Paws on Pause: Why You Shouldn't Get a Dog in Your Twenties

Paws on Pause: Why You Shouldn't Get a Dog in Your Twenties

By Bill Conley

You’re in your twenties—single, curious, maybe living in your first apartment, or bouncing between new cities chasing dreams, jobs, and relationships. The world is wide open. You’re figuring out who you are and where you’re going. Amid this thrilling whirlwind, you might find yourself longing for companionship, comfort, and consistency. Enter the adorable, tail-wagging temptation: a dog. Just one scroll through Instagram and you’re sold—floppy ears, soulful eyes, and an imagined future full of long walks, loyal snuggles, and social media moments. What could be better?

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: now is probably the worst time in your life to get a dog.

It’s not that dogs aren’t wonderful—they are. They offer loyalty, unconditional love, and joy beyond measure. But they also demand time, energy, consistency, and money. Lots of it. And when you’re in your twenties—arguably the most unstable, transitory, and experimental decade of your life—a dog may actually do more harm than good to your growth, freedom, and future plans.

This isn’t an anti-dog rant. It’s a pro-you reality check. Dogs are not accessories. They are living, breathing, emotionally complex creatures with needs and routines that can derail your spontaneous lifestyle. They don’t adapt to your whims; you adapt to theirs. And that, for someone still figuring out how to pay rent or book a flight without maxing a credit card, can be more burden than blessing.

So before you fall head-over-heels for a shelter pup or swipe your card at a breeder, take a long, honest look at what dog ownership actually means—especially in your twenties. In this article, we’ll break down 20 compelling reasons why getting a dog right now may not be the best decision, and why delaying pet ownership can actually lead to a happier, healthier life for both you and your future dog.

Your twenties should be about exploring your identity, chasing opportunity, taking risks, and learning through trial and error. Dogs require stability, predictability, and sacrifice. The two don’t always mix. And unless you're ready to put another life’s needs ahead of your own—every single day for the next 10 to 15 years—you might want to hit pause on that puppy fantasy.

Let’s take a deep dive into the reality of dog ownership, the responsibilities it demands, and why the best gift you can give a future dog is a more mature, grounded, and settled version of yourself.

20 Reasons to Delay Dog Ownership

1. Dogs Need Routine—You Don’t Have One Yet
Dogs thrive on structure: consistent walks, feeding times, play, rest. But if your schedule changes weekly, or if your life feels more chaotic than consistent, you’re not ready to give a dog the stability it needs.

2. You’ll Travel Less
Weekend getaways, road trips, international adventures—gone or complicated. Every trip now involves boarding fees, pet sitters, or guilt over leaving your dog behind.

3. Dogs Are Expensive
Food, vet visits, grooming, pet insurance, emergency surgeries, toys, training—it all adds up. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, a dog can financially strain you even further.

4. Your Living Situation Is Temporary
Rental agreements change. Roommates rotate. Landlords may ban pets. Moving becomes ten times harder and more expensive when a dog is in the mix.

5. They Limit Your Spontaneity
Late night plans? After-work drinks? Spontaneous road trip? Not without getting home to walk or feed the dog. Your freedom to act on impulse disappears.

6. You Might Not Stay in This City
Many twenty-somethings change cities often for jobs, love, or opportunity. Dogs make these moves harder, from finding pet-friendly rentals to flying with an animal.

7. Dogs Can Develop Behavioral Issues
Without proper training and consistent time, dogs can develop anxiety, aggression, or destructive habits. If you’re not around enough, your dog will suffer—and so will your furniture.

8. They Require a LOT of Time
From walks to training to attention and exercise, dogs need hours of your day. If you’re working long hours or juggling school and side hustles, that time simply may not exist.

9. You May Want to Change Careers
What if your dream job takes you overseas? What if you suddenly need to work weekends or overnight shifts? A dog ties you down when you should be scaling up.

10. Relationships Can Get Complicated
New romance? Not everyone loves dogs. Or wants to live with one. A pet can complicate dating, living together, and long-term plans—especially if it becomes a point of contention.

11. Emergencies Are Tougher
Getting called away suddenly due to a family crisis or job issue? Who watches the dog? Emergencies become more stressful with a dependent animal at home.

12. Not All Dogs Are Chill
That Instagram Golden Retriever? Rare. Many dogs bark constantly, chew your shoes, dig up your yard, or hate strangers. Are you prepared for the possibility of a high-maintenance dog?

13. Dogs Age—and It Gets Hard
Vet bills climb. Mobility issues develop. Caring for an elderly dog is deeply emotional, expensive, and time-consuming—something you may not be ready for in your twenties.

14. You’ll Feel Guilty A Lot
Late to walk them? Missed a play session? Skipped training? Dogs notice—and you’ll feel terrible. Guilt is a constant companion for the overwhelmed dog owner.

15. They Can Strain Friendships
Not everyone wants to hang at your pet-hair-covered apartment or go places with a dog in tow. Some friends might fade as your lifestyle shifts around your pet.

16. Your Priorities Will Change
Your twenties are for growing, evolving, and changing direction. Dogs need you to stay the same: same home, same habits, same availability. That’s not always realistic.

17. Some Dogs Live 15+ Years
That adorable puppy could still be around when you’re 40. Think long and hard about the commitment. It’s not temporary—it’s a decade and a half.

18. You’ll Be Less Flexible Professionally
Want to relocate for an amazing job or internship? Not so easy with a pet. Career flexibility shrinks, especially for out-of-town or high-travel roles.

19. It’s Not Fair to the Dog
An emotionally neglected, under-exercised, poorly trained dog isn't just a nuisance—it’s suffering. If you can’t give it your best, it’s not time.

20. There Are Alternatives
Volunteer at a shelter. Pet sit. Foster. Get your puppy fix in ways that don’t chain you to a responsibility you’re not yet ready for.

Conclusion

There’s a reason dogs are often referred to as “fur babies.” Like children, they demand your attention, affection, structure, and sacrifice. But unlike a child, you don’t have to have one right now. You have a choice.

Your twenties are a rare and fleeting chapter. It’s a time to explore the world, to say yes to new cities and strange jobs and wild opportunities without checking if someone else needs to be let out for a walk or has enough food in the bowl. It’s a decade of building the foundation for the rest of your life, and while a dog might seem like a sweet companion during this process, it often becomes an anchor—immobilizing the very mobility that could launch your future.

You’ll have time for a dog later—when your income is stable, your lifestyle is consistent, and your personal identity has solidified enough to share your world with another living being who depends on you completely. That time will come, and when it does, you’ll be a more prepared, patient, and present pet owner. And your future dog will thank you for it.

Until then, consider all the other ways you can bring joy, connection, and companionship into your life. Join a club. Adopt a plant. Travel with friends. Say yes to things you couldn’t if a pet was waiting at home. Be selfish with your time in the best possible way—because now is your season for growth.

This isn’t about loving dogs less—it’s about loving them enough not to get one until the time is right.

So, the next time you find yourself Googling “available puppies near me,” take a deep breath, close the tab, and open a new one labeled “travel deals,” “weekend hikes,” or “career moves.” The dog can wait. Your life can’t.

Put your paws on pause.