What are the pros and cons of Dog ownership?

Question

I am not sure dog ownership fits into my life.

Answer 1

pros: faithful friend, lots of love, entertainment, protection, etc etc - so many!

cons: (not necessarily cons, but things that might get in the way of your schedule)
feeding and walking them 2-3 times a day, getting a dog sitter or boarding them when you go on vacation, the expense of having them properly vaccinated, de-wormed and spayed/neutered.

If you don't have the time and money to put into it, then DON'T - a dog should not have to suffer poor medical attention or lack of owner attention.
But if you have the time and money, then you have a guaranteed best friend.

Answer 2

If you're not sure about having a dog the best thing to do is not to have one. They take up a huge amount of time and as the saying goes. ' a dog is for life, not just for Christmas'
You have to be fully committed to caring for this dog. It will need your complete love and attention for around 13 - 14 years.They need more attention than children because they never grow up and will always be fully dependant on you.
Please...think long and hard....they can be a great inconvenience but they can also be the best thing that ever happened to you. They make you a better person and they give so much back. If you work full time and lke to go out or away at weekends, don't get one. You have to be completely unselfish.

Answer 3

cons : puppies need lots of training..obedience and house...plenty of love and lots of time. Older dogs may need some training..but generally fit in to whatever time you can give..depending on the breed. You can't leave a dog alone for more than five hours..so need to know someone who will be willing to either look after the dog for the day or go in and check every couple of hours.They can be quite expensive

pros : a dog will give you unconditional love, will be there to give you affection when you get home..even if your miserable. They will play endlessly if you want them too, its proven that pet ownership actually reduces your blood pressure, there are now insurance companies that specialise in pets so vets bills are reduced. It's something better to do going out for a walk getting fir than watching tv or playing computer games. Also if you rehome a dog you get that lovely feeling of giving it a second chance at life

Answer 4

Dogs are faithful and great companions. My dogs have always made me feel happy when I was down. They lift my spirits because they are so wacky and happy.

Dogs do require lots of time. You cannot just put them on a shelf and pull them out when you are ready to deal with them. There are some people who live down the street who NEVER let the dog in, never take it on a walk, and they have a tiny yard. The dog barks and barks. If you can do better than this, then a dog might be for you.

Also, dogs require health care which can be expensive (especially if you go to the wrong vet). Sometimes they have emergencies and emergency vets are very expensive.

Answer 5

oh golly there is to much to say! they are great family member(not pets!) there greta friends if treated right. liek they say mans best friend. i dont see anything bad things about getting a dog though. its not a bad thing you have to feed and walk and excersice it. its all fun. and its all worth it. i could not live without dogs. well all animals infact. they make great friends. they know when your sad and are always there for you when your going through a rough patch. they dont speak back and dont say a bad thing. they dont even act badly they dont know any better. depends how you treat them. it all depends on the dog to be house broken easier. but not the breed just the dog its self. some are easy some are a tad harder. defo go to a pound and get a pup saves its life! plus petshops are a rip off and breeders arnt always the best way to go. you can teahc a puppy to not dig in the garden but make sure you have somnewhere for it do dig. they like to dig and run around ect.it takes a while to train a dog to not do stuff and to do stuff. so remember they cant understand you so be patient. go to pound! :) good luck mate lady

Answer 6

If your not sure, don't get one. They take over your life. You can't do what you want, when you want because of the dog. Holidays? Don't forget the cost of the kennels, and will they settle in? Will they hate it there? Weekend away? Can you take him with you? Want to stay out overnight? Whose there to let the dog out?
The other side of the coin? They will love you to bits. That's all. But to a dog lover, that is worth everything. I've got 2 dogs and they come first. It's that simple.

Answer 7

Pros - They make great companions, and a they're a ton of fun. They are also great for meeting people - I meet at least one new person almost every time I take my dog out to the park, or for ice cream, or to a dog-friendly happy hour or sidewalk cafe. Dogs are one of the few sources most people find for unconditional love.

Cons - Having a dog is a committment. You have to walk and feed them at least twice every day, and more often when they are puppies. You'll have expenses for dog food, chew toys, doggie treats, collar & leash, and boarding or pet sitters when you are away. You'll also have vet bills if your dog gets sick. You'll need to spend time training your dog and getting to know him/her, but this can be fun, too.

I wouldn't give up my dog for anything - good luck on your decision!

Answer 8

Pros : Companionship, joy.
Cons: No Freedom, More works, responsibilities

Unless you are very very sure, and you real real really like dog. Otherwise don't.

I am a dog lover. To me, dog is a 24/7 job. With my husband and son's help. I still feel hand tied. But I am very happy I have my puppy, and I enjoy the responsibility.

Answer 9

Dog ownership is a live long commitment , it takes : alot of time, walks and exercise..rain or shine, potty training can be hard , puppies chew many things, food costs alot..for me about 100$ a month on both kibble, treats and raw food, routine vet care such as vaccinations as well as Emergency vet care when you least expect it, , you need to be consisitent with training, when you are out of town, you need to either take the dog w/ you or find other arrangements which can be costly. .......... to name a few.

Answer 10

Pros: They can be very very close to you. Good to play with. They love love love love love you.

Cons: They can only be left alone no longer than 4-6 hours after proper independence training!!! You need to spend a lot of time and be committed to training them all through their life. They need to to walked everyday. Basically, they need someone who has a LOT of time, otherwise it's not fair on the dog. They are social pack animals. They hate being left alone. They need to be trained otherwise they become stressed, bored, insecure.