Most of the time the answer is ‘No’, because of the eternal pressures on us in the modern world.
Ask yourself if you could handle a baby in your life right now and whatever the answer is, apply it to a dog.
Having a dog, especially a puppy, is very similar to having a baby in regards to the time commitment and the responsibilities that go with guardianship.
- Can you handle waking in the night to deal with toilet accidents?
- Do you understand that your dog will initially cry in the night and disturb your sleep?
You will need to puppy proof certain areas. You may need stair gates installed to prevent injuries and to restrict access.
You have a responsibility to train, feed, exercise and guide your dog. It really is much like having a baby except your puppy will mature quicker than a human will. These are the initial questions you need to ask yourself and then start thinking about the long term commitments you are making.
You will need to walk your dog daily come rain or shine, just because we think it’s too cold or wet to be outside, our dogs will likely think otherwise. If you are suffering from ill-health or are perhaps more senior in years, can you realistically still take Fido for his/her daily walk for the next 14 years on average? If you are a jet setter and like to travel, have you considered what will happen to your dog when you are away? What about your working hours and arrangements? What is to become of your pooch while you earn a living?
So you see there is no simple answer to this and sometimes you need to be realistic before you head down to the shelter or breeder.
