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Puppy Love
Picture this, you are off to the mall
with no more in mind than buying a few groceries when you come to a pet shop.
In the window cute little puppies frolic happily, one looks up at you with
large soulful eyes and WHAM! You're in love. You want one of those adorable
creatures. But before you take one more step, stop and consider the
implications.
Firstly puppies, no matter how cute they are when small, rarely stay that
way. Secondly do you really have the time, patience and money to devote to
a dog? When you consider the average dog lives around twelve years it's no
small commitment.
A dog should never be an impulse buy, no matter how irresistible those puppy
dog eyes are. Dog pounds and the SPCA are swamped with abandoned dogs bought
on impulse. So at the pet shop window, fight your impulse to enter. Instead
go away and think about it before committing yourself.
Dogs are undoubtedly one of the most demanding of the domestic, household
pets. They need regular exercise, grooming, training and they're expensive.
If you add up the costs of veterinarian services, boarding costs when you
go away, food and equipment, not to mention the initial cost of buying the
dog, you could find a large hole in your household budget.
A puppy can also cause disruption to the household. It is not uncommon for
a puppy to cut its adult teeth on the best furniture. Housetraining demands
a lot of time and patience. Dogs can also be very messy, especially when
they're molting or when they've been on a wet, muddy winter walk and come
in and have a good shake!
Ask yourself exactly why you want a dog. If it's because you're out at work
all day and you want to protect your home then invest the money on a burglar
alarm instead. Dog's do not like being left alone for long periods and it
is not kind to the animal to do so.
So let's say you've weighed up all the arguments and decided to go ahead
and buy a dog, now you have to work out the type, size, age, and gender.
The first question to ask is do you want a purebred or a mongrel? A mongrel
or a crossbred dog is one that does not fit into any of the registered breeds
whereas a purebred or pedigree dog will have been carefully bred over several
generations in order to ensure it conforms as closely as possible to the
breed standard.
Both have certain advantages. If you plan on showing your dog, a pedigree
is a must. Other advantages are that it is easy to assess the dog's eventual
size and shape. All breeds have their own characteristics you can choose
a dog that is must suitable for your situation. This is where some market
research might pay off. For example, if you want a lap dog, you might choose
a Shih Tzu or a Maltese Terrier, whereas if you have children, you might
choose a Labrador or a Retriever. If you don't have the time or patience
to devote to grooming then do not buy a long-haired breed such as an Old
English Sheepdog or an Afghan Hound.
Some breeds are also more susceptible to certain diseases or problems than
others. Hip dysplasia, an abnormality in the hip joint, does not always cause
visual signs in the early stages. As it is an inherited condition, check
with the breeder to ensure the parents are free from this condition.
The advantage of buying a mongrel is that they can be obtained for little
or no cost. They are also less at risk from inherited or congenital disorders.
Unfortunately you can't always tell how big a mongrel will grow. A good test
is to check out their paws. If they are huge in comparison to the rest of
its body, chances are, the puppy will grow into a big dog.
It's also a good idea to view the puppies in their home environment, because
that way, you get to meet their mother which should give you clues as to
how the puppy will turn out. Check out how the puppies react to each other.
A pushy, boisterous puppy could grow into a pushy boisterous dog. On the
other hand, a timid retiring puppy would be miserable if you have a large
boisterous family and might turn snappy through nervousness.
Once you have established if you want a mongrel or a pedigree dog, you have
to decide which gender. If you want to breed then you'll have no choice,
but females are also less prone to wandering than males, have less fighting
instinct and are more responsive to training.
The disadvantages of owning a bitch are to do with the biannual reproductive
cycle otherwise known being "on heat" or "in season". If you are not planning
on breeding it is advisable to have her spayed (the surgical removal of the
ovaries and uterus) otherwise you will find your backyard the star attraction
of every lusty male dog in the neighborhood! One slip and you could find
yourself with an unwanted litter.
If you do not have the time or energy to raise a puppy, you may consider
buying an adult dog. This is definitely the better choice for elderly people.
However older dogs are sometimes less adaptable to change. It would also
be unwise to introduce an adult dog into a household with young children
unless that dog has been raised with kids.
But children should always be supervised around dogs. Even docile animals
have been known to snap when provoked. Children should be taught to handle
a new puppy with gentleness and care. Injuries to both puppy and child, can
occur through rough handling.
One last note, if you're introducing a puppy into a household where there's
already a dog in residence, make sure you do not give time and attention
to the newcomer at the expense of the other dog. They both need plenty of
reassurance in order to come to terms and settle down harmoniously with one
another.
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