As someone who never grew up with pets in the home, except the school hamster that came home with one of my brothers one weekend, I’ve never really experienced having animals in my every day life. I already has a lot of responsibility, and time, taken up by three kids and I sometimes think it might have been easier to get a dog. While the kids do keep asking, it’s not something we could take on at the moment but I have wondered whether, if we had gotten a dog before children, our lives would be as enriched as some of our friends tell us our dogs make their lives!
Welcoming a dog into your home can be an important and exciting milestone for anyone, but for couples it can mark the start of a new era in the relationship. With the dog comes responsibility and a shared sense of ownership in many cases too, which can be just as challenging as it is rewarding.
Whether you’ve owned dogs before or you’re thinking of becoming a first time owner with your partner, here’s what you should know about getting a dog and how much the decision could enrich your life.
1. Long-term commitment
Don’t overlook just how much work is involved in raising a dog and keeping it healthy throughout its life. Depending on its breed, your dog could live up to 12 years or maybe even longer, so you need to ensure that you’ve got the stability to commit to them for their entire life.
If you have a full-time job, you might quickly realise that owning a dog is very difficult when you need to balance all your work commitments too. You’ll need to change your home setup to meet their needs, taking time to choose from a variety of large dog beds designed for comfort. Before you buy a puppy or start looking around for adoptable rescue dogs, talk to a breeder or visit friends who own dogs first to get a glimpse into what daily life is like as an owner.
2. Better exercise
As your dog grows up, it will need increasing amounts of exercise to keep it fulfilled and healthy. This will depend on the dog’s breed and other factors like their genetics, but you should usually expect to be outside for at least an hour every day. If you live in a beautiful place or you’re lucky enough to be close to one of the UK’s National Parks, this will provide you with so many opportunities to enjoy natural scenery and get fitter and stronger in the process.
Walking regularly has been proven to improve our mental health and boost circulation too, meaning that if you get out every day with your dog, it could be a fantastic investment for your health.
3. Strengthened social connections
Walking a dog can lead to increased social interactions with neighbours and other dog owners, helping you and your partner to expand your social networks! This might come as a surprise if you’re not usually a social butterfly, but you’ll soon find yourself striking up hilarious dog-related conversations with strangers.
Not all pets can serve as such amazing social catalysts, facilitating memorable conversations and community engagement. Our pet tortoise would hardly be able to strike up the same kinds of social conversations! Dogs are amazing creatures and will naturally attract smiles and attention from other people, so get ready to feel sociable!
4. An amazing best friend
Finally, the most significant part of owning a dog is the immense, deep emotional connection you will form with your new four-legged friend. Sharing the responsibility with your partner can not only improve your confidence and communication skills as a couple but could give you real experience in solving problems and troubleshooting training issues.
Whether you play together or take it in turns to walk your dog, you’ll soon start to share an enormous amount of love held for this creature. Dogs will provide you with unconditional love, incredible memories, and belly laughter every single day.