Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

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Categories: Children, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

The post Should we get a dog for our family? appeared first on .

Categories: Children, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

The post Should we get a dog for our family? appeared first on .

Categories: Children, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Should we get a dog for our family?

 

Written by Jenny Catton

 

Dogs make great pets and can be a wonderful addition to a family. But pets come with a lot of responsibility so it’s important to be sure that you are making the right decision before bringing a dog into your home. So is getting a dog for your family a good idea?

 

Yes – Fiona

Getting a dog was one of the best decisions we every made as a family. It has brought us so much love and enjoyment. Since getting the dog, we are more active – we go for long walks together and spend a lot more time outside. Before we had a pet, the kids just wanted to watch TV or play computer games but now they are always asking if we can take the dog to the beach – it’ provided an easy way to ensure they get fresh air and exercise.

Having a dog brings emotional benefits too – it has allowed us to teach our children about responsibility. They know that the dog needs walking even if it is raining and they know that they have to get up in time to feed the dog before going to school each day. Getting a dog was a big decision but we gave it a lot of thought. We made sure we would have the time to look after a dog and the space for it to grow.

A dog is great for relaxing too – if I’m feeling stressed, I just have to stroke our dog and I feel much better. It’s wonderful to be able to give a loving home to an animal. I’m really pleased we got a dog – it’s brought so many benefits to our family.

 

 

No – Toni

A dog is a lot more work than most people think – they need walking every day and when families have busy lives it can be hard to find the time that a dog needs. Families often get a dog because the children have asked for one but children quickly lose interest in new things and it’s left to the parents to look after the dog and when they don’t, it’s the dog that suffers. It’s also important to remember that dogs can live for a long time – often up to 15 years or more. This means that if you buy a dog because your child wants one, the responsibility for looking after the dog will probably fall to you one day.

It’s important to remember that children can suffer from allergies that can be triggered by pet hair which can also cause asthma. Not all dogs get on with children and can become aggressive – it’s another thing to consider before getting a dog.

A dog can be a big expense too – food, vets bills, the cost of kennels, it all mounts up and often families forget about the costs when they are excited at the thought of getting a dog.

Few families have the space and time to look after a dog properly and so for most families I would say that getting a dog is not a good idea.

 

Categories: Children, Dogs, Families, Family, family nbsp, nbsp, time

Money Worries:How to Stop Your Finances Harming Your Health

Whether you lose your job or your savings take a hit, money worries can really give your emotional wellbeing a knock. You can feel shock, anger, guilt and a sense of powerlessness at your situation, as well as the stress of trying to solve the problem. This can affect your mental health with anxiety and depression, so now it’s more important than ever to take care of yourself and your family.

 

Financial wellness can be affected by many life events, including unemployment, redundancy or retrenchment, redeployment, losing your job, losing a large investment, or losing your retirement income. At first, tackling the problem can be difficult as you’re still in a state of shock or disbelief at what has happened – you can’t fix something until you realise it exists! You can also be too anxious or worried about the future to form a solid plan, as well as a deep sense of loss for the future plans you had already made, which may not now be possible. Plus, the anger you feel at your situation or members of your family, and the embarrassment you feel at getting yourself into this mess, can cause you to become isolated from others.

 

When you put these emotions together, it doesn’t make a good recipe for getting back on your feet. Most people find that these feelings fade a little with time, and so they are able to move forward. However, if your distress and anxiety lasts for longer than a few weeks, you may be at risk of mental health problems, such as depression. Ask yourself the following questions, and if you answer yes to any of them, you may need to seek a doctor or other health professional:

 

1. Do you find it hard to do your normal everyday activities, such as going for a walk, preparing meals or talking to your friends and family?

 

2. Are you using alcohol or drugs to help you cope or feel better?

 

3. Is it difficult for you to relax and sleep?

 

4. Have you been acting more angry, irritable or intolerant around other people than usual?

 

5. Have you been feeling overwhelmed, not able to cope and thinking about suicide?

 

Aside from seeking help from a professional, there are things you can do to stay on top of your emotions during this difficult financial time. Firstly, write down every worry you have. It’s not helpful to have all these anxious thoughts floating around in your head on a loop, but writing them down will help you to take some control of the situations. Once you’ve identified your concerns, list them in order of importance so you know which ones to tackle first. Next, arm yourself with information and advice, be it from organisations or the internet. It might help to talk to someone who understands financial issues such as budgeting, saving, investing and managing debts, as they can explain things clearly and help you to get your head around things.

 

Aside from this, you need support from your friends and family members. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this, and getting your loved ones involved will help as they can share the burden, and help you to remain positive. You should speak to your doctor about your lifestyle, as this can really affect your mood. Ask about stress-management techniques, maintaining a balanced diet and exercise programme, and ways to eliminate or avoid smoking, drugs and alcohol.  Finally, you need to be patient and positive. It takes time to recover from a major loss like this, so think about times in the past where you’ve overcome obstacles, and apply this to your current situation.

Categories: Education, Family, family nbsp, feel, Finances, financial, health, Medical Help, Mental Health, Money Worries, nbsp, Support