Dogs at home

Does a Dog Fit My Lifestyle?

Test yourself with our '30-day dog challenge'

3/16/2023

Dogs are great! They bring companionship and activity into your life. They can also bring joy, widen your social network, and become your best friend. But dogs also bring a whole lot of responsibility. They are dependent on you for their food, walks and company. It’s a bit like having children, but ones which never grow up and require even more care when they are sick and in their old age. Bringing a dog into your means a big change for the whole family.

To experience some of these changes and responsibilities, we invite you to go through a 30-day dog challenge to see if you are ready to bring a pet into your life. Of course, every dog  is individual and not all dogs require the same care, but the 30-day challenge gives you an appreciation of some of the things which you might experience when you own a pet and help you to decide whether you are ready to bring a dog into your life. Your challenge, should you wish to accept it:

IMAGINE that you are already a dog owner:

Day 1:

Pick up some dog poop

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7 days a week 


It’s polite - Nobody likes to step in it, and it limits the transmission of diseases.
 

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Day 2:

Go for walks twice a day, even on rainy days

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7 days a week 


Dogs need regular outdoor exercise to keep them fit and stop them from getting bored.

Tip: Read more about 'Springtime 
– Keep your dog on a leash'

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Day 3:

Don't leave the house for longer than 4 hours

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Get prepared 


Your dog needs to go to the bathroom, as well as needing your company.
 

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Day 4:

Weekend? Get up early!

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7 days a week 


Your dog needs to be fed and taken for a walk.
 

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Day 5:

Try to incorporate your 'dog' into a workday

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Get prepared


Are you able to take your dog to the office? Or do you have a dog sitter/walker to take care of your dog? Plan out your workday with a dog – when do you go for a walk? 

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Day 6:

Remove 'dog hair' from your clothes

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Get prepared 


Dog`s fur loves to stick to clothingremoving it before going out is part of a dog owner’s life. Do you have a lint brush at home?
 

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Day 7:

Regularly clean out the 'dog bowls'

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7 days a week 


You don't like to eat from dirty dishes; your dog won't either.

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Day 8:

Read a book on dog behavior

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Learn more 


Dog training is an essential part of dog ownershipthere is a lot to learn.
 

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Day 9:

Talk to other dog owners about their dogs

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Get prepared 


They can tell you a lot of stories to educate and prepare you.

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Day 10:

Miss a party because your dog sitter has let you down

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Get prepared 


Sometimes you will miss out on fun because your pet needs you.
 

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Day 11: 

Teach your dog the basic commandos

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Learn more


Sit, stay, come, all are useful for your dog to know. Read up on how to train your dog.
 

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Day 12:

Put some cash into your pet emergency fund/insurance

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Better safe than sorry 


If your dog gets ill it can be expensive; having a bit of cash stored away offers some security. Calculate how much of your pay check you can put aside.

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Day 13:

Read your rental agreement on pet keeping

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Better safe than sorry 


 Are you allowed to keep a dog in your rented house/apartment? 

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Day 14:

Take your puppy to puppy classes

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Get prepared 


All puppies should be properly socialized and puppy classes are a good start. Find a good puppy school in your neighborhood. 

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Day 15:

Make your garden 'dog secure' so your pet cannot escape

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Better safe than sorry


secure fence will give you peace of mind when your dog is in the garden. 

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Day 16:

Remove plants from your garden that are dangerous for your dog

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Better safe than sorry 


There are several plants that are poisonous. Better to remove them! 

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Day 17:

Get up every 2 hours during the night

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Get prepared 


When your dog gets ill you may need to let him out in the garden during the night (dog diarrhea alert!). Set your alarm clock to do a test run.
 

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Day 18:

Go to a pet shop and calculate the cost of everything your dog needs

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Get prepared 


The initial cost can be quite high. Can you afford the initial costs? 

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Day 19:

Make your car 'dog ready'

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Better safe than sorry 


Transport box, safety belt for dogs, car seat cover… there are many things you need to prepare.

Read more about 'Traveling with your Dog by Car'

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Day 20:

Pet a wet dog and take a whiff

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Get prepared 


Wet dogs do not have a pleasant smell; better be prepared! 

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Day 21:

Imagine your favorite shoes being chewed

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Get prepared 


Puppies in particular love to chew anything especially if they are teething.

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Day 22:

Plan a dog-friendly vacation so your dog can come too

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Get prepared 


Can you reach your vacation destination by car, find a dog friendly hotel and plan fun activities? Try it out. 

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Day 23:

Calculate the costs for a dog sitter/kennels so you can go away for the weekend

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Better safe than sorry


You can take a break, but you need to make sure your dog is well taken care of.

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Day 24:

Get educated about dog overpopulation

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Learn more 


Getting your dog neutered is part of being a responsible ownerthere are already too many dogs in shelters and on the streets. Read up on the problems of dog/cat overpopulation. 

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Day 25:

Clean away a 'wee accident' on your new carpet

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Get prepared 


Young dogs in particular have accidents – but soap and water will usually do the job.

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Day 26:

Cook dinner for your dog as they refuse to eat pet food

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Better safe than sorry 


Dogs’ stomachs have off-days like ours; you need to be prepared to whip up a dog friendly dish. Find a recipe and try it out. 

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Day 27:

Shower/bath your dog after they have rolled in fox poo

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Get prepared 


And just imagine the lovely smell it brings with it… urgh! 

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Day 28:

Take an allergy test

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Better safe than sorry 


Dog hair may lead to an allergic reaction; make sure in advance that you do not have an allergy. Make an appointment at your doctor and get tested. 

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Day 29:

Visit an animal shelter

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Get prepared 


Managed to stick to the challenge this far? The animal shelter is the best place to look for a new companion. Take trip to the shelter and have a look around. 

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Day 30:

Take a walk through a pet cemetery

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Better safe than sorry 


Come to terms with the fact that at some point you will have to say goodbye 

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We challenged you to take on a 30-day test run of pet ownership, to 'try before you buy'. 

Download and Share

Here you can download our '30-day dog challenge' and share it on your social media channels.

FOUR PAWS 30-day dog challenge

FOUR PAWS 30-day dog challenge

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