There is no denying the fact that dogs are hugely popular pets all throughout the United States (and, of course, in many places beyond this one country as well). In fact, up to 78 million households in the United States alone have at least one dog as part of their household – and some have even more than just the one. This means that, effectively, very nearly half of the entire population of this country (around 44% of it, to be just a bit more exact) are dog owners. There is no doubting the popularity of welcoming a dog into one’s life.

After all, a dog is a great companion for many different people. A dog can provide an endless amount of love in an unconditional way, something that many people are looking for in their lives but have perhaps not been able to find before getting a dog. In addition to this, dogs are simply a lot of fun, especially depending on the personality of the individual dog him or herself. And dogs can help to teach responsibility and compassion in people, including (and perhaps particularly) in children. A world without dogs would, of course, be a much less happy place – even a bereft one, for many dog lovers out there.

However, there are many considerations that must be made before getting a dog, as taking an animal into your life means dedicating yourself to their care and happiness. And, as just about any dog owner can readily attest to, this is not always a simple matter. For one thing, you’ll first have to decide from where it is that you’re going to get your dog in the first place. For many people, the choice is obvious, especially with the recent push to adopt. Getting a dog from a shelter is a noble thing to do, and fortunately one that has become all the more popular. After all, very nearly two thirds of the dogs adopted here in the United States will be adopted from shelters, leaving only just over one third of all dogs being adopted from breeders. And while certainly there are reputable breeders out there – more than many people might realize – saving a dog from loneliness and even from potential death by adopting them is something that is hugely important indeed in the eyes of a great many people.

But when you adopt a full grown dog, you might need to adjust some things about how you view dog ownership. For one thing, this dog might have behavioral problems. In some cases, depending on the dog in question’s background, these problems can be quite severe indeed. Dog training classes can often help an owner learn how to cope with such issues, even if dog training through dog training classes does become harder the older a dog gets (much as human children retain new information much more easily than human adults do).

Puppies will also likely need dog training classes, as these dog training classes can help to ensure how they grow up. In addition to dog training classes and dog obedience training, there are many other things that factor into the care of puppies that likely are not necessary for fully grown dogs. For one thing, the amount of sleep with which puppies should be given the opportunity for is much higher in number of hours. Ideally, a growing puppy will end up sleeping as many as 20 hours a day, and typically no less than 15. Much like a human baby, puppies need more sleep in order to foster their growth. They will also need attention through the night, as many puppies will not reach the ability to sleep through the night until around 10 weeks of age.

At the end of the day, from sleep to vet visits to dog training classes, there are certainly a great many things that factor into the proper care and keeping for your new dog or puppy. Taking these things readily into consideration will be hugely important to do indeed, and something that any new pet owner will need to consider before making a plan to adopt a dog.