by Louisa Cadwell

Created on: July 09, 2008   Last Updated: August 16, 2009

Whether or not owning a pet is right for you depends first and foremost on your "parenting skills". Some animals take less maintenance than others, but all animals demand a certain amount of attention and care. When planning to go into pet-parenting it is critical to take into account just how much time and money you are willing and able to spare to promote the health and well-being of a helpless, dependent creature. Once you've considered these elements of pet ownership, you can start the planning process.

Research the basics of how to take care of the animal you intend to take in and consider all the possible circumstances that may arise before making the trip to pick them up. Make sure you have the right type and amount of food, water, and shelter needs. Being prepared is the best way to start out down the path of pet ownership.

Dogs are one of the most common pet choices, so I've taken the time to list some of the important issues to keep in mind when intending to buy one.

If you are in the market for a dog consider this.....

1. The average life expectancy for most breeds is twelve years. Where do you see yourself twelve years from now? Do you plan to travel? Do you want to have children? The answer to these questions will greatly determine a number of other factors.

2. What size of dog is appropriate for your lifestyle? It is much easier to transport smaller dogs for long road trips or even small runs to the store. They are also less intimidating to smaller children. Larger dogs will require one of two things. You would need a larger vehicle or pickup for convenient mobility or should expect to hash out cash for a kennel whenever a sitter is not available for extended periods of absence from home.

3. Are you a renter or owner? Finding rental housing that accepts dogs is difficult in comparison to being sans-dog. Regardless of if you own or rent, outdoor yard space is fairly important for your dog's exercise needs.

4. Do you live in a warm or cooler climate? Are you willing to walk your dog in the freezing cold days of winter and/or the hottest days of summer? If not, yard space is even more important!

5. You will be dealing with nail clippings and shedding (amount depends on dog). Larger dogs can be more difficult to groom and hiring a groomer may be an added expense if you're unable to do it yourself.

6. Prepare for personal belongings to break, wear down, get scratched, etc. Your ability to level-headedly manage these sporadic disasters is something you should definitely consider. If you're someone who has a hot temper, reconsider pet-owning.

7. Finally, the money! Oh, the money you'll spend. Take the time to price shots and educate yourself about what they need. It is very important for female dogs to be fixed for her health and your own sanity. Female dogs will go into heat on a regular basis and this means blood. You may wind up with puppies too and if you have no intention of breeding your pet, this can be quite the unexpected surprise.

Pets can bring so much pleasure and happiness to your life. Just be sure you can do the same for them.

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