Getting a dog is a lot of fun especially for those who love
dogs.
It can be quite an exciting and
joyous occasion for most families. However, there are people who do not
understand fully the responsibilities of having a dog until they already have
one. Some people will choose to step up to
the plate, accept the responsibility and do what needs to be done even if they
must do research and seek help from professionals. Some people unfortunately don’t recognize how
involved even the most basic care is required for a dog to be happy,
healthy and a safe companion. When how
much work and dedication is involved is realized by some people they either end
up returning the dog to where they got it from, re-homing the dog, surrendering
the dog to a shelter or worse yet inadvertently through ignorance and/or the
unwillingness to do what is needed abuse the dog; sometimes even unto death for
the dog.
Breeders, shelters and rescues can only do so much to ensure
that someone taking one of their dogs will fully accept the lifelong commitment
required to have a dog and so unfortunately some dogs end up in shelters and
depending on the condition of the dog physically and/or behaviorally the dog
may end up being euthanized. So perhaps
the onus on understanding what is involved with having a dog successfully
should begin to fall on the public which logically needs to begin with
recognizing what a dog truly needs to be a happy, healthy and well-behaved
companion/family member.
Based on what I’ve seen and heard over the past three years
as a pit bull advocate through my associations with people in the animal
welfare/animal rights community there are some basic but extremely important
factors that every person needs to seriously consider prior to taking on the
responsibility of having a dog. I would
like to think that if people are considering getting a dog they will be
interested in determining first of all what is required to have a dog
successfully.
To be clear I am NO expert but based on what I've heard
around and seen here’s a list of things to ask oneself and answer honestly
BEFORE getting a dog.
- What is my personal reason for getting a dog? Am I giving into a spouse or child against my better judgment or is this something that I really want?
- Do I expect my dog to fulfill all of my emotional needs, to be my sole source of unconditional love, OR do I honestly want to give a dog a wonderful home while getting a great companion?
- What kind of dog do I want? Am I interested in a breed I think is cute or am I looking for a dog that will suit my lifestyle, that will match my own energy level and abilities as a dog owner?
- Am I prepared to have a dog in that do I have the time, the energy, the finances and place for a dog? Am I ready, regardless of the size of my home or yard, to take my dog for a walk EVERY day for exercise?
- Am I ready and willing to have a dog live inside of my home as a family member?
- Am I ready and willing to be a proper ‘parent’ to my dog? Do I realize that a dog requires more than shelter, food, water and vetting to be a safe and happy member of my family?
- Am I ready and willing to do whatever it takes to assure that my dog is safe around all other living things? Will I be willing to seek training assistance should my dog’s behavior become a problem?
- Am I ready and willing to teach all members of my family how to interact with the dog and handle it properly as well as to require them to do so?
- Am I prepared to keep the dog, no matter what, for the entire length of its life even through old age and the possible medical issues that come with it?
- If something happens that I can’t take care of my dog do I have a commitment from friends/family to take over the care of my dog? Am I committed to making arrangements for the dog in the case that I can no longer care for it?
If the answer to each and every question above is a firm,
resounding and confident YES then you are more than likely ready to get a dog
and have taken into consideration some of the more important aspects of having
a dog. If you can’t answer YES with
confidence to every question then perhaps it’s time to rethink getting a dog
right now and wait until you are better prepared emotionally and are better
qualified to have a dog.
The excitement and joy of getting a dog only lasts for a
short while but a dog’s life is anywhere from six or seven to fifteen or
sixteen years depending on the breed of dog.
So the question is whether or not one is prepared to fully meet that
commitment until the end.
Things happen. Life
happens and typically the trauma’s, tribulations and emergencies we are faced
with are unplanned so that is understood (well at least it’s understood by me)
but the more we think through getting a dog before we get it the less likely
that our dog will end up back to the breeder, back to the shelter, surrendered
to a shelter, will have to be re-homed or have to be euthanized.
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