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It’s a Dogs Life
(but someone has to do it…)
By: Debbie Boffa
I
have a friend who works for the local RSPCA (that’s the Royal
Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals in the UK) she
works principally with the dogs that they rescue and take in. I
probably shouldn’t be (me being rather more senior in years than
junior now) but I am always astonished at the reasons why people
abandon their dogs or decide that they just can’t keep them
anymore.
Now I’m not talking about the genuine reasons, such as an old
person falling too ill to care for a pet, but the blatantly
selfish reasons that some people find acceptable (and which I,
on my high horse, clearly DO NOT!)
My poor friend has to re-home as many of these poor friendless
dogs as she can, and I am very happy to say that Stalin’s
interrogation techniques couldn’t be more impressive than hers
when it comes to making sure that these unfortunates do not end
up being discarded again. I am pleased to say that getting a
dog away from her tender care is not for the faint hearted!
A
dog can be a wonderful addition to your family, as long as
everyone is prepared to put in the time and effort required. So
many people think a puppy would make a wonderful present for
their children, only to forget about them once the novelty has
worn off. A very popular excuse for being unable to keep a dog
is ‘I didn’t realize he was going to get that big!’, well Der!
He was born with those big paws, and he is a GSD, didn’t that
give you a bit of a clue? Honestly, I know I don’t have a lot of
patience with some people but they really do take the biscuit
when they have checked out the breed, seen how big they grow and
it STILL comes as a surprise! Ok, I’m going to get off my
bandwagon now….
Before you make the leap and introduce a new pet to your family
make sure you know what to expect and that you’re prepared for
all the consequences of bringing a new family member into your
home.
Let’s look at some of the things you should consider before you
take the step of picking your puppy or dog.
Who is going to be
responsible?
It’s all well and good to tell your children that the new puppy
is theirs to care for, but remember, the first time they have to
choose between picking up after it and hangin’ out with their
friends you know there’s going to be a problem. So if there is
no one prepared to step in and look after the animal on a
regular basis perhaps re-thinking the gift would be a good idea.
Do you have room for
it?
Depending on what type of home you live in and what type of
backyard you have, will be a major factor in both deciding on
what type of dog you should get, along with whether or not
you’re prepared to exercise the dog, if you don’t have the room
to let it run free in the backyard. If you can’t supply the room
for a dog to run or are not willing to exercise them on a
regular basis then a dog is not right for you.
Are you a neat freak?
No matter how well prepared you are, or how well you train your
dog is, there will be accidents. These can range from the normal
potty training problems to digging up your prize garden, chewing
your new shoes, or shedding their hair on your sofa. If you’re
not ready to put up with any of the above at some stage of the
dog’s life then perhaps a dog is not right for you.
Can you afford it?
Caring for a dog means more than just paying for its meals.
While dinner time scraps are a common food source, they need
more than that, particularly when they are young and still
growing, a well balanced diet is essential. Food is not the only
cost though. There are also the worm tablets, vet bills,
registration fees and other costs associated with caring for
your pet. If you are struggling to pay your bills now you
shouldn’t add to those costs, as unfortunately all too often
it’s the animal that misses out on what it needs.
What about its
training?
Funnily enough, dogs don’t come ‘pre trained’ unless you are
very lucky, that is! An untrained dog will be a nuisance, a
hazard to himself and to humans and other dogs. If you haven’t
got the patience to train a dog then either get an older one who
already has some manners, or don’t get one at all. Not knowing
how to train a dog will be no barrier to a keen dog lover
because they will either take the dog to classes or learn how to
train the dog themselves.
And finally – Time, do
you have enough?
Please don’t get a dog
if you don’t plan to spend anytime with it. Ignoring it and
leaving it alone for long periods of time will bring problems as
it feels bored and is unable to develop a loving relationship
with you. A dog is a sociable animal who needs company –
preferably human, and if you can’t give a dog any time then
please don’t get one.
These are just a few things to bear in mind when you’re thinking
about getting a new dog (or any new pet, come to that). If,
after reading the above points, and now understand some of what
is expected when you introduce a new dog into the family, you
decide you still do want a dog, then yes, you do deserve one.
Provided of course you can fulfill one other key requirement.
Being prepared to offer lots of love, caring and patience. The
undivided loyalty, love and affection you will get back from
your dog is the greatest gift you can ever have.
About the author:
Debbie Boffa has
a rescued Briard called Arnie that has taken some real
dedication to get around his poor start in life. Her experiences
have lead to her new book ‘Dog Obedience Training’ and a new
website
www.trainingdogsrus.com. She’d love to see you there to get
your FREE dog training tips!
© 2006 Debbie Boffa |
