How to tell if you and your partner are ready for a dog

Most people either underestimate how hard it is to live with a dog, or, on the contrary, overestimate it.

Some picture scenes from a romantic movie, where a fluffy, obedient pooch sits in the passenger seat of a Cadillac and smiles at passers-by. Others imagine trudging after a hairy crocodile through an industrial zone at 6 a.m., in frost and pouring rain, for the rest of their days. It gets harder when both extremes meet in one couple.

But the truth, as always, lies somewhere in between. Let's talk about what you need to be ready for in life with a dog, so you can make a joint decision based on facts rather than fantasies.

1. What a dog is

Dogs are creatures with their own logic and special needs. A few facts about dogs as a species:

Dogs are coprophages

They love poop, especially half-digested human poop. And also cat, wild boar, moose — basically any poop their tongue can reach.

Dogs are scavenging predators

They pick things up off the ground. Your pupper will have no idea why we're so outraged by his interest in a beaver carcass. It's a waste of good stuff, mommy.

Dogs in their basic configuration can do almost nothing; they have to be taught everything: riding in an elevator, walking on a leash, approaching a person, not picking up all sorts of junk off the ground, staying home alone.

Dogs bark. And it's not the most angelic sound in the world.

Compare your ideas about a dog as a couple. One of you may be more tolerant of the gross aspects, and the other more patient when it comes to training. Or maybe you're lucky and you're both all-round dog parents!

If you're not scared off by a dog that yells from time to time, happily rolls around in three-week-old pigeon carcasses, eagerly gobbles up piles from domestic producers, and has to be trained regularly to learn the skills it needs — you're already halfway there!

2. Allergies

It's a good idea to make sure in advance that neither you nor your partner has an allergy. The best way to do this is to talk to an allergist.

But even an allergy isn't always a dealbreaker. Many people with allergies get along perfectly well with their beloved dogs and cats thanks to modern medicine, thorough cleaning, all kinds of gadgets and other perks of civilization.

After all, sometimes the desire to get a furry friend is so strong that neither a stuffy nose nor tears can stand in its way.

3. A different life

Maybe we should have started with this point.

Make sure you're both making not just an emotional decision to get a dog, but a rational one too.

That is, you both need to understand in advance how your life might change.

It used to be quiet, and now the pooch is warming up her vocals in the most echoey corner of the apartment. You used to be able to just collapse on the couch when you got home, and now the dog demands attention and a ball. Early mornings, limited mobility, hanging out with friends only until it's time to walk the dog — talk through these and other changes a dog might bring.

4. Puppy leave

If you're planning to get a puppy, keep its age-related quirks in mind:

Puppies pee and poop everywhere. This will pass, but it takes time.

Puppies chew everything they see, including people and furniture. This is normal and will also pass. But for the first few months your limbs will be regularly punched full of holes by needle-sharp teeth.

Puppies (and adult dogs) can't be left alone without being taught this skill.

Discuss how you see your near future and which of you is ready to put more energy into raising the new family member at first. Maybe one of you is ready to take time off for it.

5. Money

A dog means extra expenses. Both mandatory regular ones (food, hygiene, vaccinations, parasite treatments) and sudden ones (illnesses).

Usually nobody has trouble with the regular ones, but treatment is always expensive and unexpected. Think about these situations in advance — we recommend setting up a separate dog piggy bank for emergencies.

Discuss how the dog budget will work in your couple.

6. Responsibilities

Discuss how you'll split the dog duties:

• walking at least once a day, for no less than 30 minutes
• feeding several times a day
• washing after walks (usually just the paws, but sometimes the whole dog)
• brushing (if you end up with a pooch of fluffy lineage)
• treating for parasites
• taking to get vaccinated once a year
• training

That said, you won't need to feed and walk the dog at strictly the same time every day. On the contrary, being tied to specific hours and minutes usually does everyone more harm than good.