Dogs are considered to be “man's best friend,” which is entirely accurate.  They are loving, loyal, funny, and can put a smile on almost anyone’s face.  To a lot of people, dogs are more than just pets; they are valued members of the family.  Many people have dogs as a family pet.  However, cost, care, and the purpose of the dog needs to be thought about when choosing one.

Many factors come into play when thinking about the cost of a dog, such as, buying or rescuing, vet bills, food, and toys.  Some people buy a purebred which can cost a couple hundred dollars.  Other people may go to a shelter to rescue a dog which costs a lot less.  Vet bills can also become very expensive.  Dogs need yearly check-ups and vaccinations, just like people.  They can also get sick or hurt which can cause an unplanned vet visit to get medication and/or surgery.  Medicine is based off the weight of the dog, so a larger dog would require double the amount of medicine compared to a small dog, thus increasing the price of the medicine.  If it is an emergency visit, the bill will be higher because of having to call the vet back into the office after hours.  Dogs may also need to get spayed or neutered to prevent it from having puppies.  Food can be expensive as well.  The larger the dog, the more food and treats it will need.  If the dog is smaller, then it will eat less food and less treats.  Dogs also need toys to chew on.  Without toys, dogs could chew on the furniture or shoes, which can be expensive to fix or replace.  Larger dogs tend to be stronger.  A stronger dog can destroy toys faster, so they will have to be replaced more.  They also need bigger toys because they could swallow small ones.  Overall, dogs can be very expensive to own.

Caring for a dog is a large task and requires a very responsible person.  Dogs need to have a good balance of exercise and healthy food to keep them happy and healthy.  Without exercise, they can become overweight and have health problems occur.  Taking them for a walk every day or throwing a ball will give them the amount of exercise they need to stay at a healthy weight.  Certain types of dog food may not be good for a dog.  Research should be done to determine which dog food fits the specific needs of the dog.  For example, some foods are specifically designed for older dogs while other foods are designed for smaller ones.  Serving the dog a proper portion size is also essential for them to have a healthy diet.  Not having enough food can cause the dog to become underweight while, too much food can cause a dog to be overweight.  Clean water is also very important.  Having fresh, clean water will help keep the dog hydrated and healthy.  If the owner is gone for a period of time, arrangements need to be made for someone to care for the dog.  Someone who is just as responsible as the owner and whom the dog is familiar with is the best option.  A responsible owner also takes his/her dog to the vet annually.  Vets can help keep dogs healthy which will make the owner's life much easier.  Dogs also need attention.  Attention lets the dog know that it is loved and cared for, and in return the dog will be loyal.

Dogs can serve many different purposes, too,  such as guard dogs, service dogs, or just a best friend.  The first purpose they can serve is being a guard dog.  They can alert the owner if someone or something unfamiliar is around the house.  They also have the ability to stop an intruder.  Large dogs or dogs with a deep bark can scare away an intruder or attack him/her to protect the owner.  They can also be service dogs.  Dogs can be trained to help people with everyday tasks.  A disabled person may have a dog that can go fetch things or pick something up for him/her if he/she is unable to do so.  Someone who is blind may have a seeing-eye-dog to guide and help him/her with tasks or navigating the dynamic busy streets.  Dogs also have the ability to detect seizures and diabetic spikes before they actually happen.  The dogs will go through training to learn how to detect them and be able to get help or warn the owner.  There are also therapy dogs that can give relief and comfort to sick people.  The therapy dogs can be taken into hospitals to greet patients and to get their minds off whatever illness they may have.  There are dogs that are trained to work with police. The dogs go through many months of training, sometimes more than a year, to learn how to sniff out bombs and narcotics.  Police dogs are true heros, and some have died in the line of duty.  Dogs can also be used for search and rescue.  If an environmental disaster would happen, the dogs would be able to sniff around for people and potentially save many lives.  They can also be a best friend for people of all ages.  They are someone to cuddle with and talk to, even though they may not understand what is being said.  Dogs can be very beneficial for kids to grow up with.  They can teach them responsibility and give them a comfort zone.

Without dogs, life would be a lot less interesting.  They are very lovable creatures that bring joy to people's lives every day.  They can provide comfort in a time of need or be a best friend.  With that being said, cost, care, and purpose of a dog are important things to be considered when getting a dog.  Dogs are a part of the family and that makes them very special creatures.