Over 50% of American households have at least 1 dog. If you’re interested in adopting a dog, be sure that you know what to expect.

There are a lot of common errors that families make during the dog adoption process, so you need to be sure to watch out for them. Adopting a dog can be a great choice, but if you’re not careful, things won’t go according to plan.

Here are 5 common dog adoption errors that you need to avoid.

1. Rushing Your Decision

One of the errors that you should avoid when adopting a dog is making your decision too quickly.

You shouldn’t rush into getting a dog but should think about it as a long-term decision. You need to be realistic about the amount of work that will be required and should be sure that you and your family are ready and willing to take care of a dog and give it the attention that it needs.

You may want to visit a dog shelter, do plenty of research, and think carefully about your decision before you decide to adopt a dog.

2. Not Considering All Dog Ownership Costs

As part of thinking carefully about your decision, you should make sure that you understand what the cost of adopting and owning a dog will be.

In addition to the cost of adopting a dog initially, you’ll need to also pay for dog food, vaccinations, and dog toys and bedding. You’ll also likely need to pay for grooming care, routine veterinary visits, and health insurance.

Be sure to keep all of these costs in mind when deciding to adopt a dog.

3. Failing to Visit the Vet

Another mistake with adopting a dog is failing to go to the vet afterward.

While an adoption shelter may have done some examinations before allowing you to adopt him or her, they may not have been thorough. It’s a good idea to take your new dog to the vet to get them checked out before taking them home.

4. Not Keeping Your Current Dog in Mind

If you already have a dog in your home, don’t assume that they’ll get along with a new dog that you add to your family. Dogs don’t automatically get along, and there’s a chance that your dogs will have a hard time adjusting to one another.

Be sure to introduce your dogs to each other slowly. Keep their interactions short at first to ensure that you can ease them into their new living situation.

5. Failing to Consider All Ages

When adopting shelter dogs, make sure that you consider all different ages.

While many people prefer to take puppies home from a shelter, it’s a good idea to consider older dogs when adopting as well as different dog sizes. Older dogs will be easier to care for than puppies will and are also deserving of nice homes.

Puppies require a lot of extra attention and training and may be more prone to accidents than older dogs will be.

Avoiding the Most Common Dog Adoption Errors With These Tips

If you want to add a dog to your household, you should aim to avoid the dog adoption errors listed above. By doing so, you’ll have a stress-free experience when adopting a dog.

Need more tips for pet owners? Read over our blog now to find more useful tips and advice.