Undeniably, many folks these days do live alone. Especially in the season of winter, there may be many days that they do not see others.  Kids have lives of their own and are all grown up and TV becomes a companion constantly. When you find yourself to be in a similar circumstance, you might want to consider adopting a dog. You may be under the mistaken impression that a dog will entail too much work. However, you might be surprised at the benefits derived from pet-ownership, which tend to outweigh everything else.

Loyal and Constant

A pet dog is a loyal, constant companion who will not ask for more than a walk and food or argue about which show on television to watch. Dogs always have an activity and the favourite one he always tends to have is the one you are doing. Dogs love cooking dinner with you and doing laundry. No matter what you are doing, as long as they are included, they don’t ask for anything more.

Dog Breed

Once you have made the decision to get yourself a pet, the question is what breed to get. Unless you like potty training, you might want to opt for an older dog. Considerations to think about include whether you have the patience and time for basic pet training, if you can afford dogs that need to be groomed professionally and what dog characteristics you prefer. Will paper-trained smaller dogs be an option that is more realistic? Do you have allergies? What is the weather like where you live? The dog breed you decide on will take some thought.

Dog Descriptions

You will need to do research by reading many dog descriptions where you can find them. In addition, talk to other dog owners and to the community veterinarian. Ask them about which dog breeds would be best for you to adopt as a pet. Everyone tends to have their own opinion about pet ownership.  In the long run, it is truly worth the effort to find the perfect long term companion for yourself. One thing to keep in mind is that you are not looking for a show dog that has won prizes. Rather you are looking for a best friend, so to speak. For this reason, your potential pet dog’s character does count. If you go to a shelter or a pet shop and there is no love at first sight going on, it is all right to go home for a couple of days and think things over once more. Who knows, on your next trip, you might just find your own companion for life. 

Mark Perissinotto has been a practicing veterinarian for over 20 years, 14 years of which he was the owner and principal of a busy multi-vet mixed animal hospital. One of the two co-founders of Vet Shop Australia, graduated from the University of Queensland with Bachelor of Veterinary Science and one of the best retailer of pet supplies Australia.