Whether you just got your first place and are new to living alone, or you’ve got a family but feel like something is missing, you need a dog in your life! While they are a lot of work (taking them outside multiple times a day, ensuring they go to the vet regularly, feeding them on time, etc.), they’re also a huge reward and joy to have in life. Here are all the reasons you should get a dog, plus a handy list of everything you’ll need to ensure you and your new pet are happy! Reasons to Get a Dog There are many reasons to get a dog. Here’s some of our favorites! 1. Dogs make you more active. Because dogs are highly energetic and require daily walks, they make you more active. If you live somewhere without a fenced in backyard, you’ll need to put your pup on a leash and walk them at least around the block. The added cardio from walking your dog is a great way to get more active – and you won’t even realize it until a few months in! Because you’ll be spending much more time being active, trade out your metal bands for an engagement ring for active lifestyles. The silicone is much better for your skin because it’s resistant to sweat. 2. Dogs are natural treatments for depression and anxiety. While any pet can be classified as an emotional support animal (ESA, for short), dogs are particularly suited for helping in treating mental health issues. Dogs have been known to signal happy chemicals in our brains, making us feel better after being around them for less than an hour. And who doesn’t want to feel happy all the time? Getting a dog will ensure you feel great all throughout the day whenever you’re around it. 3. Dogs are a great source of comfort. When you have a bad day or aren’t feeling well, a dog is a great companion. They’re more than content to just lay around with you. In fact, that’s probably one of their favorite things to do! Whether you just lay with them on the couch or cuddle up with them in bed while you binge-watch your favorite TV show, a dog is a constant companion and great source of comfort. They’ll nuzzle right up to you and make you feel better, no matter the circumstances. 4. Dogs are good for your social life. When you have a dog, you have to take it out for walks. Those walks then translate into trips to the beach, going hiking or even going on a road trip! Either way, dogs are good for your social life because you’re sure to come across other people and even other dog owners while taking your pupper to all these places. Whether you go to the dog park or the vet, you’re sure to meet lots of new friends all because of your dog. 5. Dogs are good for your romantic life, too! When meeting all these new people because of your dog, who’s to say you won’t meet your special someone, too? Of course, if you’ve already met your person and have a beautiful family with them, this one might not apply as much to you – but dogs are such good mood boosters that adding one to the family can’t hurt how you feel about your special someone! 6. Dogs increase your responsibility. Dogs are great at teaching you responsibility. You are now responsible for an entire other being. You have to ensure the dog gets fed properly, is healthy, goes to the vet when it’s supposed to, is groomed consistently and goes on daily walks. You have to dog-proof your home to ensure the dog doesn’t get into anything and destroy your personal items or get hurt. No one else is responsible for the health and safety of your dog besides you – and that’s a huge responsibility. If you weren’t responsible before getting a dog, you definitely will be afterwards! Use a Silicone Dog Tag So Your Pup Has All Your Information at All Times 7. Dogs know when you’re sick…and can help us heal! Your dog’s snout can sense out the changes in your body chemistry when you're not feeling well. Sometimes, it happens before you even start to feel any symptoms! Dogs can be trained to sniff out certain changes in your body, including cancer. Having a dog around can definitely ensure you stay happy and healthy for many years to come. 8. You can take your dog with you on fun adventures. Whether you enjoy hiking, camping or even trying out ice cream at new places, you can take your pup with you wherever you go! Looking to do a road trip soon? Your pup will be a great companion! Just make sure you put a silicone dog tag on its collar with your contact information. That way, if your pupper runs off in an unfamiliar area, the people who find it can contact you easily! 9. Dogs teach children responsibility. If you have kids, adding a dog to the mix is a great idea! Your kids will learn about feeding the dog, taking it out for walks, ensuring it stays healthy and grooming it. All of these are important aspects of responsibility they’re never too young to learn! For many kids, they won’t even realize all the work they’re doing because they’ll enjoy it so much. 10. Dogs are family. When you get a dog, you’re adding to your family. Dogs instantly become a part of your familial unit. They’re practically like adding another kid! Dogs bring joy and happiness to every household. You can do so much with them because they love to be around people! Adding a dog to the mix will ensure your home is never lacking in cuddles or funny moments. Sure, every once in a while they’ll destroy a pillow, but it’s all in good fun and love. Getting a Dog Getting a dog isn’t as simple as going to the pound and picking one out. There’s a few things you’ll need to do prior to getting a dog to ensure you can bring the pupper home with you. Decide if you’re buying or adopting. This is a big part of the decision process. Over six million animals enter shelters across the U.S. each year, so there are plenty of animals to choose from – both at your local ASPCA and beyond. For people who are heart-set on buying purebred animals, it’s important you choose a local breeder with a positive reputation. Don’t purchase animals from pet stores in malls or from puppy mills. Those dogs typically have a variety of health issues, and they aren’t bred sustainably. Adopting an animal takes a bit longer, but it’s worth the wait! Ensure you have the proper enclosures and requirements for adopting. Some adoption agencies, especially ones run by local jurisdictions rather than non-profits, have very strict rules regarding where animals can reside. Whether it’s a fence at least six feet high, no animals with aggressive breeds or no criminal record, you’ll need to verify all the requirements for getting your pet prior to browsing for one. Quiet Dog Tags Are Great for Energetic Puppies That Love to Run Around Budget for the fees. Whether you’re buying or adopting, getting a dog is hardly ever a free process. Your sweet doggo will most likely have a price tag, and that can range from $50 to $5,000, depending on all the circumstances. Adopting is definitely cheaper than buying. Purebred animals from show-winning dogs are some of the most expensive pets on the market. A mixed-breed stray that’s been at the pound for five years will not only be much less expensive, but more sentimental. You’ll get to be their forever home! Clean your house. Get rid of anything that might be a hazard for the pet. If you’re adopting through a pet rescue, the rescue owners might do a site visit to ensure your place is a good fit for the dog. Just like when baby-proofing, you’ll want to close off access to hazardous spaces, place covers onto electrical sockets and hide any wires or other hazards lying about. This will ensure the people coming to do your site visit are happy with your home. Unclean and dangerous homes won’t make the dog feel safe. What You’ll Need to Bring Your Dog Home After you’ve gone through all the hoops and signed all the paperwork, there’s a few things you’ll want to do right before bringing the dog home. Here’s some of the essentials: Stock up on food and treats: Head to the pet store and stock up on dog food! The shelter you adopt the dog from will probably provide you with a list of foods good for the dog or what it’s currently eating at the shelter. If you’ve purchased from a breeder, you can always ask what they think the dog will like. Note: Puppies will eat different food once they become adults. Adult dogs with medical conditions should eat only the foods specified by the shelter operators. That’s how you keep your pup healthy! Get a dog bed: A dog bed is such a sweet treat for a dog. They’ll love having a specific space to curl up in after a long day of chasing the mailman or any birds in the backyard! Head to your local pet store to find a bed that’s not only large enough, but will be comfortable enough for your new dog. To make the space even more comfortable, you can place a blanket in the dog bed! If it’s wintertime, something soft and plush is a good idea. If it’s spring or summer, a thin blanket is ideal. It’s just a little something extra for them to have in their space. Have a collar and dog tag ready: One of the most important things you can do for your dog is get a collar and dog tag ready! A pair of quiet dog tags are great for active puppers that love to run and play. You can place your contact information, their vaccination status and their name all right there on the tags. Even if you get your pet microchipped, a tag is always a good idea. The more ways you can be found if your pet gets lost, the better! Schedule an appointment with a dog trainer: No matter your dog’s age, it’s important they get some basic dog training commands down pat. A dog trainer can help your dog acclimate to living in a new place and learning to listen to you and your family as its new owners. A dog trainer can also give you tips for transitioning your dog into a new space. Knowing basic commands, such as “sit” and “stay,” are great for when you start to take your dog with you on walks or longer trips. If you aren’t able to afford a dog trainer, you can start to practice some of those commands at home! Schedule an appointment with a vet: While wherever you’re getting your dog from should provide you with an updated medical record for the pet, it’s always a good idea to go ahead and get your dog set up with a veterinarian visit as soon as possible. A brief wellness check-up, as well as scheduling any dental procedures or vaccinations, is an important task of new dog ownership. Many shelters work with local vets to ensure the dogs available for adoption there are healthy and ready for adoption; however, when purchasing a pet from a breeder, there’s a lot less guarantee what they’re telling you is true. Getting your pet to a vet, especially when purchasing from a breeder, is important! Owning a dog has many benefits, and there are so many good reasons for it! Once you make the decision to own one, there are a few things you’ll have to do, but those tasks are nothing compared to the joy of owning a pet. Image Credits Viktoria Kurpas/Shutterstock.com brickrena/Shutterstock.com Okssi/Shutterstock.com Master1305/Shutterstock.com Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com Masarik/Shutterstock.com