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The Downsides Of Dog Ownership (And How To Avoid Them)

Photo by Daniël Maas

Owning a dog should be wall-to-wall fun. But in many cases, it doesn’t turn out that way. In fact, having a dog can be downright tiring if you don’t get it right. 

In this post, we take a look at some of the downsides of owning a dog and what, if anything, you can do about them. 

The Attention They Need

Cats just get on with their own thing and goldfish, for the most part, don’t even know you’re there. But dogs are often in serious need of attention. They’re obsessed with you and expect you to reciprocate.

How do you deal with this need for attention? Well, if you’re the sort of person who doesn’t mind spending every day next to their dog, then you should be okay. Problem behaviors will usually only start if you go away. 

However, if you can’t be around your dog the whole time, then you might want to consider training. This way, you can get the dog used to the idea of being alone so it doesn’t feel so needy all the time. 

The Poop

Unfortunately, dogs poop. A lot. And when they do, it reminds you of your responsibility towards them. They don’t care about you cleaning up their waste every morning. They just let you get on with it. 

Fortunately, pet waste removal services exist. The idea here is pretty simple. As a homeowner, you don’t want to constantly pick up your dog’s waste so you get someone else to do it for you. They come to your house, get rid of the poop, and free you from an unwanted job. 

You can understand why so many dog owners opt for this service. Picking up dog poop with plastic bags every day isn’t most people’s idea of fun. 

The Maintenance

Dogs, like people, require a lot of maintenance, whether its medical attention, food, or grooming. Dogs can get sick, dirty, and hungry.

Food doesn’t cost much and cleaning your pet is something you can do at home if you want. But vet bills are expensive and can seriously damage your finances if they arrive out of the blue. 

The trick here is to get pet insurance. This way, if something does go wrong, you won’t be on the hook for a large bill. 

The Clutter

You’d be amazed at how much clutter dogs create around the home. Food, treats, poop receptacles, leashes, collars, and toys can all wind up making your house look like a bomb site. And we haven’t even mentioned dog beds yet. 

You should deal with dog clutter in much the same way as you would clutter from having a baby. There are two ways to do this: 

  • Create bespoke storage spaces
  • Blend dog stuff into your home

Creating custom storage for all your dog supplies is usually pretty easy. You want a cabinet or sideboard, usually close to the front door, where you can keep all their stuff. Then, when they want to go outside, you just grab it quickly. 

Blending your dog’s stuff into your home is a little trickier but can be done with some inventiveness. Usually, the more money you spend on furniture to mimic a dog bed, the better it is. 

The Walkies

Walking your dog every day can turn into a bit of a chore. Of course, they love and expect it, but after a busy day, you don’t always want to do it. 

If that sounds like you, there are some things you can do to make it more bearable.

The first is to get it out of the way in the morning. Taking your dog for a quick walk or job can be an excellent way to prepare you for the rest of the day. 

A second solution is to get someone else to walk the dog for you. There are all sorts of dog walking services out there willing to take your hounds to the park for some exercise. 

Another idea is to combine dog walking with a sport you love, like cycling. Well-trained dogs will stay close to your bicycle at all times. 

The Sleep Schedules

Lastly, some dogs really don’t want to go to bed when you tell them to do so. However, sleep is critical for dogs. Most sleep for between eight and twelve hours per day, and sometimes longer. 

The trick here is to create a sleep schedule. You want your pooch to hit the sack and get up when you do. Just go to bed at the same time every day and they will soon follow suit. 

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