Before purchasing a dog for a pet you must make a sincere, thoughtful
commitment. Try to match your desires to the needs of the dog.
Before you start your search for a new dog there are the following 18 things to consider.
1. Obligation and Dedication:
Owning a dog requires a long-term commitment. Adopting a dog on
impulse often ends in disaster. Dogs don’t make very good birthday or
Christmas presents. The decision to acquire a dog should be discussed
with all family members.
2. Time:
Do you have the time to spend with a pet? Unfortunately, this is
not thought out and frequently overlooked, especially when there are
young children in the family. Puppies and dogs need adult supervision
and a five or six year old child is too young to responsibly care for
them. Do you have time to train a dog? Taking time to train your dog is
an obligation that must fit into your daily schedule. If you can’t
spare the time in training, playing, and exercising a dog maybe, you
should re-consider acquiring a dog.
3. Facilities:
Do you have a large enough space for a dog? An outdoor dog needs at
least a fenced in yard and a warm, dry doghouse. Do you have the space
needed for keeping a dog inside?
4. Cost:
Can you financially bear the cost of a dog? Not only the cost of
purchasing a dog should be considered but the cost of routine health
care, veterinary fees for annual vaccinations, food, dishes, leashes,
collars, beds, toys, etc.
5. Patience:
Owning a dog is a labor of love, but it takes ample patience and
persistence in raising one. Having a hot, quick temper that flares up
repeatedly isn’t compatible with owning a dog.
6. Training:
You must give your dog at least some basic training (either by you
or a professional trainer) on behavior and manner or he will be a
liability rather than an asset. House-breaking, collar and leash
control, obedience is necessary training. Without proper training your
dog will be a nuisance and an embarrassment to you.
7. Puppy or Adult Dog?
Depending on your financial situation, the age of children in the
home, and the amount of time you can dedicate to training a dog.
Adult: Adult dogs have reached their full size, coloration, and
coat so usually what you see is what you get. Their personalities are
already established, however many of their learned behavioral manners
can be changed. Adjusting to a new family and environment can be
traumatic to older dogs.
6 things to consider when acquiring and adult dog.
I: Adult dogs most likely have had their vaccination shots, although they may need boosters.
II: Spaying or neutering probably has been done, which will cut down on your expenses.
III: With an outdoor dog thats fully grown, you have a good idea
what type of fencing and the size of the doghouse you will need.
IV: Inside adult dogs are likely to be housebroken with adequate manners.
V: Eating habits are usually already established in adult dogs, but you may have to change them to suit your lifestyle.
VI: Usually adult dogs are accustomed to collars and leashes, and
may have had some obedience training. A grown dog with bad habits will
take patience and a great deal of time and effort changing their
conduct.
4 things to consider when acquiring a puppy.
I: A puppy in a household with children should be carefully
monitored when together. Petting and wrestling with a puppy is great
fun for children but puppies are fragile and their bones break easily
so make sure children understand this when playing with them.
II: Housebreaking a puppy takes time and is particularly tedious
and aggravating for the uninitiated. Days or sometimes weeks will be
spent on cleaning up after a puppy before it is housebroken.
III: Puppies are vulnerable to diseases not usually associated with
adult dogs. They must be checked regularly and will need vaccinations
and booster shots.
IV: Spaying or neutering represent additional expenses of puppy ownership.
8. Male or Female?
The cost of raising a male or a female dog adds up to about the
same, although spaying a female might be somewhat higher than the cost
of neutering a male. One person may favor the temperament of females,
while another person prefers masculine characteristics. Bringing a new
male dog into a household that already has a male dog may present an
aggression problem, unless they are raised together from puppy hood or
are neutered; however, neutering won’t necessarily stop male
aggression. Females tend to be more gentle than males.
There are various reasons for wanting to share your life with a
dog; yet, wanting a dog to love is a small part of owning a dog. You
will want your dog to be happy in your home.
