Are you ready for a dog ?
A dog or dogs will do his best to please you and keep you smiling. He will curl up with you when you are feeling down or need some serious relaxation. He won't hold your mistakes against you or prejudge you for your looks, faults or lack of know-how. He'll be your unconditional friend and will play ball with you as long as you wish. He'll forgive you for all your mistakes, never holding them against you later. Sleeping at your feet and loving to please you, he will enjoy just spending time with you. He'll do his best to protect you, because you will be his master.
However, a dog or dogs also relies on you for everything- from his food, water, shelter, exercise, grooming, to his companionship, training, veterinary care and protection. Know what you are getting into. Are you prepared to spend the next 10-15 years of your life taking care of your dog? That is about how long your dog or dogs will live. Can you afford the added expense of a dog? When you get a dog, it is a life long commitment, and should not be treated like a piece of furniture that you can just "get rid of" when you get tired of it. After all, this dog or dogs will be part of your family. Would you get rid of your children because you were tired of them wetting their beds? Are you prepared to accept the fact that dogs are not little humans and invest some time into learning how to properly treat your dog or dogs in order to keep him or her balanced? Before you bring a dog or dogs into your home, think long and hard. Are you prepared for the responsibility?
The decision to get a dog or dogs needs to be carefully thought out. Do you honestly have the time to take care of a dog? What kind of dog or dogs should you get? Some people think a dog or dogs is a dog. I hear them say they don't care what breed of dog or dogs they get. There are many different breeds with many different personalities and needs. Honestly think about it and do your homework. Think about your family as it is right now, and how it will be in the future.
Every family has its own needs, schedule, personality, medical problems, space and time limitations. If you take a good hard look at your family's situation, you can match a dog or dogs that will fit into your lives nicely and not just make things more awkward and difficult.
Is anyone in your family allergic to dog or dogs hair? Are you bothered by hair on everything from your clothes to your toast? Some breeds are heavy shedders, while others hardly shed at all. Do you have children? Are you going to have children in the next 10-15 years? Do you have friends who visit your home who have children. Some dogs are excellent with children and would be their best friend. Some are only good with children when they are raised with them from puppyhood, while others are very sensitive and may bite your child if they are pestered by him or her. Do you mind holes being dug in your yard? Some dogs like to dig, while others are less likely to dig.
Do you mind hearing a dog or dogs bark all the time? Some dogs love to bark and do it all the time, while others are more quiet, barking only when necessary. Do you mind if your dog or dogs has a tendency to wander away from home, or would you rather have a dog or dogs that would be more likely to stick close to home? Some dogs like to roam. It is in their nature, while others have a strong instinct to stick close to home. Some dogs will kill your cat, while others will be your cat's best friend. Do you have time to exercise your dog?
Some dogs need daily vigorous exercise and you would need to take them out every day for a run and a nice long walk, while others will get enough exercise with a shorter walk and by running around the inside of your house. Some dogs need a job to do or they will become restless, bored, very destructive, and unruly. Other dogs will settle for just a short walk. Some can be highly obedience-trained, while others cannot. Get the point? All breeds of dog or dogs are different, and all families are different. Find a dog or dogs that fits well into your family, so you and your dog or dogs can live in harmony.
While it is important to choose the correct breed for your families lifestyle, it is even more important to understand a dog or dogs is a canine, not a human and treat him accordingly. For a clear understanding into a dogs brain check out Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer). You will find that any dog or dogs can be your worst nightmare, or your best investment, it all depends on the owner and their understanding of the canine and their willingness to give the dog or dogs what he truly needs. Cesar is an excellent guide to communicating with, understanding, and controlling your dog.
It's your choice. Do your homework. Research the different kinds of breeds and take a long hard look at your life and don't forget, that cute little puppy does grow up to be an adult dog. Never adopt a puppy, or adult dog or dogs solely on looks. If you are looking to adopt a dog, don't forget to visit our Rescue section. There are many great rescue groups and organizations listed who have wonderful homeless dogs, just waiting for someone like you to take them home and love them.
What do you think about when you picture your life with a dog? Games of fetch in the backyard, long walks in the country, lazy afternoons snuggled together on the couch? Maybe you want a friend for your children, a guardian for your home, or an athlete to train for and compete in AKC events. Or maybe you just like the idea of sharing your life with a devoted companion animal. A dog or dogs can be all those things, and more.
But before you bring a dog or dogs home, you also need to picture this: Veterinarian bills for routine vaccinations, checkups, illnesses and injuries. Housetraining, and the accidents that happen before training is complete. Losing your best shoes to chewing and your best rosebush to digging. Barking when you're trying to sleep, begging when you're trying to eat. Dogs do all these things too, and unless you're prepared for that reality, you're not ready for a dog.
Remember that owning a dog or dogs is a lifelong commitment with a variety of responsibilities; if you cannot meet those responsibilities, neither you or your dog or dogs will be happy. Consider the following list carefully, and honestly evaluate your lifestyle, your home, and your pocketbook before you decide that you really want a dog.
Food
In addition to your dog's meals, you'll want to supply occasional healthy treats. You may need to feed a special diet for puppies, allergies, weight management, illnesses, older dogs.You'll need to train your dog or dogs not to beg for people food, and your family not to give in to those pleading puppy eyes.
Shelter
For indoor dogs, you'll need a crate or other confined area to protect the dog or dogs and your belongings at night or when you're away. You'll want to keep a supply of carpent cleaner on hand, and provide a bed or mat. Gates to keep the dog or dogs out of certain rooms can also be helpful.
Outdoor dogs must have a fenced yard or kennel run. They will need a sheltered spot so they can stay out of the heat in summer, the cold in winter, and the rain. You'll need to install creative fencing to protect your garden, and to protect the dog or dogs from toxic plants. You will probably have to do some obedience training to prevent nuisance barking. You'll need a pooper-scooper to keep your yard clean.
Water
Fresh water must be available at all times.
Exercise
Your dog or dogs will need a couple of daily walks or romps in the yard. You'll have to provide a leash, a pooper-scooper, and balls or flying discs to play with. You'll need an umbrella, and dog or dogs sweaters or booties for small or delicate dogs in inclement weather.
Training
Housetraining is first. A crate is useful, but stock up on carpet cleaner and deodorizer and some puppy training pads.
Teaching basic good manners requires time and dedication. You may want to join a Puppy or CGC class. Advanced classes or behavioral training may be required for more difficult or spirited dogs.
You must be prepared to control your dog's behavior at home, with guests, in the park, around the neighborhood, at the vet's office--at all times.
Health Care
Your dog or dogs will need regular checkups, vaccinations and dental care. You must also be prepared to care for your dog or dogs during illnesses or after accidents--such as a sprain, a torn paw pad, consumption of a stuffed animal, or poisoning. Some dogs develop chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, or hip dysplasia; older dogs also require additional care. The AKC Pet Healthcare Plan available in all 50 states, can help you to budget sensibly and responsibly for the lifelong healthcare needs of your dog.
Grooming
You'll need equipment such as a tub, brush, comb, shaver or nail clippers. Dogs with profuse or sculpted coats may require professional grooming.
Play
You can give your dog or dogs safe stuffed and rubber toys, bones, balls and other chewies. You'll need to train the dog or dogs to distinguish its toys from your possessions.
Companionship
Your dog or dogs needs your attention when you're home, and a secure place to stay when you're away.
Some dogs require training to alleviate separation anxiety in their owner's absence.
You'll need a petsitter or a good boarding kennel if you go away for an extended period of time.
Forgiveness
Your dog or dogs won't apologize for having housetraining accidents, for digging, for barking, for chewing--for being a dog. You'll have to forgive him his "mistakes" anyway.
Devotion
Don't worry. You'll get it all back.
