Selecting a Dog
There are a lot of things to consider long before
you begin the process of selecting a dog for your family. The most important
considerations being, is a dog the right pet for your family and is your
family even ready for a pet. This section contains many valuable points
to consider. Take the time to think about these things carefully and honestly
before jumping into pet ownership.
Should you get a dog?
Pets are a permanent addition to the home. When you decide to bring a
pet into your life, you want to maximize the probability of it staying
in your life. If you bring a pet into your life too soon, you might regret
it. Consider which kind of pet is more suited to your lifestyle.
Dog or cat?
• Puppies require more constant attention than kittens. If a husband
works full time and a wife works part time and they have a child in daycare,
they are harried already. They should seriously consider a cat rather
than a dog.
• If you don't have more than a couple hours a day to give to a
pet, then a dog is not right for you.
Dog or children?
• Most people have pets first, then children. However, this is not
always an ideal situation. If you are pregnant or planning to conceive,
it might be advisable to put your desire for a pet on the back burner.
Your life is about to go through it's biggest transition ever, and it
is easy for your new pet to get less than its fair share of attention.
Wait until you can give your new pet the optimum time and attention it
deserves.
• Infants require 24/7 care. To bring a puppy into your home during
this time can be overwhelming and something is going to suffer. If you
have children first, let them get out of diapers so you can have more
time. Plus, it's easier to teach a toddler or small child the guidelines
for how to treat an animal.
Owners who had good intentions give up their dogs to
shelters everyday. Remember that owning a dog is a lifelong commitment
with a variety of responsibilities. If you can't meet those responsibilities,
neither you nor your dog will be happy. Honestly evaluate your lifestyle,
your home and your pocketbook before you bring a dog into your life. Realistically
consider the following:
• Ask yourself why you want a pet and if you have the time (for
house-training, obedience training, exercise and companionship) and the
money (for the initial purchase plus checkups, vaccinations, routine and
emergency care, spaying/neutering, grooming, training classes, food, kennel,
leashes, toys, brushes, etc.) for a pet.
• Before you bring a dog home, picture this: veterinarian bills;
housetraining and 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 and begging when you're trying to eat. If
you aren't prepared for all the things dogs do, you aren't ready for a
dog.
• Depending on the size and temperament of the dog you get, you
need to have proper indoor and outdoor facilities. If your outdoor facilities
(like fences and runs) are not adequate, what would the legal and insurance
implications be?
Okay, so you're still set on getting a dog. That's great. With dog ownership
comes countless benefits, including companionship, devotion, unconditional
love, as well as improved owner health (in the form of lower blood pressure).
Now there are even more questions to ask yourself, like:
• Will this dog be kept mostly inside
or outside?
• Is my yard large enough for a larger dog to get exercise?
• Is my yard fenced, in case I choose to keep my dog outside?
• Will my neighbors be compatible with this dog? Will my fence keep
my dog out of their yard?
And when you have children in the house, there are more things to consider,
like:
• For the easiest transition, you should wait until your child is
at least 7 or 8 years old before getting a dog.
• Be prepared to include and involve your child in researching and
selecting a dog.
• Give the child limited responsibilities for care of the dog.
• Select a breed that gets along well with children.
Most importantly, never get a dog "just for the
kids" because it never works out that way.
Are you getting a dog for the right reasons?
If you are considering getting a pet to teach your children responsibility,
you should reconsider your motivation. More often than not, pet care falls
on the shoulders of the parents. Teaching a lesson isn't the only wrong
reason for getting a dog. Other reasons people get (and eventually, give
up) a dog include:
• For the children
• To give as a gift
• To raise puppies and make money
• Just for protection
• Because you feel sorry for it
• On impulse
When you bring a pet into your life, you want to maximize the probability
of it staying in your life. Make sure you are getting a dog for the right
reasons.
The responsibilities of
pet ownership
At the very minimum, dogs require food and water. But no family pet deserves
to live with the bare minimum. A good, loving home provides their dog
with:
• Food, including meals, treats, and sometimes special diets.
• A crate or other confined area indoors, including a mat or bed.
A fenced yard or kennel run outdoors, including a sheltered spot.
• Fresh water.
• Exercise, including a minimum of two walks or romps in the yard
daily. Don't forget to bring a leash and pooper-scooper.
• Training. House-training, as well as good manners and obedience
training.
• Health care, including regular checkups, vaccinations and dental
care. And also emergency care due to illness or injury.
• Grooming, at home or professional.
• Play and toys that he can play with by himself.
• Companionship, including lots of attention when you're home and
a secure place to stay when you're out. A good boarding kennel is needed
for extended periods of travel.
• Forgiveness for housetraining accidents, for digging and barking
and chewing or for just being a dog.
If you aim to be a responsible pet owner and teach your
children the same, here's why you need to provide your dog with the characteristics
of a good home:
• Obedience training not only makes your dog a more enjoyable companion,
but may one day save his life.
• Regular grooming not only helps your dog look his best, it can
affect how he feels. A well-groomed dog feels better.
• Let a pet be a pet. If your dog isn't being bred, have it spayed
or neutered by six months of age.
• Dogs that are allowed to bark incessantly disturb the neighborhood
and often prevent people from investigating a disturbance in the event
that something goes wrong.
• Cleaning up after your pet is your responsibility. Be prepared
for accidents in public places by carrying plastic bags or a pooper scooper
to clean up and dispose of your pet's waste.
• Make sure your dog always wears a collar and ID tag with your
telephone number. Your veterinarian can even implant microchip identification
under your dog's skin.
• Make safe arrangements for the care of your pet while you are
absent from home. Dogs deserve a safe, enjoyable holiday as much as you
do.
• Always supervise interaction between your child and your pet until
your child is at least 12 years of age.
A side note on spaying and neutering: some adults consider
it educational for their child to watch pets mate, become pregnant and
deliver a litter. Parents who want to teach a child to be responsible
should have pets neutered before sexual maturity. Your child can learn
about reproduction from other appropriate sources.
What to do when you're
ready to choose a dog
Before bringing your new pet home, there are some things you can do to
make the transition a lot easier for both the dog and your family.
• Go ahead and select a veterinarian if you do not already have
one. Your new dog"puppy or adult"will require health care, and
your veterinarian will be your best friend in case of a health emergency.
Ask your neighbors and friends for recommendations. Click
here to begin your search.
• Have all the supplies you will need on hand. When bringing your
new dog home, you won't want to make several stops along the way for necessary
items. Here's what you should have at home waiting for your new dog:
o Food. Ask your veterinarian
for a recommendation on which brand to select and in order to make sure
the food is appropriate to your new dog's age and dietary needs.
o Dishes. It's important to have a separate dish for food and water.
Make sure they won't tip and are not chewable.
o Crate. Your new dog needs a place of his own for rest and quiet time.
Crates also assist in house-training and allow you to rest well at night
knowing your dog is safe. Dogs are den animals by nature, and they adapt
very quickly to their new “den.”
o Safe Toys. Hard rubber, rawhide or nylabones are the best bet for
puppy toys. Never knot up a sock for your puppy to chew. He will not
be able to distinguish between his play sock and your good socks.
o Accessories. Your new dog will need a soft leather or nylon collar
and leash, identification tag, rabies tag and grooming accessories like
dog shampoo and a brush or comb.
• Select a name for your new dog. Don't confuse
him. Select a simple name and stick with it. It'll help him learn more
quickly.
You'll also want to pet-proof your house before bringing
your new dog home. Remember, puppies are just like babies. They put everything
in their mouths. You should pet-proof your home the same way you would
child-proof your home to avoid accidents.
• Make sure to put away all household chemicals, such as cleansers,
insecticide, antifreeze and others. Dogs are especially attracted to antifreeze.
Be sure to clean up spills immediately and keep the rest out of reach.
Even a small amount can be fatal.
• Plastic bags and aluminum cans can be extremely hazardous to puppies
if swallowed.
• Unplug or cover all electrical cords. A puppy can be electrocuted
or severely burned if they chew on a cord that is plugged into an outlet.
Larger dogs can also catch on cords while walking or running around, causing
lamps, TVs, radios, etc. to fall.
• Place houseplants out of reach. Many houseplants are poisonous.
• Have separate areas for your new pet and any existing pets. Pets
need to be introduced to one another slowly. Be sure you have an extra
room or a kennel so that your pets can be separated until they have grown
accustomed to each other.
• Keep doors closed, including the doors to your washer and dryer,
your closets, the cupboards, etc. Inquisitive animals can sneak in just
about anywhere.
• Keep household odds and ends out of your pet's reach. Things like
garbage, medicine, pins, elastics, thread, needles, and so on should be
placed out of the way.
When you go to make the final selection of your new dog, bring your child
with you to pick out the pet. Observe the child and pet to see if they
get along. And before taking a pet home—from anywhere—get
some answers. Ask what parasite program the pet is currently on. Check
the pet's coat to make sure it is free of fleas and debris.
For more information on flea and parasite prevention, visit www.petwellness.com.
Once you arrive home with your new dog, establish a
routine right away. His food and water dishes, and his crate and toys
should always be kept in the same place. Start house-training immediately.
If your new dog is a puppy, only let him do the same things that you will
allow a full grown dog to do. Puppies learn very quickly and bad habits
are hard to break.
Let your dog explore his new surroundings—the
yard, the house and his new belongings—under constant supervision.
Don't hold him or overwhelm him with petting. He needs to feel a sense
of independence as he discovers his new territory.
Establish rules for your family regarding your new pet.
Decide who's responsible for what: grooming, feeding, exercising, cleaning,
play-time, and so on. Also establish whether or not there will be areas
that are off-limits for your new pet, like sleeping on the children's
beds. Make sure everyone agrees to enforce these rules consistently. Training
your new dog to understand what's expected of him will be more difficult
if family members are not consistent and in agreement on what's
allowed.
Most of all, love and enjoy your new dog.
