Dog – A loyal friend

What should someone consider before adopting a dog

Human's relationship with dogs has ancient origin. According to greek mythology Apollo domesticated dog to give it to his sister (Artemis) as a hunting companion. The story of Odysseus' dog, who died upon recognizing his 10-year absent master, shows that ancient Greeks had decoded in a degree and had appreciated the psychology of those loyal friends.


Adopting a dog isn't a simple task. And as an animal loving dog-mother, I have to warn all wannabe dog-parents out there about the difficulties they will face and sacrifices they have to make. This is not a dissuasive post. But there are objective problems that should be considered, before taking the big step - for their own happiness as well as for the little soul they're going to put inside their homes and hearts.
The dog is supposed to live with you (if all goes well) for at least ten years. And it will need you the whole time. So, in my opinion, the questions that someone should ask oneself before adopting a puppy are the following:

1. Do I have enough time? The dog needs time. It needs training, at least house broken. It needs exercise (depending on the breed as to how much). It needs care (bathing, combing, brushing its teeth). But, most importantly it needs quality time with its master (so you have to consider your time away from home, ie at your job)

2. Do I have enough room? If a yard is not available, you have to consider that the dog will need more walks in order to relieve itself.

3. Do I have enough money? Yes, a dog needs money as well. For food, vaccination, treatment in case of illness. Of course the bigger the dog the greater its cost.

You also have to think through some other parameters that might not affect so much the decision whether to buy a dog, but what kind of dog to buy. If you have young children or intend to have a baby you should choose a kid-friendly breed. If you travel a lot, you should consider what will become of the dog while you are away. (Keep always in mind that in Greece there are very few lodgings that accept pets). If you are passionate with cleanliness and tidiness you should think how easy it is for you to accept dog hair on clothes and furniture, mud, chewed shoes etc. Don't forget you will have to pick up your dog's poop, socialize it with other pets and humans from the beginning and throughout its life and take care of it when it gets old or sick (at this point you should think about how much you can handle loss).

Don't adopt a dog to show off. Don't adopt a dog for your children's sake. Don't adopt a dog because you fell in love with a puppy (puppies grow up). Think that your family will have one more member since the day you bring home the new pet. A 4-legged kid with its own personality, its own needs and demands.

If you have thought, evaluated, considered all of the above and you are determined, then get ready to be rewarded with the purest kind of love you've ever experienced.