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Before you adopt that pup in the window...
... do some basic planning first. People take pets into their homes for every reason under the sun. You might be prompted by impulse when you see that cute little pup gazing at you through the bars of a crate. Your children may have been begging you for months for a dog and you finally gave in with the stiuplation that the child take responsibility for its care. Maybe you are a Good Samaritan who decides to keep an abandonded dog. You could be the person who looks for a large, powerful breed for home protection, or conversely decide to take on a tiny chihuahua as a purse accessory.
Before you decide to invite a dog into your home for any reason, it's very important that you make some basic preparations first. If you don't, that dog stands a good chance of either running away, getting sick and dying, or even becoming such a terrible behavior problem that he's labled a dangerous dog and destroyed.
The first thing prospective dog owners must do is research dog breeds. What kind of dog can you realistically fit into your life? Choosing a dog on looks alone is not a good way to make that determination. If you live in a small apartment, a great dane or a high energy dalmatian aren't good choices unless you can both get outside for a lot of exercise on a daily basis. The American Kennel Club website describes basic breed characteristics and is a great resource to consult. http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm
Perhaps more important than breed, is the personality of the individual dog you are considering. Don't overlook mutts! Maybe that hyperactive and strong-willed chihuahua or yorkie isn't such a good choice over a calmer and more submissive mutt who wants nothing more than to please his pack leader. Too many people automatically see large powerful breeds like pit bulls as "mean" and small breeds as "nice." It's a terribly unfair designation either way. I've known plenty of large breed dogs who were gentle giants and small dogs who were neurotic ankle and finger biters. The blame always goes to the dog who can inflict the most damage regardless of provocation. Dealing with behavior problems is the owner's responsibility. The law will punish you first and your dog second should an attack occur. If you aren't prepared to learn basic dog obedience and psychology, you shouldn't have a dog.
Medical Costs. Your dog is a living, breathing, sentient being, and as such he's going to get sick at some point in his life. Just like human children, you must be prepared to pay for at least basic vaccinations. Most of these shots are required by local and state ordinances where you live. No dog can escape a major medical problem at some point in his life. Whether by accident or disease process at the end of his life span, it WILL happen. What are you prepared to do when that happens? What you cannot do is nothing. If you can't afford treatment, either paying with cash, credit card, or a payment with the vet then you must be prepared to euthanize or even surrender your dog to a person or rescue organization who can afford treatment. The best choice is to not adopt a dog if you know you can't afford medical care. Before you adopt, check with a few veterinary clinics nearby for pricing of basic shots and annual exams. Don't forget preventive medication for heartworms and flea and tick products in that equation. Also include costs for spaying and neutering. Unless you are a licensed breeder, there is no good reason to NOT spay and neuter. You can avoid much more expensive vet bills later in life by doing so now. If you adopt from a rescue group or shelter, that cost is rolled into the adoption fee along with initial shots and sometimes microchip identification. That's a lot of medical care and explains why adoptions can easily run to $250.00 or more. If you can't afford medical care, you shouldn't have a dog.
Continued....
Before you decide to invite a dog into your home for any reason, it's very important that you make some basic preparations first. If you don't, that dog stands a good chance of either running away, getting sick and dying, or even becoming such a terrible behavior problem that he's labled a dangerous dog and destroyed.
The first thing prospective dog owners must do is research dog breeds. What kind of dog can you realistically fit into your life? Choosing a dog on looks alone is not a good way to make that determination. If you live in a small apartment, a great dane or a high energy dalmatian aren't good choices unless you can both get outside for a lot of exercise on a daily basis. The American Kennel Club website describes basic breed characteristics and is a great resource to consult. http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm
Perhaps more important than breed, is the personality of the individual dog you are considering. Don't overlook mutts! Maybe that hyperactive and strong-willed chihuahua or yorkie isn't such a good choice over a calmer and more submissive mutt who wants nothing more than to please his pack leader. Too many people automatically see large powerful breeds like pit bulls as "mean" and small breeds as "nice." It's a terribly unfair designation either way. I've known plenty of large breed dogs who were gentle giants and small dogs who were neurotic ankle and finger biters. The blame always goes to the dog who can inflict the most damage regardless of provocation. Dealing with behavior problems is the owner's responsibility. The law will punish you first and your dog second should an attack occur. If you aren't prepared to learn basic dog obedience and psychology, you shouldn't have a dog.
Medical Costs. Your dog is a living, breathing, sentient being, and as such he's going to get sick at some point in his life. Just like human children, you must be prepared to pay for at least basic vaccinations. Most of these shots are required by local and state ordinances where you live. No dog can escape a major medical problem at some point in his life. Whether by accident or disease process at the end of his life span, it WILL happen. What are you prepared to do when that happens? What you cannot do is nothing. If you can't afford treatment, either paying with cash, credit card, or a payment with the vet then you must be prepared to euthanize or even surrender your dog to a person or rescue organization who can afford treatment. The best choice is to not adopt a dog if you know you can't afford medical care. Before you adopt, check with a few veterinary clinics nearby for pricing of basic shots and annual exams. Don't forget preventive medication for heartworms and flea and tick products in that equation. Also include costs for spaying and neutering. Unless you are a licensed breeder, there is no good reason to NOT spay and neuter. You can avoid much more expensive vet bills later in life by doing so now. If you adopt from a rescue group or shelter, that cost is rolled into the adoption fee along with initial shots and sometimes microchip identification. That's a lot of medical care and explains why adoptions can easily run to $250.00 or more. If you can't afford medical care, you shouldn't have a dog.
Continued....
Food. You can't get away with feeding the cheapest food you can find because your pet is "just a dog." You won't have a healthy dog if basic nutrition requirements are not met. A dog who isn't in good health is far more likely to get sick and cost you a heck of a lot more in vet bills down the line. Take a look a dog food prices and read labels before you adopt. Get a general idea of how much money will need to be spent on a weekly or monthly basis. Obviously a larger dog will require more food than a smaller dog, and food will cost more money. A good commercial food is just fine. Dog food companies really do want the best for your dog. After all, they wouldn't be in business long if dogs were dying due to eating it. Avoid foods with a lot of cheap grain fillers like corn. There is little nutritional value in those foods, and while they will fill up your dog's stomach, most of it will go right through him in the form of a lot more waste for you to clean up. If you can't fit the cost of dog food into your budget, you shouldn't have a dog.
Sanitary conditions. It's really easy to forget that dogs like to be clean - just like people. It's very important to clean up their waste regularly whether it's a home, on the street or at a park. Your neighbors will not appreciate having to clean up your dog's waste when it appears on their property, so keep cleanup bags handy when you're on a walk. If you physically can't do that yourself, then add the cost of hiring someone to do it for you. If your dog has a short coat requiring only occasional brushing, count yourself lucky! Many dogs must have daily brushing to maintain skin health along with regular grooming. Check out groomers in your area for pricing before you adopt that afghan hound or collie. All dogs need shampooing regardless. Dogs, like many hounds, have very oily skin that can harbor bacteria resulting in a very smelly dog. Such dogs will need a bath at least once a week. If you can't afford a groomer or don't have the time to take care of your dog's coat, you shouldn't have a dog.
Living Conditions. As the result of domestic breeding over centuries, your dog is not capable of living in on its own in the wild - at least, not for long. Those necessary life skills have been bred out of domestic dogs to allow them to live with humans. Many dogs should not spend their lives outside in either extreme heat or extreme cold. If you aren't prepared to train your dog for inside life, don't adopt a dog. They are very social pack animals and you, the human, are inviting a dog into your pack. If their social needs are not met and they are primarily left outside day and night, you will have an unsocialized, neurotic dog who will be a nuisance at best and a danger to humans and other animals at worst. Domestic dogs still retain enough DNA and instinct from their wild forebears to revert to some of those behaviors if they aren't properly socialized to both humans and other animals, which brings us to...
Training. Dogs have to be taught the house rules if you are to have a successful and meaningful relationship with him. If you're new at dog ownership and have never taken a dog to obedience school, that's another cost to consider. Training is all about teaching humans to effectively communicate with their dogs using positive reinforcement of desired behavior. It's not at all difficult and can be a tremendous amount of fun for both of you. Training doesn't stop at the schoolroom door. If you don't have the money for training or the time to do the homework, you shouldn't have a dog.
Exercise. EVERY dog, no matter how small or large needs both physical and mental exercise. Wild and feral domesticated dogs are hardwired to travel for food. They aren't meant to be couch potatoes. Many behavioral issues stem from dogs not getting enough structured exercise. They get frustrated and neurotic and will eventually find their own exercise and entertainment methods, most of which make their human pack members very upset. Simply having access to a large fenced yard is not exercise. Learn how to properly walk your dog keeping him at your side and focused on you rather than every squirrel that crosses his path. Playing catch is great exercise for dogs with agility talents. Hiding a toy with a treat inside is a great psychological exercise for dogs with tracking genes. Herding dogs like to play "soccer" using their snouts to score goals. If you have a small dog, avoid the urge to carry him around in your arms or worse, in a bag. They may be small, but they're still dogs and they need to get around under their own steam. If you can't mean a dog's exercise requirements, you shouldn't have a dog.
General Responsibilities. Do not rely on your children to take care of your dog's needs. While they should be involved at every stage of care including training, they are still children. YOU are the adult and ultimately responsible. If your unhappy and unsocialized dog should cause injury to a child or adult, you are the one who will be held liable for the behavior. If you don't have the time or energy to take responibility for your dog's care and training, you shouldn't have a dog.
So there you have the basics of dog ownership. If it sounds intimidating, I meant it to be. Bringing a dog into your family is just as big a decision as adopting a child. Sometimes the expenses of owning and caring for a dog can be almost as much as a child. If you enter into adopting a dog with your eyes wide open and as an educated potential owner, you and your dog are far more likely to have a long, successful and extremely enjoyable relationship. After all, isn't that why we take dogs into our lives? :-)
Sanitary conditions. It's really easy to forget that dogs like to be clean - just like people. It's very important to clean up their waste regularly whether it's a home, on the street or at a park. Your neighbors will not appreciate having to clean up your dog's waste when it appears on their property, so keep cleanup bags handy when you're on a walk. If you physically can't do that yourself, then add the cost of hiring someone to do it for you. If your dog has a short coat requiring only occasional brushing, count yourself lucky! Many dogs must have daily brushing to maintain skin health along with regular grooming. Check out groomers in your area for pricing before you adopt that afghan hound or collie. All dogs need shampooing regardless. Dogs, like many hounds, have very oily skin that can harbor bacteria resulting in a very smelly dog. Such dogs will need a bath at least once a week. If you can't afford a groomer or don't have the time to take care of your dog's coat, you shouldn't have a dog.
Living Conditions. As the result of domestic breeding over centuries, your dog is not capable of living in on its own in the wild - at least, not for long. Those necessary life skills have been bred out of domestic dogs to allow them to live with humans. Many dogs should not spend their lives outside in either extreme heat or extreme cold. If you aren't prepared to train your dog for inside life, don't adopt a dog. They are very social pack animals and you, the human, are inviting a dog into your pack. If their social needs are not met and they are primarily left outside day and night, you will have an unsocialized, neurotic dog who will be a nuisance at best and a danger to humans and other animals at worst. Domestic dogs still retain enough DNA and instinct from their wild forebears to revert to some of those behaviors if they aren't properly socialized to both humans and other animals, which brings us to...
Training. Dogs have to be taught the house rules if you are to have a successful and meaningful relationship with him. If you're new at dog ownership and have never taken a dog to obedience school, that's another cost to consider. Training is all about teaching humans to effectively communicate with their dogs using positive reinforcement of desired behavior. It's not at all difficult and can be a tremendous amount of fun for both of you. Training doesn't stop at the schoolroom door. If you don't have the money for training or the time to do the homework, you shouldn't have a dog.
Exercise. EVERY dog, no matter how small or large needs both physical and mental exercise. Wild and feral domesticated dogs are hardwired to travel for food. They aren't meant to be couch potatoes. Many behavioral issues stem from dogs not getting enough structured exercise. They get frustrated and neurotic and will eventually find their own exercise and entertainment methods, most of which make their human pack members very upset. Simply having access to a large fenced yard is not exercise. Learn how to properly walk your dog keeping him at your side and focused on you rather than every squirrel that crosses his path. Playing catch is great exercise for dogs with agility talents. Hiding a toy with a treat inside is a great psychological exercise for dogs with tracking genes. Herding dogs like to play "soccer" using their snouts to score goals. If you have a small dog, avoid the urge to carry him around in your arms or worse, in a bag. They may be small, but they're still dogs and they need to get around under their own steam. If you can't mean a dog's exercise requirements, you shouldn't have a dog.
General Responsibilities. Do not rely on your children to take care of your dog's needs. While they should be involved at every stage of care including training, they are still children. YOU are the adult and ultimately responsible. If your unhappy and unsocialized dog should cause injury to a child or adult, you are the one who will be held liable for the behavior. If you don't have the time or energy to take responibility for your dog's care and training, you shouldn't have a dog.
So there you have the basics of dog ownership. If it sounds intimidating, I meant it to be. Bringing a dog into your family is just as big a decision as adopting a child. Sometimes the expenses of owning and caring for a dog can be almost as much as a child. If you enter into adopting a dog with your eyes wide open and as an educated potential owner, you and your dog are far more likely to have a long, successful and extremely enjoyable relationship. After all, isn't that why we take dogs into our lives? :-)
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