Questions to Ask Yourself Before Getting a Dog

1. Can I afford it?

Affording a dog has nothing to do with adoption fees. If you are griping or complaining or even just worried about a $250 or a $500 or even a $750 adoption fee, dog ownership is probably not for you if you want to do it right. Dogs are expensive, and special breeds (like, say, bulldogs) doubly so. Affording a dog means paying for food, medical treatment, vaccinations, health insurance, checkups, dental visits, mishap vet visits, trips to the ER vet because they ate a weird plant or a toy, toys themselves, supplies like bowls and ear cleaner and treats and stuff, something to contain them in your car with for safety (like a hammock, crate, or seat harness), training classes and possible behavioral consults, and let's not forget, leashes, collars, licenses, and name tags. Oh, and microchip services. And toothbrushes. And special shampoo. And whatever else they need. The list is truly endless.

2. Who will take care of my dog when I have to go out of town?

You really want to have three people lined up that could take your dog for you when you need to go out of town, and you also want to know of a good kennel, in case your people can't be there for you when you need them. Reputable kennels do NOT have indoor/outdoor facilities in each cage--do you want your dog peeing on your patio upon return home? Then go to a good kennel that keep your dogs indoors, until someone comes to them, leashes them, and walks them outside. In the DC area, we've only found two places we would trust with our boys, and both are a small fortune. The first is Olde Towne Pet Resort in Springfield, VA. The second is Blooms Crossing Animal Hospital/Yappie Cuttery in Manassas, VA. Though, we're *always* open to *good* suggestions. Bad suggestions can suck it.

I've stumbled upon a good website with lots of very good advice and decent reviews on boarding. It isn't perfect, and it can list some crummy places, so still do your research, but it might help to narrow some things down. Check it out here.

3. How will this dog impact daily life?

Are you home often, or will your dog be alone for most of the day? Dog bladders are really only designed to withstand an 8 hour block of time without potty on a regular basis. The occasional long 12 hour stint is not going to damage them instantly, but on a regular basis, this can do damage to their kidneys and urinary tracts. That can be expensive, and ultimately cause untimely death. If you can't be home often enough on a regular basis or can afford to have a dog walker, consider cats. Seriously, I don't mean thus as a rude suggestion. They are pretty good substitutes. They poop and pee all by themselves inside the home. They are furry, and they don't need walks. They snuggle, and although they don't bark and most don't drool, they make fairly good dog replacements if you can't be around for a dog.

4. Have I researched breeds completely?

Bulldogs have TONS of issues, but even though our Saint Bernard doesn't have nearly the specifics of the bully, he does have his own challenges and worries specific to his breed. Each breed, and doubly so for mixed breeds, has a special set of parameters you need to be aware of. Dalmations (as well as Eng. bulldogs, Yorkshire Terriers, and Schnauzers) are prone to urate stones. Saint Bernards and many other large breeds based off of the mastiff build are prone to bloat. Small breed dogs are prone to malnutrition. Labs are nuts as puppies. Pitbulls aren't all bad (but bad pitbull owners are). Scour the internets for info, and talk to all the other owners you can (I say a minimum of 5 other owners, but 8-10 is even better). Also, find a vet in your area that has experience with the breed you want, and pick their brain. Talk with vet techs about their experiences. Then put all the information together so you can find the truth in there for you.

5. Have I watched the Dog Whisperer or read Cesar Millan's books?

Ordinarily, I'm not really much of a bandwagon kind of girl. It happens, but it is fairly rare. However, Cesar Millan (and those behaviorists who follow his methods) is a god damn dog genius. If you don't think so, you are a useless turd. If you can't get onto Cesar's thinking, you'll never understand your dog completely, and ownership of a dog is not likely to be very rewarding or easy. What fun would that be? Also, if you don't understand Cesar, it's time for you to stop reading my blog, because I believe in his methods 100%, and probably won't be swaying from that very often.