Are you pet-ready? This is how you find out

If you love dogs but are unsure about getting one, you can start out by offering to help others to pet-sit, or volunteer at animal shelters. — 123rf.com

Adopting a dog is a huge lifestyle change, which means it can be a revelation that adds a wonderful, exciting, loving new dimension or it can backfire horribly. Thankfully, you don't need to throw yourself in the deep end.

You can test whether you're going to enjoy owning a dog by offering to help others pet-sit. Elderly people, for example, may be very happy to have you come by twice a day for a half-hour walk. Or you may have a friend who wants to go on holiday and who is happy to save kennel fees.