Pets are a wonderful part of a family’s life. Most of us have good memories of playing with the dog or cat when we were kids. A family pet can be a useful tool for teaching your kids about responsibility and faithfulness in caring for an animal. But often, those sweet childhood memories do not include the background work that your parents did for the family pet.

There is much more involved in adding a dog to the family and this plan should be considered very carefully before committing to the care of a puppy or dog. You probably already have all the great reasons for finding a new dog but it would be wise to consider these “cons” that may outweigh your “pros.”

5 Reasons not to get a dog:

1.    Cost – There is no such thing as a “free” puppy. Even if you do not have to purchase it in the first place, you will have food, cleaning and vet expenses that can come up unexpectedly and add up drastically.

2.    Destructive – An older dog may be easier on your furniture and clothing, but beware the teeth of a puppy. They cannot help but chew on anything and everything in sight for several weeks or months. Unless you are willing to redecorate your home and place all leather, fabric and plastic items up above the dog’s reach, there is nothing safe against a puppy’s desire to chew.

3.    Smell – Short hair dogs are easier to keep clean than long hair dogs but the aroma of an animal in the house will still be evident. Be ready for weekly baths to keep ahead of the stink that a dog can bring into the house.

4.    Behavior – Dog training looks easy on the online videos and in the dog training books. But it takes lots of time and consistent training sessions to get a well-behaved dog that will not jump on people or bark at the doorbell. Housebreaking a puppy is a fulltime job for the first few months, and the transition from potty accidents to fully housebroken is difficult and frustrating.

5.    Time – Ask yourself if you and your family members have enough extra time to give undivided attention to the dog. A puppy is like a toddler in the house, you cannot leave it alone for a minute and when it is older it needs play time and long walks to keep it from becoming bored and destructive.