Most people are not drunk when they decide to get a puppy, but many are so intoxicated by the idea of a lovable young dog that their thinking is seriously impaired. They fail to consider the extensive responsibilities, training, expense and extra housework entailed, and end up having to find their puppy a new home.

That, in fact, is how I came to adopt my puppy Max II. A single working mother with two young children could not manage them and the puppy when it came time to housetrain him. After spending thousands of dollars to buy him and hundreds more on vet bills, shots, equipment, food and toys to keep him healthy and happy, she realised that a new owner would better suit him and her family, and that new owner happened to be me.

A retired judge, H Lee Sarokin, who lives in San Diego County, recently wrote to me on the subject. “At age 85, I begged my wife like a seven-year-old to let me have a dog,” he wrote. “We acquired a Lhasa apso. If I leave him for a moment to take out the garbage, he greets me as though I had been at sea for years. None of my children ever demonstrated such love. Without him, I would just be some old guy walking the streets, but everybody stops me to pet him, ask his breed, and just be friendly.”

Although there are certain health benefits of pet ownership, we also need to remember what it can entail, especially for those unprepared or ill-equipped to deal with the demands. Older people, for instance, should really opt for a dog that is already housebroken, unlikely to chew everything in sight and mellow enough not to pull the owner off his feet.

I personally wanted a young dog I could train and socialise. I also wanted one that would live at least as long as I could care for him.

I readily admit to the challenges involved, even with an older puppy. Max had to learn he could be on only two chairs, never the bed, sofa or table. But just when I think he's finally housebroken, he proves me wrong. Anything he finds on the floor is likely to become a teething ring.

I had to board him when I travelled abroad, and get him neutered and immunised against Lyme disease (with a costly, yet only half-effective vaccine). I hire a dog walker on days and nights when I am out, and have him groomed every three months or so.

Expecting to carry Max onto a flight, I recently bought an under-the-seat carrier and, so he'd be less fearful of it, did an introductory drive with him in it. During a brief stop, he'd chewed through the zipper, and I returned to find him free in the car.

Knowing the risks of driving with a loose cannon, I've since purchased a dog harness that attaches to the car's seatbelt. He can sit, lie down and even look out the window while I drive, and I can reassure him that I'll soon return when I make a stop.

A friend who said her daughter was “dying for a dog” asked whether she should consider getting a puppy like Max. Knowing the demands of her work, her high level of anxiety, and the fact that no one is home most of the day to care for a young dog, I advised against it.

Because when it comes to safety, a puppy is no different from a small child. Aside from the potential destruction of valued articles, it is simply too easy for an unobserved puppy to get hurt. Puppies explore the world with their mouths and

will chew on almost anything, including electrical plugs and wires. They have to be watched whenever they're not asleep.

So, if you're thinking of getting a dog of your own, consider long and hard whether you'll be able to give it enough time, love and attention, and a good life in general, before taking on the responsibility.

—©2014 The New York Times