• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Dog's Best Life

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Is your family ready to add a dog?

Posted August 6, 2019

 
Mom and two boys hike with the family's Golden Retriever, which is a popular family-friendly dog breed.
Getting a family-friendly dog breed can help bring your family together. You’ll likely find that you plan more hiking and camping trips and go on more walks when a dog is part of your household.

“Mom, can we get a dog?” It’s a question that has been asked by countless hopeful children over the years, and one that requires quite a bit of logical thought. After all, while research shows that owning a dog can keep you happy and healthy, it’s also a huge responsibility. How do you know when you’re ready to bring home a family-friendly dog breed?

Dogs require more than just unconditional love and attention daily — regular exercise, grooming, veterinary care, and healthy food are just a few aspects of caring for a family dog.

If you have babies or toddlers in the home, you probably already have enough on your plate and may want to wait a few years before adding a dog to your family. If your children are older, however, adopting a dog may be the perfect avenue for more household responsibility.

What’s more, dogs can help bring your family together. You’ll likely find that you plan more hiking and camping trips and go on more afternoon walks when a dog is part of your household. And members of active families are less likely to experience negative health conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression.

Let’s explore the various benefits of dog ownership as well as factors to take into consideration before welcoming a family-friendly dog breed into your home.

Financial and time considerations of pet ownership

You may not realize it, but owning any type of pet can be a costly endeavor. According to CNBC, the lifetime out-of-pocket cost of dog ownership can fall between $27,074 and $42,545. That amount doesn’t even include emergency veterinary costs. So before adopting a dog, make sure that your family finances are secure and can handle the extra expense.

Unfortunately, more and more families are struggling financially in our current economic climate, and poverty rates are rising in suburban areas. In 2015, in fact, 16.5 million Americans in suburban areas lived below the poverty line, compared to 13.5 million in cities. In light of that fact, dog ownership may be out of reach for those impoverished families.

But ensuring that your family is financially stable enough to take on a pet is only part of the equation. Dog ownership can be time-consuming, as dogs need almost constant attention, along with regular exercise. Even if you have a large, fenced yard with plenty of space for a dog to run, your canine companion will also need daily walks around the neighborhood. The good news is that walking with your dog is a great bonding experience and allows you more opportunity for leash training.

Ready to adopt?

mix obedience training with playtime
Adopting a shelter or rescue dog is a win-win for everyone involved.

Once you’ve made the decision to invite a canine companion into your home, it’s time to choose the perfect pooch for your family. Your best option is to head to your local animal shelter or humane society and check out the adoptable dogs. Adopting a shelter or rescue dog is a win-win for everyone involved: you can give hope and love to a homeless animal, and your shelter dog will likely already have rudimentary training.

Conversely, if you choose to adopt a puppy, be prepared to spend a lot of time with training. Puppies often struggle with becoming housebroken, and you will need to teach them simple commands such as “sit” and “stay.” During the housebreaking process, you may need to take your new puppy out in the middle of the night to prevent accidents.

No matter if you adopt a puppy or shelter dog, however, there’s likely to be a period of adjustment as your dog adapts to his or her new home. Patience is key.

Choosing a family-friendly dog breed

Do your research. Different breeds have different food, grooming, and exercise needs. And certain dog breeds may be a better fit for your family than others.

For example, if your family is active and you don’t mind a decent amount of shedding, a Golden Retriever may be a great fit. One of the country’s most popular breeds, goldens are typically friendly, energetic, and loyal. Other options to consider include the Australian Shepherd or if you’re not afraid of getting a really big dog, a Great Dane.

If you’re looking for a dog that’s more content in an indoor setting, you may want to opt for a smaller breed such as a Chihuahua, a French Bulldog, Boston terrier, or Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

Keeping your family happy and healthy

Girl cuddles with dog. dogs provide health benefits for children. That's one of the ways dogs provide health benefits for children.
Dogs provide companionship, friendship, and comfort on difficult days.

As previously mentioned, there is a multitude of benefits to dog ownership, especially for children. Children who live in a home with a dog or other pets may have improved self-esteem compared to children in a dog-free home. Dogs provide companionship, friendship, and comfort on difficult days.

Further, the physical health benefits of owning a dog include reduced risk of allergies and asthma, improved heart health, and increased circulation. Health professionals agree that two of the best ways to improve your circulation and keep blood flowing are regular exercise and frequent walks. Dog ownership can provide both.

If you’re looking for a way to bring your family together and improve their overall health, adopting a family-friendly dog breed may be a perfect choice. But dog ownership comes with its share of challenges, including financial cost and training time.

Make sure that your whole family is ready for the responsibility, and enjoy a more enriching life as a dog owner.

Dan Matthews is a writer with a degree in English from Boise State University. He has extensive experience with nose boops and chin scritches. You can find him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

*DogsBestLife.com participates in the Chewy Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to let our site earn fees by linking to Chewy.com. 
 

Related Posts

  • dogs provide Young girl hugs a Labrador puppy. The unconditional love of a puppy helps boost self-esteem, which is an example of how dogs provide health benefits for children.
    5 best dog breeds for active families

    Consider active family dog breeds to find the right pup…

  • back to school tips for dogs
    Dogs keep kids happy and healthy

    Dogs provide health benefits for children that range from boosting…

  • Keep kids safe by teaching them how to avoid dog bites.
    Prevent dog bites with simple rules for kids

    Prevent dog bites by teaching children simple rules such as…

  • Help children and dogs bond: Sydney an Australian shepherd/corgi mix plays on the couch with two young boys
    Help children and dogs bond

    Children and dogs usually are a wonderful combination, but sometimes…

  • babies and puppies
    Babies and puppies: Safely build an early bond

    Pairing babies and puppies early provides benefits for children ranging…

  • Millennial man reads to dog. Millennial increasingly choosing dogs over kids.
    3 reasons millennials choose dogs over kids

    Millennials choose dogs over kids due to time, cost. Many…

  • Dependent dog or independent dog? Choose the right breed for you

    Determine your lifestyle, time and patience when deciding whether to…

  • Consider your temperament and finances when considering adopting a dog like this corgi puppy.
    10 questions to ask before adopting a dog

    Adopting a dog? Consider your temperament and finances before making…

  • home alone couch potato dog
    Couch potato dogs for couch potato owners

    Make an honest assessment of your lifestyle to help you…

  • Man and daughter play with pet beagle. CBD oil helps dogs relax and bond with new people.
    Help your dog be more family-focused with CBD oil

    CBD oil helps dogs relax, which can make it easier…

Share this post:

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Reddit

Filed Under: Adoption, Dog Breeds, Home Page, Puppies Tagged With: Children, Petfinder.com

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • puppy 101

    Puppy training 101: 7 tips to start your dog off right

  • Small brown and white dog wears a mask. Dogs and coronavirus: Canines unlikely to catch or transmit the virus to people or other animals, World Small Animal Veterinary Association says.

    Coronavirus and dogs: Can canines get COVID-19?

  • Dogs and other pets on a video conference call. Dog home alone again? If you're preparing to go back to work, get your dog ready. To prevent separation anxiety, use training, treats, and a safe space.

    Ready to go back to work? Prepare your dog to be home alone

Tags

Guard dog Food aggression Dog sounds Canine manners Pit bull Chasing Fleas Bichon frisé howling High-tech dog gadgets Environment Sheltie Dog clothes Begging dog breed names wolves Dog bath Health conditions Poodle Canine exercise Dog teeth care Independent dog breeds Biting Dog-safe plants Babies Pet parents New Year Dog nails French bulldog pekingese

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • How pets help us through the pandemic
    Being stuck at home reinforced the value of pet benefits for most owners. Our dogs provide unconditional love and are great listeners. […]
  • 3 common dog behavior issues and how to fix them
    Don't wait, take action immediately to control three common dog behavior issues: barking, chewing, and aggression. […]
  • What dog breeds are best at scaring away wildlife?
    Dogs provide the ability for scaring away wildlife from your home and property. They also provide companionship and even security. […]
  • Post-surgery physical rehabilitation provides benefits for dogs
    Providing post-surgery care for dogs will help your pup fully rehabilitate and gradually resume regular activities. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2021 Dog's Best Life online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more