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Also, there's the time and money and effort to put into correctly training your dog. Granted, PetSmart and other retail chains offer fairly decent basic obedience classes for reasonable rates, but are you willing to put in the time and effort to train the dog?
Another thing I'd like to add is that you should really, really think about rescuing a dog from a shelter or the pound. Mixed breed dogs are usually the most even keeled and have fewer medical problems. You'll save the life of a dog who needs a home, and there are so many who need homes, you'll be able to find one that suits your particular needs.
I don't have kids, I have dogs. My babies are the center of my life. No, I don't have to find a sitter to go out to eat, but there are a lot of things that I have to remember when caring for my dogs that people with kids don't have to think about... My dogs can't tell me what's wrong when they don't feel good. It takes time and dedication to be around a dog enough to learn their signals and know how to read what they are telling you. They have to be fed and walked and taken out to potty... They can't fix themselves a bowl of cereal or go to the bathroom on their own. You have to be able to dedicate time to spend with your dog... Yes, they'll chew on a toy by themselves, but they live to play with you.
They can be an absolute joy.... I wouldn't know what to do without mine. They make my life better just by being themselves. They give me all of themselves, without reservation, and they always love me. You owe it not only to yourself but to your future dog to give choosing him or her all the effort and consideration that they deserve.
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“When facism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
~Sinclair Lewis
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