1. Breed and Temperament: You just love those big, fluffy Great Pyrenees puppies. They’re so cute! You also work 12-hour days and live in a studio apartment so small, you have to fold up the sofa-bed to open the front door. So, your lease restrictions notwithstanding, perhaps an active, 160-pound barking machine that needs constant companionship and can cause whiteout conditions when he sheds (which is a lot) isn’t the best choice for you. Similarly, if you love to run and hike and want your companion to accompany you and keep the pace, you might want to rethink that slow, snorting, slobbering—albeit adorable—bulldog.
2. Responsibility: Yes, someone will have to walk, feed, bathe, and clean up after your pooch. And take him to the vet. And play with him so that he doesn’t get bored. If you have a large, fenced-in yard—lucky you! But if you don’t, you should know that dogs need to poop several times a day, including during blizzards, hurricanes, scorching heat waves—and the second you get into your jammies and settle down with a cup of chamomile. Are you ready for the commitment?
3. Expense: Dogs aren’t cheap, particularly dogs whose owners want to give them the best of everything, which includes food. A 25-lb bag of top-rated Orijen Dog Food costs $87.99 at Pet Pantry Warehouse in Rye. Then there are checkups, shots, spaying/neutering fees, medicines (including monthly flea-and-tick and heartworm prevention), supplies (leash, collar, bowls, beds), toys, treats, pet-sitters’ fees or doggy daycare, boarding costs if you go away—and, of course, the purchase or adoption fees. Do the math: Are you sure you can afford it?
