If the whole family agrees the answer is yes, we understand the responsibilities of owning a dog and are ready for them, please continue for advice on finding the right puppy for your family.
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| SO YOU?RE THINKING OF GETTING A PUPPY? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Getting a dog is a LIFETIME COMMITMENT. Depending on the breed you choose your puppy will be with you for the next 10 ? 15 years. If you bring a puppy into your family you must be prepared to commit to him for his entire life. All your future lifestyle decisions will have to be made with the dog in mind. Everything from home decorating, buying a new vehicle or home or going on holidays to having a baby. Even simple day to day things like running errands after work. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Below are some things to think about BEFORE bringing a new puppy home. | |||||||||||||||||||
| HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HAVE A DOG? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Having a dog can be expensive. The initial cost of the puppy is just the beginning. All dogs need regular care from a veterinarian. Your puppy should have had one set of vaccinations when you get him. Most veterinarians recommend a booster every 4 weeks until he is 4 months old followed by an annual check up every year. Each of these visits will cost approximately $75.00 - $100.00. Every puppy needs a crate which will cost anywhere from $50.00 to $250.00 depending on the size you need. Obedience class will total about $250.00. A good quality food will cost about $50.00/month for a medium ? large breed and then there is treats, toys, collars, leashes, brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, food bowl, water bowl, city dog license etc. | |||||||||||||||||||
| HOUSE KEEPING and YARD MAINTENANCE | |||||||||||||||||||
| If you like to keep a perfectly clean house and a perfectly manicured yard don't get a dog. Most breeds shed. You will have hair in your carpet, furniture, clothes, food... If you choose a breed that doesn?t shed you?ll have to add regular trips to the groomer to your expenses. As for your yard your dog will probably dig a few holes, chew up a few shrubs or flowers and leave some brown spots on the grass. | |||||||||||||||||||
| EXERCISE | |||||||||||||||||||
| All dogs need exercise. Some more than others. An under exercised dog will become bored and develop any or all of a number of behavior problems including chewing, barking, digging and being hyper and/or obsessive compulsive behaviors such as tail chasing or chronic licking and chewing of himself. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lets define exercise. A walk around the block is not enough! Leaving your dog outside in the back yard to "exercise himself" won't do it either. Your puppy and young dog will need at least 30 minutes of exercise twice a day with input fromyou. Go out in the yard with him and play ball or tag or whatever. Your dog will teach you lots of new games. When your dog is over 18 months of age you can take him biking, rollerblading or jogging. There are also many activities just for dogs. They include obedience trialing, agility, flyball, tracking, field training for the retrievers (even if you don't hunt this can be fun for both of you), herding, sledding, and lots more. Have you noticed the common denominator in all of the above exercise suggestions is YOU? | |||||||||||||||||||
| TRAINING | |||||||||||||||||||
| Every dog needs basic obedience training. This includes walking on leash without pulling, coming when called, sit, down, stay, settle?.. This will mean enrolling in an obedience class with a local club. Prices will vary but the average price is $85.00 - $125.00 for 6 - 8 weeks. These classes involve you and your dog participating in class once per week for approximately 1 hour plus practicing at least 1/2 hour at home each and every day. This is a big time commitment but a necessary one that will reward you with a well adjusted obedience companion for the next 10 ? 15 years. | |||||||||||||||||||
| The decision of whether to add a dog to your family is not to be taken lightly. All members of the family must agree. If even one family member says no, the answer should be no. Have your entire family read this article and make sure everyone agrees before proceeding any further. After you bring a puppy home is NOT the time to decide that he/she isn't right for you. | |||||||||||||||||||
| THE ANSWER If the whole family agrees the answer is yes, we understand the responsibilities of owning a dog and are ready for them, please continue for advice on finding the right puppy for your family. |
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| If the answer is no, our family is not ready for the responsibilities involved with owning a dog at this time, thank you for taking the time and making an educated decision. | |||||||||||||||||||
| I?M READY FOR A PUPPY, WHERE DO I START LOOKING FOR ONE? | |||||||||||||||||||
| Your new puppy will become your companion and a member of your family for many, many years to come. It?s important that you get the right puppy for you and your family. A bad match can be a disaster. Most dogs that end up in rescue or humane societies aren?t bad dogs, they were just in the wrong home. You also want a healthy puppy. Imagine losing your new friend after only a few months or years. You also want a puppy with a good temperament. Imagine living with a dog that growls at you, your family or your guests and you can never really trust. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Most people spend less time researching purchasing a puppy than they do a vehicle or kitchen appliance. This is wrong. You need to put a lot of thought and research into choosing, this newest member of your family. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Below are a number of options of where you can look for a puppy and the advantages and disadvantages of each. | |||||||||||||||||||
| BREEDER | |||||||||||||||||||
| The advantages of adopting a puppy from a reputable breeder are many. A reputable breeder knows their breed and will help you decide if their breed is right for you. They know the genetic health issues of their breed and will only breed dogs that are clear of them. Along with your puppy you will get his/her pedigree and a written health guarantee. Your puppy will have his first set of vaccinations and deworming. He will be well socialized. He will be with his mother and littermates until at least 7 weeks of age. The breeder will be there to assist you and help with any problems or questions you may have for the life of your dog. Your breeder will take the puppy/dog back if at anytime throughout it?s life if your circumstances change and you are unable to keep him any longer. You will get to meet the mother of the litter and any other dogs they have that are related to your puppy. Breeders often use other breeders studs so you won?t always be able to meet the father but you should be able to at least see photos and if you want, talk to the stud?s owner. The one disadvantage is that most reputable breeders only breed 1 to 3 litters a year or less so there is often a wait, sometimes of a year or more, to get your puppy. But, remember, good things come to those who wait. To find a reputable breeder contact a kennel club in your area for information or try http://www.dogs-in-canada.com | |||||||||||||||||||
| HUMANE SOCIETY | |||||||||||||||||||
| One of the advantage to adopting a puppy or adult from the Humane Society is the good feeling you?ll get knowing you?ve helped a dog in need. The Humane Society staff will help you choose the dog that is the best match for you and your family and if it doesn?t work out you can return it to them. They will also answer questions and help with any problems you may have after you bring your new pet home. The puppy or dog will likely be up to date on his/her vaccinations and most humane societies offer a reduced fee for spaying/neutering if the dog you adopt isn?t spayed/neutered already. The disadvantage is that you don?t always know the history of the dog or the temperament and health of the parents but the staff has usually spent enough time with the dog that they can tell you what his/her temperament is like and they have all been examined by a veterinarian. Find a Humane Society in your area at http://www.cfhs.ca/Members or through http://www.petfinder.com | |||||||||||||||||||
| RESCUE | |||||||||||||||||||
| The advantages to adopting a puppy or adult dog through a rescue organization are many as well. Most of the dogs are in foster homes, not kennel situations so the foster caregiver knows the dog, it?s temperament and any training issues he/she may have. Most dogs in foster care get lots of socialization and training while they are there. They will help you choose a dog that will be a good match for your family and will be there to assist you with any problems or questions you may have after you?ve taken your new pet home. They will also take the dog back if it doesn?t work out. Many rescues are breed specific so you they know the breed very well. The puppy or dog will be up to date on his/her vaccinations and most likely already be spayed or neutered. The disadvantage is that you don?t always know the history of the dog or the temperament and health of the parents. To find a specific breed rescue contact the national club of the breed you are interested in or local kennel clubs and to find an all breed/mixed breed rescue try http://www.petfinder.com | |||||||||||||||||||
| NEWSPAPER/BACK YARD BREEDER | |||||||||||||||||||
| If you?re lucky you can get a good puppy this way. SOMETIMES conscientious breeders who are just getting started will advertise in the newspaper, but more often these litters are the result of Fluffy being bred to Spike down the street so the kids can witness the miracle of birth or to make a little extra cash with no thought to the health or compatibility of the parents. If you choose to look for a puppy this way, ask lots and lots of questions, meet both parents if possible and don?t take the puppy home before 7 weeks of age. If ANYTHING doesn?t seem right, walk away. | |||||||||||||||||||
| PET STORE | |||||||||||||||||||
| The only advantage to buying a puppy from a pet store is availability. The puppy is there now and you can probably take it home that very day. The disadvantages are you have no idea about the history of the puppy. You don?t know where it came from or what the temperament and health of its parents are. There is very little support after the purchase and these puppies often come from puppy mills or mass breeders. | |||||||||||||||||||
| PUPPY MILL/MASS BREEDER | |||||||||||||||||||
| Again, the one advantage is availability. These places always have puppies available. There is likely no after sale support. They take your money, give you a puppy (who may or may not be healthy) and hope to never see or hear from you again. The puppies aren?t socialized and seldom vaccinated. They are often taken from their mother and littermates as young as 4 ? 5 weeks. The parents of these puppies are kept for one purpose and one purpose only. To produce puppies. | |||||||||||||||||||
| The coming holiday season is the time of year that many families start thinking about adding a pet to their family. Please take the time to make an educated decision and use this article as a guide to help you with that decision and help you find the right pet for you. | |||||||||||||||||||
| For more information contact the Wascana Dog Obedience Club at 757-6991 or http://www.oocities.org/wascana_dog_club/ | |||||||||||||||||||
| DISCLAIMER: Any views or opinions presented in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Wascana Dog Obedience Club. The Club accepts no liability for the content of this article, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. | |||||||||||||||||||