So You Think You Want A Dog

Photo provided by Elizabeth Page

Anytime someone tells me they want to get a dog, my immediate answer is “Are you sure?” While owning a dog can be incredibly rewarding, it can also be deeply challenging. As a society, we often forget that dogs are animals with personalized needs, and that they won’t just adapt perfectly to the lives we are already living. 

I was in my third year of college when I decided to get my dog Keith and, as a first-time dog owner, I had no idea what I was in for. In his first year of life, my dog of three years now had been placed in several homes before I adopted him. Along with these challenges, Keith also had a lot of reactive behaviors that I was certainly not prepared for. As I said before, I had never owned a dog, and I had no idea what I was doing. Shortly after bringing Keith home, I realized I was out of my depth and sought professional advice. Although we had our ups and downs, Keith and I worked through issues together, creating a lifelong bond. However, many adopted dogs with similar issues are not as fortunate and are often taken back to the shelter from which they were adopted.

We often expect far too much of our dogs, as well as underestimate the time and commitment it takes to own and train one. We assume it is normal for a dog to like every person or dog they meet, but that’s abnormal for most of them. Many people expect that the dog they get will be down for anything, like anyone they meet, and be well-behaved in almost any situation. I’m guilty of assuming that too. The expectations of owning a dog didn’t match up to the reality of it at all. I think that’s where many people get in over their heads. 

When getting a dog, you should always do your research. You must be prepared to take on any challenge thrown your way. So if you want to get a dog, you should ask yourself the hard questions in order to make the best decision for yourself and the dog before potentially adding a new member to your family.