If you answered "car," rest assured your new vehicle comes with an
extensive warranty. The dealer will be there when something goes wrong. A new washer/dryer
or other major appliance comes with a similar warranty--for a small sum you can purchase
an extended service contract.
If you responded "dog," there are no extended warrantees,
you're on your own. You can get lucky but why leave it to chance? With a life span of
12-14 years, the dog may outlast your car and washer/dryer. A little planning and your dog
will not be one of the 4 million dogs entering animal shelters next year.
Enough has been written about the benefits of living with a pet. Very little
information is offered to tell you how much work is involved in owning a dog. Dogs are a
big responsibility, they are very time consuming and expensive. For example….
A Puppy of any breed…
… Needs to be taken for a potty break before and after it
eats, before
and after it sleeps, during and after periods
of play.
… Until it is trained, a puppy will pee or poop in your
house, on your
carpet, in a corner.
… Will chew furniture, clothing, shoes, anything and
everything it can
reach.
… Will dig in your yard, playfully tear out plants and turn
green areas
into mud pens.
… Must be supervised with children and taught how to be
gentle. Children must be
supervised with puppies and
taught to be kind to animals.
… Requires a lot of socialization to turn it into a
well-adjusted adult
dog.
… Must go to school with you or a family member to learn
basic obedience.
... Must have its own "den area" for sleep and quiet time.
A Dog…
… Needs a lot of attention from you and your family.
… Needs exercise every day.
… Needs to be fed twice a day.
… Needs human companionship and regular playtime
or it
will become
destructive.
… When lonely barks a lot and annoys the neighbors.
They need
attention.
… Can grow to be big and strong. They drag you on a
leash if not
trained.
… All dogs need to be trained.
… You must take a dog to an obedience class.
… Training means teaching the dog every day.
... Needs a larger "den area" for quiet time and rest.
... Any dog will walk out the front door if its left open
or out of an
open gate.
… When your dog strays from the house it can easily
collide with a passing car. That's expensive.
… It costs money to reclaim it from the shelter.
Kids
of all ages….
… Need to be taught how to be responsible pet owners.
... Must be taught humane treatment of animals--no
hitting or teasing.
... Should NEVER be left alone with a dog of any size.
… Must learn the dog needs to be confined in a fenced
yard.
... Should be taught to respect the dog when it's eating
and sleeping.
... Grow up, go to college and leave the dog to you. Do
you want a dog?
Dogs can be very expensive….
… They need regular veterinary checks.
… They need expensive vaccinations, spay/neuter
surgery, good quality
food, vitamins, a leash, collar,
license, toys, bed, food and water bowls, comb, brush,
grooming, bathing, flea control products and they can
get sick.
… You need to board your dog or hire a pet sitter when
you go on a
vacation.
… If you move you must provide for your dog.
Being a dog owner brings new
problems…..
… Another mouth to feed every day.
… Another mess to clean up.
… Dogs pee and poo in your yard requiring a dedicated
pet cleanup routine.
… Dogs pee and poo when you walk them--you must
clean up the mess.
… Dogs drool on your clothes and lick your face and
hands.
… Dogs get worms and parasites.
… Dogs get fleas and scratch, bite and chew on
themselves.
… Dogs get ticks and foxtails.
… Dogs can throw up on the carpet.
… Dogs shed and must be brushed.
… You must clean their ears and cut their nails frequently.
… Dogs bring mud, leaves, dirt and water into the house.
… People and kids can be allergic to dogs.
Now you know all the secrets of dog ownership! If you still want a family dog
take a few minutes to read and follow some links to learn which breed suits your family
and lifestyle.
Health Benefits of owning a dog
http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com/bf_feature_14.cfm
http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/2-18-2002-11780.asp
Options in addition to puppies
http://www.bcrescue.org/familydog.html
Animal Shelters and Rescues
http://www.netpets.org/dogs/dogresc/dogshel.html
http://www.cyberpet.com/cyberdog/articles/findpet/pickpet.htm
http://www.ecn.purdue.edu/~laird/animal_rescue/shelters
Before you decide on a breed, learn about yourself and what
you desire in a dog.
http://www.selectsmart.com/DOG/
Great breed info for selection purposes
http://www.digitaldog.com/breeds.html
http://www.netpets.com/dogs/reference/choosing_breeds.html
Compatibility Selection
http://www.petnet.com.au/selectapet/dogselectapet.html
Rare Breeds
http://www.arba.org/
A list of breeds that like kids
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/children.htm
Puppy Finder
http://selectsmart.com/beta_dog/
http://www.petfinder.org/
Selectapet:
http://www.petnet.com.au/selectapet/dogselectapet.html
Kids must be taught how to care for a dog:
http://www.unchainyourdog.org/Teachers.htm
http://www.i-love-dogs.com/dogsarticles/How-To-Teach-Children-To-Care-For-The-Dog.html
and
http://www.parenthoodweb.com/articles/phw952.htm
Beware of Puppy Mills
Puppy mills are one of the hidden shames of
America. Dogs of all breeds are mass-produced in commercial breeding facilities with
little thought to their basic needs. Their living conditions are wretched and their health
is questionable. These dogs are disposable breeding stock, easily replaced when worn out
from producing too many puppies too often. No one cares what happens to them, lest of all
the people who market these puppies in pet stores. Obviously if you and your family have
decided on owning a dog you have empathy with these animals. It's the old story of supply
and demand--if you demand it from a pet store, these puppy mills will continue to
flourish. Buy from a reputable breeder. For more information, visit these sites:
From puppy mills to dog auctions, it's ugly.
http://www.mindspring.com/~missyw1/mills.htm
http://www.smallpawsrescue.org/pup3/reason.htm
http://www.stop-puppy-mills.com/pr2.html
Puppy mill
information and broker lists.
http://www.puppymillrescue.com/
http://www.wonderpuppy.net/breeding.htm
To make sure you're not getting a puppy mill dog:
http://www.puppymills.com/
This way on your Road to
Responsible Dog Ownership
beagle animation (c) Camilla Eriksson
Copyright Camilla Eriksson, MillanNet