When adopting a new dog for a busy family, there are many points to consider. Updated April 24, 2024.
I understand that you have a lot going on in your life, but you long for a furry friend to become part of the family.
But it’s more complex than driving to the nearest adoption center and picking one out – there needs to be a little research involved.
Planning is the single best piece of advice I can give you.
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Adopting a New Dog for a Busy Family
According to the ASPCA, pet problems are the most common reason owners rehome their newly adopted dogs.
However, a lot of this can be avoided by examining your family routine, picking the right dog breed for your family, and understanding the commitment involved.
Questions To Ask Yourself
Do we have room for one more?
Don’t just assume you can make it work – you must know it.
Working long hours, spontaneous travel, and late nights… these things tend to go out the window with a new puppy.
In that way, it’s very much like having a new baby.
Patience is the key term here.
Don’t be afraid to delay the adoption for a few years; wait until the kids mature a little or when things aren’t so crazy at work.
The extra delay will give you time to reflect and build a routine before your pup arrives.
Do I have the money?
Your dog is going to cost a lot.
Vet bills, quality dog food, pet insurance, toys, collars, and leashes add up quickly, and you’ll find your bank account shrinking.
Whatever you think your budget is, double it.
I don’t just know this from personal experience; I worked as a Vet Technician in an emergency clinic for several years and saw it firsthand.
Some dogs we saw every week!
Whether it’s an ongoing health issue or their Labrador ate another sock, I would hear the same from every owner: their dog cost way more than expected.
Do I have the time and patience?
Life gets busy sometimes; I get that.
Unfortunately, a dog cannot be sidelined because you’ve had a long day and must prepare the kids for practice.
Walks need to happen, cleaning up poop in the backyard can’t wait, and there are balls of fur piling up underneath the couch.
Meanwhile, your pup is barking at every person or car driving by, and she left a wet surprise for you on the carpet.
Dogs are more work than expected, so ask yourself if you’re ready.
Adopting
Training Starts Day One – And Lasts A Lifetime
There’s a window of opportunity when your puppy’s brain is like a sponge—soaking up all the information of this new world.
This is the ideal time to train and socialize!
Remember, there’s no finish line here – you do training every day for their entire lives.
Reaching out to psychiatric service dog training services can be a huge help because they have the expertise to help you successfully train your dog.
However, don’t forget that training and socializing can also be a fun bonding experience for you and your new furry friend.
Picking The Right Breed
Don’t pick the cute breed; pick the one that suits your family.
It’s so easy to fall in love with your neighbor’s playful Rottweiler or the girl at work who has that adorable Yorkie, but just because those dogs work for them doesn’t mean they’ll work for you.
If you take anything away from this article, know that picking the breed that suits your family is your most important choice when adopting.
Researching breeds will make all the difference, and if you’ve got a busy lifestyle, consider some low-maintenance dog breeds.
Important side note:
Some breeders and adoption centers can be slightly biased.
They’ll often tell you their dogs are great for families for one simple reason: they want you to take that dog home.
You can do your research at home beforehand.
Adopting Small Children In Your Household
This advice goes against the grain, but my lifelong experience has taught me some essential notes with dogs and small children.
You don’t know what kind of past aggression an adult dog may have, and mixing them with young children can lead to accidents.
Puppies will socialize, grow up with your children, and be comfortable in that environment.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t rescue an older dog.
Some centers will do a behavioral evaluation before adoption to give you a better idea of their mannerisms.
Again, this is where doing your homework pays off in the long run.
Adopting an adult has many incredible benefits if you have a mature family or no children.
You bypass the messy first few years of training (and potty training), and you’ve given an older dog a second chance within a new home.
Measure Those Energy Levels
You introduce yourself to a cute pile of puppies, and one pup emerges that immediately demands your attention.
She’s happily licking your face, tail wagging at Mach 10, and putting on a show for you. Looks like you found the energetic one!
New adopters may believe this dog chose them as their new owners, which is partly true.
Just know that high energy doesn’t go anywhere and will most likely continue for the rest of their lives.
Don’t have an active lifestyle for an energetic dog? Could you look closer at the more chilled-out, lazy puppy off to the side?
It’s all about picking the breed and dog that suits your lifestyle.
The First Year Is Messy
No matter what breed you get, know the first year gets hectic.
There’s obedience training, potty training, and building a routine, all while life is happening.
It gets better.
Sometimes, it takes three months or two years, but eventually, you and your dog sync up, and things begin to run smoothly.
Training never stops, even when they’re an adult, but it eventually pays off.
Preparing For Your Puppy
Get The Kids Involved
Your newly adopted dog isn’t just an add-on but an integrated family member.
You’ll sometimes need to sit down for family meetings and set up a routine around the dog.
Assign each of your children a task for the dog (feeding, brushing, cleaning up poop, etc…) and have the tasks rotate every week.
It keeps the kids and the dog happy, building lifelong friendships.
Walking Is For Adults
Assign dog chores to the kids, but leave walking for the adults.
Training and socializing a dog outside the house is an essential aspect of growth that you should handle.
Also, they’ll need daily opportunities to run and burn off all that nervous energy (there’s nothing more destructive than a dog that doesn’t get her to walk).
Walking is a big responsibility, but use it as an opportunity to show your kids proper dog handling so that as they mature, they’ll be ready to handle it on their own.
Run a Tight Schedule
Dogs love a routine and are surprisingly adept at telling time.
If your dog knows it gets a walk every day at 6 p.m., it tends to calm down for the remainder of the day.
Keep a tight schedule for feeding and walks, and they’ll fit right into your family.
Pick A Quality Food
One last bit of significant research is picking quality dog food – they’re all different.
Your typical shopping center dog food may be cheaper, but those low-quality ingredients will cause health issues later.
Learn to read the ingredients list, what food suits your breed, and the different foods for growth stages.
Not to mention portion sizes to avoid obesity and malnutrition.
Lately, there has been a surge of independent dog food retailers that specialize in healthy dog food, which is surprisingly not that much more expensive.
They can assist you in picking the right food for your breed and size.
Related articles: Getting Your Child’s First Pet, Must Have Items for Your New Puppy, and The Ultimate Pet Vacuum.
