Fiete came into our lives five years ago, and our decision to get a dog probably took just as long. As is well known, Chris and I travel a lot and don’t have a classic daily routine. That’s why we wanted to be 100% sure that we could offer a dog the best possible life.
We asked ourselves a lot of questions in advance and clarified numerous eventualities. We also came across various checklists showing what points you should consider before taking in a dog. Much of it was actually very relevant, others less so.
Today we would like to create our own checklist and hope that we can use it to help some of you make your decision.
Checklist: Ten points to consider before adopting a dog
1. An important question to ask yourself in advance: Is my living situation suitable for a dog? Of course, it’s always very individual, but a large, very active dog and a small apartment without a garden are certainly not the ideal combination.
If you live in a rented apartment, you should definitely get written permission from your landlord in advance to keep a dog. You should also be aware that looking for an apartment will be more difficult if you move with a dog.
2. Having a dog also means that you should plan a lot of time for your four-legged friend in everyday life. Depending on the breed and the need for exercise, that means several hours of walking – every single day. A home office with flexible working hours is of course the jackpot. If you spend ten hours a day in the office, you should definitely clarify in advance whether your dog is allowed to come to the office.
3. And that brings us to the next question: Who will look after my dog when I don’t have time? Vacation, work appointments or an unplanned hospital stay – various situations that should definitely be dealt with in advance. From our own experience we can say that it doesn’t hurt to have a plan B – and a plan C and D too.
4. A dog costs money. In an emergency, in addition to food, care, vaccinations, etc., this can unexpectedly cost many thousands of euros for an operation. Yes, there are insurance companies, but not everyone covers everything. And of course such dog health insurance also costs money. And it really happens very quickly (here too we speak from our own experience) that you have to leave 1,000 euros with the vet despite having insurance.
Am I ready for a dog?
5. Not to be underestimated: you take responsibility for a living being. A dog brings an incredible amount of joy into life, but also a lot of responsibility. And you have this responsibility for up to 18 years (depending on size and race). Of course, life can never be 100% planned in advance, but you should give sufficient thought in advance to whether a dog fits into your personal life plan in the long term.
6. You always have to go out with a dog. Several times every day. Even if it’s pouring rain. And yes, a German winter is long, often wet and cold. This should not be underestimated.
7. Dogs need consistent training. And this aspect can really challenge your own patience. Especially during puberty.
8. The apartment with a dog will never be 100% as clean as before – especially in the first few months when he is not yet house trained. As great as the love of dogs is, sometimes it is a real challenge. You should be aware of this beforehand.
9. Every dog is extremely individual. And very important to know: Not every dog automatically gets along with every other dog.
10. Okay, and now another point that is sometimes a challenge for shy people like me and the best thing for others: You suddenly have a lot more contact with strangers. Small talk is part of a dog owner’s daily business.
Reading tips:
Learnings after the first year with a dog
Flying with a dog: information and tips for traveling in the cabin
