Getting a dog is something that many people are interested in doing here in the United States. After all, rates of dog ownership are quite high indeed all throughout the country. In fact, recent data even shows that there are up to 78 million dogs found in varying households all throughout the country as a whole. This means that, effectively, there are dogs in as many as 44% of all homes in this country alone. Dogs are much loved companions in just about any given home, but it is certainly important to note that dogs are a big responsibility and that taking on a dog (or really any other pet, for that matter), a big decision to make, and most certainly not one that should be taken lightly by any means.
For one thing, first you’ll want to decide where to get your animal. For one thing, there are more options than some people are aware of – at least actively so. Getting a dog from a breeder is one option, and one that many people end up taking advantage of. As a matter of fact, up to one third of all dogs are bought through breeders, but this is something that must be done with caution. For while many breeding establishments are certainly reputable, not all are. Therefore, doing extensive research surrounding a breeder before actually getting a dog from one will be quite essential indeed.
You might, however, also choose to get a dog from a local animal shelter and animal rescue. Fortunately, this is something that is growing more and more popular among dog owners and dog owners to be alike. Choosing to get a dog from a rescue is something that will likely more than pay off in the end, as you will be helping the rescue in question as well as saving a dog that does not have a home. And for those who might be looking to get an older dog, getting a dog from a local rescue will be even more ideal for such purposes.
If you get a puppy, however, there are a number of things to keep in mind. For one thing, dog training will likely be necessary, as do g training is likely to be, by and large, the most effective when a dog is on the younger side. Fortunately, dog training and dog obedience can be obtained through various dog training classes, which are now offered in many places all throughout the country. As a matter of fact, it is more likely than not that your dog will be able to be enrolled in one dog training class or another in the near future.
But it’s not just about dog training. Providing your puppy with the space and care to grow into adulthood, especially during that first year of life, as puppies won’t be considered to be adult dogs until later on, once they have reached that first year benchmark. For many dogs, the quality of care and dog training that they get early on in life will actually likely impact the rest of their lives as well, something that is certainly of a huge importance and something to be kept in mind, at the very least. After all, intense periods of growth require much more rest than other points in life, something that holds true with human babies as well (as many of us are certainly well aware). Therefore, it is not uncommon to see any puppy sleeping for up to 20 hours of the day – and typically no fewer than 15 hours in that same span of time, at the very least. Fortunately, sleeping through the night starts at around 10 weeks and can be a part of the dog training that goes on as well.
At the end of the day, from dog obedience training to finding the right dog and place to get it from, dog ownership can be more complex than many people realize, at least at first. Fortunately, dog training and the like are just points in time and are often well worth it all at the end of the day, when your new dog has become a deeply cherished and beloved family member.
