Here is a c & p from another thread recently on this topic.
I'd like to talk about some things to consider BEFORE taking on a dog. Firstly, money. I'd say pet insurance is vital, including Third Party cover, plus you should also budget for regular worming, flea treatments, vaccinations, dental work (often not covered by insurance), grooming for many breeds, nail clipping etc. Then there's food. Plus holiday arrangements - consider kennels, dog boarding etc. Dog should attend training classes regularly.If you are out for much of the day, dog will need services of dog walker. You will need either a crate or a dog bed, plus a supply of toys, lead, coats (for some breeds), brushes. Your car will need to be made safe for carrying dog - either dog crate, dog guard, seat belt, plus probably a blanket etc for covering surfaces. Budget for extra and more thorough house and car cleaning. There WILL be accidents so you will need to replace things like rugs and ensure sofa covers are washable. Your garden will need to be made secure, with high, solid fencing, that cannot be jumped over or tunnelled under. Many dogs like digging holes, wee on the lawn and create patches, trample over seedlings, fall in the pond, and generally create havoc.
Even if you have insurance, many policies require an excess to be paid, plus some require payment up front which is then reclaimed - if you don't have access to a credit card, this could be difficult.
Secondly, mess. If you are a dog owner, dog hair is a condiment. Dog hair gets in places you didn't think was possible. On your clothes, in your bed, in your suitcase. You will have muddy pawprints, vomit, blood, pee and poo to deal with, though usually not all at the same time. grin Dogs smell. Wet, muddy dogs with long hair smell a lot. Lots of dogs have truly amazing and satanic farts. Some dogs are very messy feeders and like nothing better than liberally spraying the kitchen floor with tripe fragments or even better, hiding them under your pillow for later retrieval. Waggy tails knock things off coffee tables and shelves. Dogs like sniffing, chewing the most ridicolous and inappropriate things - your shoes, your delicate embroidery, your carefully wrapped present that you were about to give to your MIL, etc... If you like white sofas, Diptyque candles and have mega posh minimalist kitchen then a dog is probably not for you.
Thirdly, time and ties. Dogs are a tie. Kids will eventually grow up and at least they can bugger off to Brownies every week. Dogs don't. Responsible owners (and why would you want to be any other sort?) don't leave them for too long. This can be a damn nuisance. If you want to go on holiday, go away for the weekend, then either you need to find somewhere where woof can go too, or you will need to pay handsomely for a kennel/home boarder (see money section above) and groan as you realise that kennel costs in high season are as expensive as taking another person to the Costa Semolina. Dogs need plenty of exercise and regular training such as going to classes (essential for puppies/new dogs) - think also about activities such as agility, obedience, cani X etc - these keep your dog socialised, stimulated and happy but again they take time, commitment and money. For many breeds you will need to be looking at two walks a day, probably for at least an hour each. Some breeds will need even more.
If you can cope with all of the above, and still want a dog, then brilliant! But there's nothing wrong with thinking it through and deciding the commitment is not for you. Better that than a homing that goes wrong.