The trend of dogs adopting from shelter homes is on the rise. While it’s an exciting decision, pet parenting involves a lot of responsibilities. You must ensure the best nurturing for your furry friend by understanding his gestures and needs. Also, one needs to be entirely sure they want a pet. The whole house and its members should be ready for the change that will be palpable once the dog or pup is home. But who do you want to embrace: a pup, an adult, or a senior dog? You can get a hint about this by looking into your lifestyle and schedules. At the same time, you should know how your experiences vary based on who you choose. Here is a quick sneak peek into this.
- Puppies
Spaying, neutering, vaccination, socialization, and obedience training will be part and parcel of caring for a puppy. Each will have a cost. You will also need to gather toys, leashes, bedding, bowls, etc. These little ones require frequent napping, playing, and mental stimulation. You may also have to clean the potty as they may need to be trained. So, it will be an added responsibility to train them in toilet habits. Furthermore, they will have specific medical needs, so you may not take them to parks for some time to avoid risks of illnesses.
- Adult dogs
In this case, one significant relief is that their vaccination will be completed. You may not have to pursue spaying or neutering as well. Some of them may already know a few fundamental commands. Still, you can send them for behavior training or others, depending on the situation. Do you live in Fort Myers? Check for dog training Fort Myers on Google. You will get the option of good pet training schools.
Nevertheless, grownup dogs have exercise needs. You also need to provide them with enough mental stimulation. If you are busy for a few days, ask someone to take them for a walk.
- Senior dogs
They can be much calmer with fewer exercise needs than adults and puppies. However, their medical conditions demand vet intervention. At the same time, it’s better to have arrangements for their end-of-life care. Nevertheless, they tend to be comfortable with humans and develop easy bonds. You can cuddle them as a companion and feel the warmth of their friendship. Senior people often like them over others for their suitable energy levels.
- A few extra considerations
Considering your home environment is crucial. High-energy dogs will be comfortable in a spacious house or apartment. However, a dog with a mellow personality can fit into even a tiny area. You may also want to know the weight limits if you live in a condo or apartment. Be extra careful about this when adopting a pup because it will still need to grow to its fuller size. Then, some areas can be particular about the types of breed one can have.
Bringing a pet home is a lot of work and involves ongoing maintenance costs. Getting into this makes sense only if you are mentally prepared and others in the house are ready to welcome a new member.