While there are endless pros about owning a family dog, there are also some cons. Taking a more in depth look can help you get a perspective about family dogs' and allow you to decide whether owning one is right for you.

Dogs are great for families, couples, or even elderly people. Dogs easily win most people over with their playful attitudes and their loyalty. A lot of people consider their dog to be one of the family. It is not uncommon for a dog to gain significant importance in an infant's childhood. Many people can still remember a childhood dog they once loved which certainly contributes to how popular dogs' have gotten as pets. Most people at one point or another would like to own a dog.

Apart from being great for families, dogs are highly intelligent animals and can be trained to perform a large number of tasks. While the breed of the dog has a big effect on how the dog will respond to training, most are very pleasant to train. It is not uncommon for dogs and trainers to form a special bond. Dogs can be trained to help people; it is a well known fact that a specially trained dog can help guide the blind, or even assist police officers' on the job.

Dogs make great companions, specially for anyone who lives alone. Many people feel that dogs even contribute to their quality of life. Dog's can help relieve stress by being a great friend, always by your side, and always willing to listen.

While the benefits for owning dogs are very impressive, for some people the cons can be a deal breaker. Acquiring a dog can be very expensive, depending on how rare the dog breed is the price can reach several thousand dollars. However one need look no further than local adds to find a mixed breed puppies at low prices, sometimes even free.

Another concern for dog owners can be health issues. Dogs, like people, are very much susceptible to health risks such as illnesses or parasites, this is a problem because veterinarian bills can be quite costly and no one likes to see their pets suffer.

While a dog's intelligence makes training seem easy enough, it can be quite tedious. And until a dog is housebroken, it could cause it's owner a lot of problems. Some dogs cause their owners many problems when they start chewing a lot of their household items and furniture. The cost to replace this personal property could be thousands of dollars. However accidents will almost always be prevented as long as the owner is very careful, responsible and willing to spend the time and effort to properly train their pet.

It is a common concern for dog owners that certain breeds could be dangerous. While this is a widely debated subject it is generally understood that any breed, if properly taken care of, will be a very pleasant and loyal pet.

Health risks for dogs can be very alarming. Worms in dogs are a common concern for pet owners. Knowing how to identify worm symptoms can be beneficial.