If you adopted your dog before considering all the time, energy, and cost that comes with dog ownership, you’re not alone. But before you consider re-homing your dog, make sure you’ve learned more about the specific problems you’re dealing with, and always consult an expert, such as your veterinarian, an animal behaviorist, or the staff at your local animal shelter, before making a decision. Maybe the problem you’re dealing with is cost.
You may not have been aware of the heavy financial burden a dog can bring, especially if she has health problems, but even if you have a perfectly healthy dog, the cost of licensing, food, flea and tick meds, beddings, toys, vet appointments,heart worm meds, and kennel fees really add up. There’s noway around it. Dogs are expensive. If you can’t afford the cost of dog ownership, there are resources that can help. Handicapped Pets has included a list of organizations that offer financial assistance to pet owners on their website. This list can be found on the “Pet Services” page of handicappedpets.com.
Another reality of dog ownership is time. Properly training your dog takes a lot of time, and some training methods require a great deal of patience. But even if your dog is well behaved, you still need to provide her with daily walks and activities A tired dog is usually a well behaved dog, so it’s in your best interest to make sure she receives plenty of exercise. In fact, some of the behavioral problems you’re dealing with, such as destructiveness, are usually caused by boredom and lack of exercise.
Your dog’s behavioral problems may also be a result of separation anxiety. Dogs aren’t the type of animals you can leave alone for ten hours a day. If you have a demanding job, having a friend or family member stop by to visit your dog during the day or getting permission to bring your dog into work for a few hours may correct the problem.
