So, you have decided to adopt a dog. It is something you, or your family has wanted for some time. But now the question is, are you ready? Are you introducing a dog into your home for the right reasons? This short little checklist should help you determine if this is an ideal time to introduce a four-legged companion now or if you should wait. There is no set time limit, but it is a good idea to be able to answer a few of these before adopting.

• Have you experienced a recent change in your job or working hours?

• Have you or are you in the middle of moving?

• Have you recently gone through a relationship change?

• Do you travel frequently?

• Have you recently taken in an ill relative and your family has not entirely adjusted to this change?

Now is the time to be honest with yourself. If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, now is not the best time to bring a dog into your home. Conditions are in transition and stressful and it would not be a service to your dog, your family or you to introduce him in a situation like this. Remember: dogs can live up to 15 years or more, so this is a major commitment. Be sure your life is calm and you are able to think clearly. This will ensure that when you choose a dog, it will be a responsible, informed and well thought-out decision.

Along with assessing your current lifestyle/living situation, you also need to consider your reasons for wanting to adopt. Below are some reasons you should never use to justify adoption.

• Because you are going through an emotional time and want something to comfort you

• Because you feel sorry for the animal

• Because friends or family, though well-meaning, convinced you to

These reasons don't have bad intentions – quite the opposite – but these situations are not logic based. They are emotionally based and decisions made on emotions will generally end badly for the animal and human involved. For example, if you adopt the dog just because you feel sorry for it being in the kennel, you're thinking about his circumstances today, not tomorrow's (for either of you). You may not be prepared to deal with any behavioral/emotional issues the dog has. You also may not be thinking about the commitment financially and physically that a dog requires. This may lead to the dog being brought back to the shelter or worse – abandoned after he has attached himself to you.

He Lost His Wife; He Needs a Dog

Similar outcomes can occur with well-meaning friends or the desire for comfort and companionship in a difficult time. Again, these are not despicable things to want from a dog, but the timing isn't right. If you are experiencing intense grief, you are not going to be thinking about what is really best for you, or the dog. You are just trying to deal with painful feelings and those feelings are in the moment. They aren't ones that are well thought-out decisions based on the future. Many dog owners have gotten a dog in the midst of a loss only to find themselves overwhelmed by their companion. They weren't assessing the kind of dog they were choosing and only realized later that they had gotten a breed that wasn't right for them. Or in not thinking things through, six months later realized this was just not the right time. Or perhaps after a loss, this caused the owner to require downsizing, which left the dog out of a home.

What has been said above was not meant to scold the animal lover for his naturally giving and sensitive heart; those are great things, but they need to be tempered with careful thought. Deciding to adopt a dog is a big decision and just like deciding to have a child, you need to be prepared and able to support him. A little thought can make the difference between a happy human-dog relationship, and a miserable one. Remember how long a dog lives and how quickly they bond to us. They are no more expendable than children.

Which one do you both deserve? Think about it.