Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, with more than 25 million pets and over 5 million households owning at least one pet. That works out to 2 out of 3 Australians owning a pet.
For most of those pet owners, their dog isn’t just an animal that happens to live in and around their home. Many consider their dogs to be part of the family, and they share their lives with their dog just as they would with any other relative.
Pros and Cons of Owning a Dog in Melbourne
Melbourne is proud of its reputation as a pet-friendly city, as there are many parks and establishments for both pets and pet owners.
If you’re considering getting a dog and are looking for puppies for sale in Melbourne, then it’s a good idea to consider the pros and cons of owning a dog before you bring one home.
Owning a dog is a lifetime commitment and responsibility, and you’ll have to be willing to put a significant amount of time, money, and effort into their welfare so that they can live full and happy lives.
Pro: Companionship and affection from your dog
Most dog owners already know just how rewarding it can be to have a dog. Our pooches love us unconditionally, and there’s nothing like coming home from a hard day at work to be greeted with dog kisses.
It’s impossible to assign a value to the companionship that a dog offers when you’re feeling sad or lonely. There are also benefits in terms of your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing:
- Dogs help reduce your risk of heart disease
- Dogs lower your stress levels
- Dogs encourage you to be more active
- Dogs help you make more social connections
Con: Increased expenses
Owning a dog isn’t overly expensive, but it does incur costs that can add up over time. While most dog owners will happily pay almost any amount to make their pooch happy, if you’re only just considering getting a dog, it’s still a consideration you have to make.
Think of the food, toys, accessories, and other care items you’ll need for a dog. You may also need medicines and treatments for your dog as they grow older. Vet visits themselves may also add up in cost.
The cost of actually buying a dog can be anywhere from $500 to multiple thousands of dollars. And the upfront cost of taking care of a puppy can be relatively high since you’ll be taking them to the vet repeatedly for the first month or so.
Dogs live, on average, anywhere from 10 to 15 years. Take the yearly cost for a dog and multiply it by the lifespan, and consider whether you are ready and able to spend that much.
Pro: Home security
Dogs have been guardians and protectors for humans for thousands of years. Their ability to guard us against danger has been one of their most long-lived attributes. Vocal dogs can warn you of any strangers approaching, or alert you if something is wrong.
If you live by yourself, it can be comforting to have a dog by your side so you aren’t completely alone. Incredibly, some dogs have actually been able to sense things such as carbon monoxide buildup in their owner’s homes, potentially saving lives.
While not all dogs are suited to be guard dogs, there is evidence that simply owning a dog does go some way toward deterring would-be burglars. And if having a guard dog is important to you, you can do research beforehand to find the right guard dog breed that fits your lifestyle and home.
Con: Time commitment
All dogs require some time spent on their welfare, even if they’re the best-trained dog in the world. Dog owners often spend hours each week on dog training, grooming, and other duties.
Dogs are also social animals and need to spend some time with their owners to form and reinforce the bonds that make them such good companions. It’s not uncommon for a dog owner to spend pretty much all of their free time with their dog, especially if they work a regular 9 to 5 type of job.
Pro: A sense of responsibility
One largely overlooked benefit of owning a dog is the sense of responsibility it can instill in you. There can be a lot of things that you have to take care of as a dog owner, but all of this is repaid with the love and affection of your dog.
This can be seen by how much dog owners seem to spoil their dogs, giving them everything they need to thrive and more.
Pro: Melbourne laws regarding responsible pet ownership
There are a number of requirements and rules to follow for owning a dog in Melbourne, which makes it more stringent than many other cities in Australia regarding pet ownership.
Failure to comply with pet ownership laws can result in hefty fines, which simply makes sense as being a responsible dog owner means that you should be able to follow simple rules and regulations.
The only ‘downside’ to this is that you, as a dog owner, have to invest time into properly training your dog.
Pro: A wide selection of pet-friendly parks and cafes
For Melbourne specifically, it’s even more attractive to own a dog because of the number of pet-friendly parks and dining establishments in Melbourn on offer.
There are also many off-leash areas for dog owners who have been able to train their dogs to play well with others and can control their dogs using only commands.
Summary
It’s easy to see that owning a dog in Melbourne has many more pros than cons.
You simply have to be able to fulfill your dog’s particular needs as well as the requirements for owning a dog. In return, you get a number of tangible and intangible benefits that we think are completely worth it.