Getting a Dog, part I

This is the first in a series of articles on Getting a Dog. All articles are linked from the menu on the right, in the Articles section.

I am going to try and cover a little of everything, from deciding on a breed, to finding a good breeder, to explaining the process of adopting from a rescue. I hope these articles will be useful to first-time (and repeat) dog owners looking for their next companion. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to email me using the email address at the top right of the page.

Getting a Dog - Part I
Things to Consider before Getting a Dog

Introduction

“Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole,” says one of the quotes by Roger Caras, Emmy-award winning broadcaster and long-time member of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

To people like myself, who own and love dogs, there’s no question that this quote is true. Dogs do a great many things for us. They get us up to exercise; they greet us at the door with happy smiles and wagging tails; they snuggle with us on the couch and keep us warm at night.

On the other hand, of course, a dog can also prove to be very disruptive in our lives. Owning a dog can – and very likely will, at one point or another – have you pulling your hair out by its roots, scream in frustration (literally or figuratively), and wish you had never given in to those adorable puppy dog eyes that made you fall in love in the first place.

Fact is, most of us have an idealized picture of what things will be like before we get our new dog. Most of us picture idyllic scenes such as sitting in front of the fireplace, with the new puppy snuggled in our laps. Or going for a jog on a brisk spring morning, our adoring canine companion trotting alongside, tongue lolloping. Or maybe watching the children play in the snow outside, with their four-legged buddy gleefully chasing snow flakes as they build their snowman.

For some, this ideal picture is based on the pet dog from our childhood days: the constant, loyal companion who patiently let us dress him up, use him as a pillow, ride him like a horse, tug his tail, and who still followed us wherever we went. For others, the ideal picture is based on the dog that belongs to a friend or relative, or the intelligent dog we’ve admired on the silver screen. After all, who hasn’t watched Lassie and considered getting a Collie?

Unfortunately, this ideal dog does not exist.

For most of us, the perfect childhood dog that we remember is an idealized version of the dog we actually grew up with. Our mind has a way of primarily remembering the good, while diminishing the bad. So we may remember the time spent exploring the neighborhood, and not the time Fido our parents were ready to take Fido to the shelter because he’d chewed up the couch.

And the dog we’ve seen at the movies or met at a friend’s is a dog that we don’t know, that we only have an image of based on what we’ve seen. The friend’s dog may have been perfectly well behaved on our visit, but little do we know that he’s stolen the holiday turkey off the kitchen counter last Christmas, chased the cat under the couch yesterday, and left a smelly “present” on the living room rug just this morning.

That isn’t to say that there are no wonderful dogs, no perfect dogs. On the contrary, there are thousands of them, and they’re not difficult to find. But there are two things that make a great dog – finding the right dog for your home and being the right owner for him. Great dogs, as the saying goes, are not born. They are made.

Above all, keep this in mind: when you get a dog, try not to expect the dog to come “pre-programmed” with all the behaviors you want and none of the ones you don’t want. Dogs are not computers and don’t come with programming. Do expect, however, to step up to the plate starting on day one to be the best owner you can be. Accept some of his quirks. Love him for who he is. And train him to improve and maintain the correct behaviors. Before you know it, you’ll have the perfect dog – the perfect dog for you, anyway!

That said, let’s talk a little bit about the things that need to happen before you can make the day a dog joins your family a reality.

Bringing a new dog home is very similar to asking a family member to move in with you: there are things that need to be considered before you make such a big decision. And make no mistake, you’re bringing home a living, breathing creature who is going to demand a large amount of your time and care, and who depends on you for food, exercise, and even the most basic necessities. Bringing home a dog is a commitment you make for the lifetime of the dog. It’s a decision that is best not made in haste.


Before you Decide to get a Dog

Prior to ever thinking about the size or breed of dog that will best fit in with your lifestyle and your expectations of a dog, it’s best to sit down and take the following into consideration in all honesty:

• Are you allowed to have a dog? If you’re renting or living with family, you must get permission before getting a dog. Most landlords, private and corporate, will have some restrictions regarding the size and breeds allowed on their premises. Many will require you to pay a non-refundable deposit or monthly pet rent.
  
  
• Are you the only person in your household? If you are not, make sure everyone in the home is on board about getting a dog. If the dog will be primarily your children’s dog, make sure you explain to them what their responsibilities will be and how much work it is to own a dog. (And remember, you will be ultimately responsible.)
  
  
• What has to change in your life if you adopt a dog? Think about how much time and care a dog will need. Will you have to get a pet sitter just to go away for the day? Will you have to come home for lunch to let the dog out to go potty?
  
  
• Do you have the room to accommodate the kind of dog you’d like? If you’re living in a small apartment, there may not be room for the dog crate anywhere. Where would you put the food and water dishes?
  
  
• Are you financially ready to have a dog? Owning a dog means lots of bills will be added to your budget: quality food and treats, vet visits, vaccinations, preventive treatment for heartworm and ticks, licensing, training classes, and, and, and. And don’t forget: the unexpected happens. If your dog eats a sock at four in the morning, do you have the funds available for a trip to the emergency vet?
  
  
• Does your renter’s or home owner’s insurance cover the breed of dog you would like to get? Will they add charges to your policy? Many, if not most, companies restrict some breeds of dog that are considered to be “aggressive” and do not make exceptions.
  
  
• Does your city or county ban the breed you’d like?
  

I’m sure that, by now, some of you are wondering why I am starting with all of that, instead of moving on to picking the right breed of dog, bringing him home, and getting on with life. After all, that’s what most dog books do.

This, however, is not “most dog books”, and I believe (and strongly) that asking yourself these questions can save you a lot of grief and heartache later on. If more people planned ahead before bringing a dog home, there might just be less dogs in the shelter. I have seen many, many dogs that were dumped at the local shelter for reasons that could have been prevented: “My roommate is getting tired of the dog barking”, “I didn’t know my dog would get this big, and now I have to give him up because the apartment complex only allows breeds that don’t get larger than 30lbs”, “I can’t afford vet care, so maybe if I turn him over to the shelter, someone will adopt him and care for his medical condition.”

I therefore want you to understand that owning a dog is more than just going out on a whim, buying a dog at the pet store, and bringing him home. A dog is not a toy that can be bought and dumped when you feel like it. A dog is a living, breathing being that is completely dependent on you for his most basic needs: food, shelter, veterinary care, and love.

It is my personal recommendation that you should reconsider bringing home a dog if you are not sure that you are allowed to own a dog (or the specific king of dog you’d like), or if you don’t have the time and money to provide him with the necessary care. There is absolutely nothing wrong with waiting to adopt a dog until you are certain that you can provide a good, stable home. And no, that does not mean only rich people should own dogs. I’m not rich. But you do need to plan ahead and prepare.

If you are certain that you are ready, and that everyone in your household is ready, to welcome a new four-legged companion into your home, then let’s now talk a bit about finding the dog that is right for you (and your family, if you’re not single). Just as with any relationship, finding a dog that you “click” with and that works out for your individual lifestyle makes all the difference, because not every dog is equally well suited for every home, and vice versa.

to be continued