So, You Want a Puppy?
Ya' sure? They sure are a great deal of work. In fact, they're so much
work that more dogs are euthanized in shelters today than are adopted out. We find them free or buy them from a breeder
as puppies and often are overwhelmed by the responsibility of training a baby animal successfully, so we put them out back
in the yard. Months later we realize we don't pay attention to it so we either give it away or take it to a shelter.
And don't think that purebreed puppies have it any easier; 25% of the dogs in shelters
today are AKC purebred dogs. Personally, I wouldn't buy a purebred AKC dog. I do not agree with the paper monetary
kickback system. Look what it's done to English Bulldogs and Cocker Spaniels. Those health problems speak for
themselves. But, I digress. This is about those of you who really want to think about the situation before you
put yourselves in it.
There are things to consider before you go looking.
Do you have the time to spend with a puppy?
It will need constant supervision when it's out of its crate or roaming free in your
house. Getting a puppy and putting it outdoors without another dog for company is unthinkable. The loneliness
it will experience cannot be described in human terms. They are pack animals. To put one in a solitary situation
is to condemn it to a life of boredom and mental anguish.
It's best to get a puppy when a family member will be home for much of the day or
you can find a neighbor to puppysit for you. We got GatorX in August, but since I stayed home it worked out wonderfully.
Do you have the patience to housetrain a puppy?
Even with the best of dogs there are going to be accidents. This, after all,
is a baby animal who is being trained to think of your house as a giant den and therefore off pooping limits. It's going
to take time and the right tools and techniques. Are you prepared to get out the steam cleaner or the enzymatic neutralizer
when you find its mistakes? Will you be able to resist rubbing your puppy's face in it? (definitely not the thing to
do as it may encourage coprophagia)
Do you have the room for how big the puppy will be when it's full-grown?
If you aren't terribly active and don't have a big back yard for ypur puppy to run
in when it's reached adulthood, then chances are you aren't going to be happy with your dog's behavior. Dogs need room.
You wouldn't believe how much smaller our livingroom seems from GatorX and Sadie lying on the floor. Think ahead.
Do you have the funds to provide for a puppy or dog?
There will be vet visits, shots, heartworm medication, food, registration, hopefully
a neutering or spaying, and maybe even training sessions at your local pet center. Are you prepared to care for this
animal for about ten years? If not, take a step back and ask yourself why you want a puppy.
It will grow into a dog, a dog that will require grooming, exercise, medical attention,
and most of all, your companionship. This is the time to ask yourself if you are really ready to take this step.
The time is before you bring it home and discover after two or three months that it's not what you wanted, to care for
an animal every day, an animal that needs much, much more than a cat.
Or, do you think it would be more feasible to adopt an older dog?
Maybe a puppy would be too much for you but an older dog wouldn't. It would
be a less likely to race through the house and might be easier to train. While there might be more vet bills if the
animal is an abuse case, you'd be giving a living creature a second chance, one whose rewards can't be counted. Our
Sadie is a second-hand dog, and her fierce loyalty to us is almost startling. She is completely devoted to our family.
Because of her, I've pondered the capability of a dog to be grateful, truly grateful, for a permanent home after being turned
out.
There are possible drawbacks such as not knowing the dog's history of aggression
or its idiosyncrasies, but these things can be determined with the help of a good trainer.
If you find after thinking about what's entailed that you really aren't ready for
a dog then I think you're a wonderful person for realizing it. But, if you
find yourself thinking of the wonderful reward that a well-raised and cherished dog can bring to your and possibly your family's
lives, then by all means, do what people have been doing for years. Go out and bring home a friend.
