Cost

Looking after a dog is not cheap. An average sized dog living for 12 years, could cost you in the region of £6,500 for food alone! You will need to pay out for vet bills, insurance, bedding and toys, kennel fees, microchipping and grooming. The total cost of owning a dog for it's life time could be in the region if £15,000!

Parasites

Even the cleanest of dogs can pick up parasites. Fleas, worms, ticks and ear mites will probably enjoy the company of your four-legged friend at some stage. Fleas can cause discomfort to dogs, cats and humans alike. A flea infestation can cause major problems in the home, especially if they get into carpets and furniture. Worms are a health hazard and in rare cases can lead to blindness in children. Ticks can carry the potentially fatal Lyme disease.

Destruction!

Chewing: If you're thinking of a puppy - beware! Most puppies go through the dreaded chewing phase as they are teething. Mobile phones, table legs, furniture, Cd's, carpets, flooring and footwear are all most appealing to the curious puppy. Even the older dog can cause damage. Digging in the garden and scratch marks on wooden floors are all common problems.

Inconvenience

Fancy a nice lie-in on a Sunday morning? Pouring with rain late at night? You're four-legged-friend will need to go out for toileting and exercise whatever the weather. Going out for the day was never a problem until you got the dog. Weekends away and holidays will also need careful planning. A dog shouldn't be left home alone for longer than 3 hours, so if you work, doggie day care will need to be arranged.

Mess

If you are house-proud you'll be in for a shock! Expect muddy paws after the dog walk, dog hairs on the carpet and furniture. Long hair breeds, especially with hairy muzzles can be mucky when feeding and drinking, and nearly all dogs salivate and slobber.

Smell

All dogs give off a 'smell' especially when wet. Most pet owners get used to the smell of their own pet, and don't tend to notice it after a while. Some bigger breeds such as Bloodhounds have a very distinctive, musky odour, which can be over powering and offensive to some people. Your house will probably smell and be noticed by your non-pet owning friends!

Compatibility

There's a possibility a member of your family could be allergic to your new dog. And if you're thinking of having a baby, how will that fit in around the dog?

Responsibility

With a dog comes responsibility. Nobody likes a badly behaved dog. A dog needs to be trained and you also have a duty of care as a pet owner. Training a puppy is time consuming and requires commitment and discipline. Irresponsible dogs can cause accidents and you could well be responsible for it's actions.

Messy Jobs

Owning a dog is often a messy unpleasant business. Ears and teeth need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Dog mess will need to be picked up from the garden and on dog walks. You may also have to clean your pet's bottom area after toileting for hygiene purposes. A job not for the faint-hearted!

Bereavement

Compared to humans, dogs live for a relatively short period of time. The loss of a cherished pet is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a pet owner. Many pet owners find losing a pet as traumatic as losing a member of the family or a close friend. Many pet owners find owning a new pet impossible, as they don't want to go through the pain and grief of loss again. Explaining the loss of a family pet to children can be a difficult and painful task.