As a dog owner, I find it impossible to imagine a life without my little best friend. Having a dog enables you to create so many amazing memories and have lots of fun. There are so many things to love about owning a dog, they’re definitely one of the best pets out there.
However, I’m also aware that owning a dog isn’t always full of fun things and great times. It is a big responsibility, and you have to fully commit to owning one, as there are loads of things you have to do. Keeping that in mind, I’ve put together a little piece to show you the main pros and cons of owning a dog. If you’re thinking about joining the dog club, hopefully, this article will help you out!
8 Top Pros & Cons You Need To Know About Owning A Dog
Pros
There are so many pros to owning a dog it’s impossible to include them all in this one article. So, I collected the best ones and listed them down below:
You Get A New Best Friend
The best thing about owning a dog is that you get a new best friend who’ll never leave your side. A dog won’t talk about you behind your back or make plans without inviting you. They’re always waiting for you when you walk through the door, and they’re always there when you need them the most. You get a best friend without all the negative qualities other human beings have!
You Constantly Have Company
No matter what’s going on in your life, your dog will remain by your side and stay loyal. They’ll keep you company when no one else will. This means there’s no such thing as a boring night in on your own. Every night is a fun night as you share it with your doggie. The great thing is, dogs love attention and will always come to you when you’re home. They’re not like cats, cats prefer to do their own thing for hours on end before finally wanting your attention.
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Dogs Can Relax You
In general, having a dog can help you relax more after a stressful day. Granted, there are some elements of dog ownership that might be a bit stressful, but we’ll get onto that later on. Most of the time, sitting with your dog and playing with them can relax you so much. There’s nothing better than coming home from a hard day at work and petting your dog for hours until the stress melts away.
They’re Obedient
A great benefit of owning a dog over another pet is that dogs are obedient. You can teach your dog all sorts of commands, and they will listen to you. This is something most other pets don’t respond to. Imagine trying to teach a hamster to sit? Not only does this benefit you as you can keep your pet under control, but it also benefits you by strengthening your bond together. There’s something so rewarding about teaching your dog new commands, you feel a connection grow between both of you.
Dogs Are Fun
To put it simply, dogs are fun! There are so many fun things you can do when you have a dog. You can teach them funny tricks to pass the time, or buy them different little outfits to wear. Even buying them toys and a dog bed is fun as you get to go out and choose cute little things for them. You can have more fun with a dog than you can with any other pet – and probably most humans too!
Cons
As you can see, there are loads of positives about owning a dog. But, what are the negatives? Check out these next few points to find out:
Dog Walking
Now, this was a difficult one to classify as a pro or con because it could swing either way. For some people, walking their dog every day is a really fun thing that they look forward too. In fact, some dog owners love it as it gives them an excuse to go out and exercise for a bit too! However, I put it in the cons section purely because it can take up a lot of time which some people might not have.
If you work a busy job and live on your own, then it’s hard to find the time to walk your dog as regularly as possible. As a result, dog walking becomes a stressful thing that you have to do rather than something fun. Of course, as you can see if you visit this page there are dog walking services out there that take care of this for you. So, there are ways to make this con a little bit more bearable even for busy people.
Cleaning Up After Your Dog
By far the biggest con of owning a dog is cleaning up their mess after they go to the toilet. It’s something you simply have to do as dogs can’t clean up after themselves, and you can’t just leave it there for other people to stand in. No matter how many times you do it, it doesn’t get any better. There’s something so degrading about bagging up some dog poop – it’s definitely the worst thing about owning a dog.
Mess Around Your House
Speaking of mess, we’re talking about a different kind of dog mess at this point. Having a dog means you have an animal inside your house. As such, things tend to get a bit messy from time to time. A dog doesn’t know that you should stop and wipe your feet when you come in from the outside. Instead, they run all over the place with their muddy paws. Similarly, dog fur can malt easily and cause all of your furniture and clothes to be covered in loose fur. These things aren’t huge issues, but they can make your house messier, which is a con.
There you have it, the pros and cons of owning a dog. For me, the pros certainly outweigh the cons, but I understand dogs aren’t for everyone. If you own a dog, then let me know if you have any other pros or cons that were missed off this list!
