What You May Have to Give Up if You Want to Own a Dog!

Owning a dog is a huge responsibility and one that should never be taken lightly. There's so much to consider when you decide to share your home with a canine companion apart from keeping them well fed, safe and warm that is. Many dog owners soon realise they have to make certain sacrifices when they share their lives with a four-legged friend and they do so quite happily.

If you are thinking about getting a dog or puppy, you need to ask yourself if you would be willing to give up certain things you may have grown quite used to doing or having around which includes the following:

Those Lovely Holidays to Faraway Places

Dog owners don't really get to go to those lovely, sunny faraway places because they love their pets far too much to leave them behind. They know that even if they did decide to get away to a Caribbean island, they would only end up worrying about their pooches the whole time!

The good news is there are plenty of superb destinations within the UK where dogs are welcomed with open arms. In short, you can still take a wonderful holiday with the added bonus of being able to take your beloved pooch with you!

Gorgeous New Furniture

Owning a dog means owning lots of nice large throws! Part of the pleasure of sharing a home with a pooch is that you know they will be leaving quite a bit of their hair around the house which includes on the furniture. Then there's the occasional muddy paw that slips through the net and onto the couch or bed to think about.

The best solution is to invest in lots of gorgeous throws which you can put in the washing machine on a regular basis to keep things looking good, clean and tidy! Investing in expensive leather sofas might have to be put on the back burner.

Spare Time Could be a Thing of the Past

Sharing your life with a four-legged companion in the shape of a dog, means you might not have as much free time as you once did. Now, this is not such a bad thing because owning a dog means you get to go out in the great outdoors a lot more often which naturally keeps you fitter and healthier. Walkies are a great way to keep both your dog and yourself nicely trim.

However, spending as much free time with your pooch as you can is essential because they don't like to be left on their own for long periods of time. Dogs also have a great way of making you feel guilty when you do leave them on their own! The good news is that once you have formed a strong bond with a pooch, it is hard not to be with them.

A Spotlessly Clean House Could be a Distant Memory

If you are one of those people who just loves living in a spotless home, then be prepared for a lot more work if you decide to share it with a canine friend. Floors are bound to get messy no matter how hard you try to keep them spotless. Somehow dirt will appear in places and usually just after you cleaned them!

Be prepared to invest in a good vacuum cleaner and one that will stands the tests of time because owning a dog means doing a lot more hoovering on a daily or even more often basis!

Carpets Need Replacing More Often

Another thing you need to bear in mind, is that rugs and carpets will need replacing more often when you share your home with a canine companion. Wear and tear on carpets and rugs is just part and parcel of the pleasure of owning a dog, but it's an expense that's well worth it!

Homes Have to be Made Dog Safe

If you are thinking about getting a puppy you have to make sure your house is puppy proof which means getting rid of a lot of those lovely house plants you may have grown very fond of. The reason being that many indoor plants are toxic to dogs and the last thing you want is for a new puppy to chew on one and get very ill!

Gardens too need to be made very secure which means you might need to spend a little money on fencing and gates latches to prevent your dog or puppy from escaping or being let out of your garden by mistake!

Goodies Like Chocolates Not Left Lying Around

If you have kids, then you'll have to teach them not to leave chocolates or other goodies lying around on the ground or on low coffee tables where a dog or a puppy might easily get hold of them. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, and sweets are bad for their teeth and health in general!

You don't have to give up chocolate as such, but you do need to make sure your canine companion doesn't manage to munch away on any because it could prove fatal!

Conclusion

There is no denying that dogs bring a tremendous amount of pleasure into a person's life which far outweigh the many sacrifices you may have to make when sharing a home with one. However, it's important to think about all of these things before getting a dog or a puppy. The one thing you can be sure of is the benefits of sharing your home with a canine companion far outweigh the sacrifices you might have to make!