I want to get a dog with my boyfriend but I'm being held back by my emotions?

[Anonymous]

I really want a dog but I am worried that something bad will happen. Like we won't care good care of them or will get sick because of something we did or they will break something or hurt someone. I don't really even know how to train a dog. I'm sure that these things probably will happen. But I don't know how to deal with these emotions. I would love some advice to make me hopefully feel better and get over these emotions, so we can give a dog it's forever home.

[NamerOfStars]

Well, there are probably plenty of forums online to discuss such things, and I'm sure no shortage of informational videos and whatnot.

You care enough to want to make sure you do it right; that's a VERY good sign.

I'm not an expert on dogs, but I think the biggest thing is to do your research beforehand, and know what you're getting into BEFORE you choose to get into it: lots of people look at, say, Huskies (or Malamutes, if they've got more space) and say "Oh, they're so beautiful!" (which they are, no question), and rush out to get one, not bothering to learn how difficult they can be. Or they'll see a Kangal puppy, and rush out to get seven of them, because they're cuteness incarnate:

See?

Don't believe me? Check your background tabs, and you'll discover that you've already entered "where to get a Kangal puppy" into your search engine without being consciously aware of it. But they grow up into this:

and have higher caloric needs than you do, plus a bite strength of 657 pounds of force, which is more than that of a LION. They're not bad dogs by any means, but you need experience and a firm understanding of canine psychology to train one of them.

As I said, you care because you take it seriously. You need a lot of information to make sure you can take care of a dog, but if you're looking at adopting one, the shelter (or wherever you get it) will be able to help you with that. Just take your time, make sure you're comfortable with each step of the process, and don't be afraid to ask questions. You don't know it yet, but you can learn it, just like you did talking and walking and reading. You started out in life as an amateur baby, and look where you are now!

Just remember that while adopting and providing a home for a rescue dog is a wonderful, enriching experience, referring to it as "my rescue dog" as opposed to just "my dog" will quickly turn you into an insufferable jackass. The dog won't care, because it's a dog, but humans will.