Everyone was shocked when I debuted my new puppy on Instagram in September of 2024—not shocked because I did not always love puppies, but shocked because I am busy and do not necessarily have time for anyone else in my home. I grew up with puppies, a Black Lab and a Lhasa Apso, so I am very familiar with dogs and the amount of care they require. Then, on a rainy day in September, my kids came up to me and said, “Mom, we need a dog because we need some responsibility,” and although I knew in my mom heart that this was not to be true, I obliged and we went to the humane society.
When we arrived, there were so many dogs, some puppies, some older, and a plethora of kittens. We knew we wanted a puppy, and when we walked up to her cage, she came directly to us, and I knew that she was supposed to come home with us. She was four months old at the time and had many people who wanted her, but no one had returned to adopt her, so we were prepared to take her home that day. We researched the breed and asked if she was good with children, and the staff at the Humane Society were so helpful. We adopted a Vizsla puppy from the Humane Society and named her Emerson Giselle Beaven.
The common theme of adoption is that you will get out of your dog whatever you put into them. That means that training would need to be consistent, and we would need to add dog food to our grocery budget as well as any vet visits. When we got her home, we fell instantly in love, and she assimilated well into our very loud and active home. The kids did well with her, but the novelty of having a new puppy wore off by Monday, as I assumed it would, so I had to ensure that I was in the right headspace to assume this much responsibility. It turns out that Emerson made our house happier, so as much as she needed us, we needed her. She made the house lighter and made us all a little more cognizant. She also forced us to slow down our busy lives because puppies require a lot of attention. I also knew that I always wanted to adopt, as it made more sense than spending thousands of dollars on a puppy when so many puppies needed homes. Here are a few things to consider when getting a puppy/dog.
Research the breed
I researched Emerson’s breed to ensure that she would work in our active family and that she would not be timid when guests came over. This will not make your children more responsible. If you are thinking of getting a dog to teach your children more responsibility, it will not happen. Much like everything in a child’s life, their attention span is short, and other things become more important. Think of the pet as an extension of your family; although the responsibility is great, so is love.
Financially prepare
Love is great, but dogs require a lot of financial support as well, from food to vet visits. You cannot skim on their needs, so make sure that you are prepared for a certain amount of monetary commitment.
If you can, adopt
There are so many dogs that need homes, and the Humane Society microchips your dog and gives you a voucher for its first vet visit. The staff is so helpful, and they continue to check in even after your puppy is home, so I would highly recommend it.
