Puppies and Time Commitments
It's no secret that puppies require a lot of time. How can you decide whether your family is ready for a new furry friend?
Basic Time Commitments
Potty Training
Skill Training
Exercise Time
Grooming
Considering Your Personal Commitments
Do you work? How many hours a week do you work? How long is your commute to your job? Do you have to travel for work? If you work a full-time position, then you typically have an 8 hour work day. Add a 30-minute commute and you are now gone for 9 hours a day. Think about how your bladder would be ready to burst if you held it for that entire day!
Potty Training
If you are gone full-time for work, then you need to have a doggy sitter pop into your house to let your puppy outside. Puppies need a strict routine, especially during their potty training time. Consistency is key to potty training! Salmon Stix can also help you get the job done. Positive reinforcement is key.
Even if you are choosing to crate train your puppy, you can’t expect them to spend 12 hours a day in their crate. Their crate should be their safe space, and not a punishment. When a puppy is forced to stay in their crate for so long that they are consistently using the bathroom where they sleep, then it is no longer their safe space.
Skill Training
Teaching your puppy basic skills is incredibly important. For starters, mental stimulation is important for dogs. Bad things happen when puppies get bored! Skill training can help prevent excessive chewing and increase daily naps. Your puppy should be tired from the amount of time they spend training and playing.
Skill training is important for older dogs too. A dog is never too old to learn a new trick. Learning is fun for dogs of all ages! Start with skills like sit and stay, and move towards more complicated tricks.
Exercise Time
Exercising your dog is an excellent way to keep your pup’s bill of health up. Anxiety is higher in dogs that don’t get enough exercise as well as conditions like diabetes and excessive weight gain. You don’t need to sit all day, and neither does your pup.
A quick potty break is not sufficient exercise for a dog. Playing fetch, having a puppy playdate, going to the dog park, or going on a walk are great ways to exercise your pup. Exercise should happen on a daily basis.
Grooming
The amount of grooming that your pup requires depends on their breed. Long-haired dogs typically require more breeding to prevent matting of hair. Some examples of breeds that need regular grooming are Poodles, Collies, Great Pyrenees, and Yorkshire Terriers.
All breeds require a casual amount of grooming. Overgrooming can have a negative effect, but grooming once a month or every six weeks is a good idea. Grooming includes bathing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and hair trimming. Unless you are a trained groomer, leave the grooming to the pros!
Now that you know the typical time commitments for a puppy, do you have the room in your schedule? It isn’t fair to leave your dog home alone all the time. Responsible pet ownership starts with devoting your time!
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