’t you?
Thanks for sharing!
Aimsy xoxo
https://www.aimsysantics.co.uk
Right? That is such an important factor to consider. I love my Dav girl but I know she would be a lot to handle in a quieter, more laid back house. She’s CONSTANTLY on the go even though she’s considered a senior now (12 years old). She never really did the whole ‘slow down as they get older’ process lol
Thank you for this helpful reminder of how important it is to think everything through carefully before adopting a new pet! xx
It’s a GREAT decision when the time is right and you make it with all the right information.
These are great tips and definitely will be referencing them in the future. One of my plans for the future involves getting a dog and maybe some barnyard friends. Thanks for this great post!
Planning for that new family member is a lot of fun, isn’t it?
All of these are such great points, especially around this season where people ‘gift’ animals to others. It’s well worth researching and making sure pets fit in with your life.
There are VERY few situations where I support the idea of gifting an animal. Basically, the only time that I see it as a smart choice is when it’s a parent gifting a child with a child-friendly pet and recognizing that they are likely going to be responsible for all care (while being okay with that fact).
I know that lots of people will have adopted a pet over Christmas and had pets are Christmas gifts, so I hope they read this before hand!
Rosie
The idea of pets as gifts has never sat right with me. The one exception is a parent gifting their child if they are going into it aware that they may very well have to take on all of the responsibilities that come with that pet.
My sister Tully would like to adopt a dog this year, which is why we’re currently looking for an organization where we can adopt. Well, I guess you’re right that we must start shopping for pet supplies already. Thank you for also reminding us that she should opt for a pet that will match her personality.
If she is able to connect with a reputable rescue organization, they will take the time to work through the process with her, helping her to find a pet that fits her family and her lifestyle.