Considering a new dog? How to tell if you're truly ready for one.

You are looking for the perfect dog, and he doesn't exist. Dogs do not want a "well clean comfy dog house." they want to be with their people (or, as you state, "a family dog"). A dog that primarily stays outside will not be a family dog! You mention wanting a "guardian." If your dog lives ourdoors much of the time, that area may become his "trerritory" and, if a killer got past the yard to the front door, your dog might do nothing since he may believe that the house is not his territory to protect. Very often separation anxiety is created inadvertently by the owner. Another concern I have is that you state, 'I am busy." A new dog, regardless of breed or size, needs a lot of care in order for him to acclimate to new surroundings. It does not sound to me as if you are ready to have a dog just now. Perhaps you could volunter at a vet's office or shelter to get an understanding of just how much work and time a dog can require in order to be well-adjusted and happy. If you would like to talk about this, you can click on the prompt and start a consult, where we can discuss your situation. It may be that, with a few adjustments, things might work now.

One way to gauge if Chigger is ready for another dog is to see how he reacts to your friends dogs. If he seems to like other dogs,m then this is a good sign. If he does not, this is a bad sign. I also recommend to make sure he is neutered and up to date on vaccines and parasite prevention. Neutering helps to make the introduction a lot smoother and it may help to avoid obscessive humping. Making sure he is up to date on prveentive care will make sure the puppy stays healthier. Here is a link about introducing dogs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-introduce-a-puppy-or-dog-to-your-older-dog/ I hope this helps and please feel fre to post any additional questions.

It is not a question easy to answer to as it would depend on how big is your house and if they have access to a garden or not. Level of training should be considered as well. Two dogs minimum would be my answer anyway as at least they can have some interaction between each other. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

That’s a lot of dogs! The big things to think about are finances and individual attention. You must be able to plan ahead for accidents and unexpected large expenses. As you know, pet care can be very expensive! If you are at your limit financially, you should probably not get another dog. Also, if something were to happen (hopefully it doesn’t) are you able to devote a lot of attention to one dog and still see that the others have their needs met? Especially as dogs get older, they require supplements, slower walks, assistance with stairs...etc. You want to make sure that you can provide the best life for all of them for as long as you can. I recommend to have an honest conversation with your family before adding more dogs. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Adult dogs can generally be crated 8-10 hours so this schedule could be fine provided the dog does not having anxiety issues....etc. Dogs do require A LOT of time. It's almost like having a child. They require at least an hour of exercise every day (especially when they are young). They require training and affection. They need to be fed on a schedule, let out on a schedule and you will need to have them examined periodically by the veterinarian. Having a dog is very rewarding but it sounds like now is maybe not the right time to have a dog if you family is very busy. I recommend to wait until the time is right. There are pets who can be equally rewarding but require less care than a dogs. Cats make great pets and are far less dependent on humans. Though they still require attention...etc. Many people are grossed out about rats but pet rats actually make very good pets. They love their humans (if you get them as babies) and can even be trained to do tricks. You need at least 2 and they will still want your attention. I hope this provides some guidance and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Absolutely. You can make an appointment with a veterinarian for a consultation . Make sure the vet knows that you are coming for advice ahead of having a puppy so that enough time is planned for the consultation. Be prepared to pay a fee for the professional advice, though.

I am sorry to hear you lost a dog recently. Whether to get a puppy or an adult will depend on your lifestyle/schedule and the personality of your other dogs. Puppies require much more frequent care than adult dogs, so if you are gone for long periods of time this can be problematic. Puppies can also be pestering to older/senior dogs, so if your other dogs are older or have some mobility issues they may be less tolerant of a puppy jumping on them/biting them. The plus side to having a puppy is you have first hand opportunity in all his training. If your schedule doesn't work well with a puppy then I would consider fostering an adult dog from a reputable rescue on a trial basis to see how it goes, and if it seems a good fit you can adopt the dog!