|
There are many reasons why people decide to keep a dog and find themselves
faced with the question: which kind of dog shall I choose ? They may be looking
for a replacement for a lost, faithful and trusted housemate; they may need a
companion because they live alone; they may want a playmate for their children
and a way of teaching them responsibility and care for other creatures; they may
seek a pet to share the life of a childless home; or they may wish to acquire a
status symbol to compete with the lady next door who attracts so much attention
with her strikingly fashionable dog. Whatever the reason for wanting a pet, no
one should rashly rush into acquiring a dog. They should not only consider their
own interests as prospective owners but, first and foremost, think of the
happiness of their future companion. If you choose your dog with care, your
life will be enriched for years by a friend who will give much love and
satisfaction and cause little annoyance. If, on the other hand, a dog is
acquired without forethought or only because of its looks, you will risk being
bitterly disappointed. A dog placed in unsuitable, uncongenial surroundings
will feel unhappy and will not show his true character. It may become sullen and
start growling and misbehaving, perhaps even becoming so undisciplined and
aggressive that it proves unacceptable to his new owner who will blame the
failure on the animal or its breed instead of admitting that the fault lay in
his ill-considered choice. In keeping a pet the owner is taking on a
considerable responsibility, and if, for instance, the pet is only wanted as a
status symbol, it would be best to think again. The first question to ask
yourself is whether your way of life and personal circumstances allow you to
keep a dog. The time which you can make available for the dog is very important.
It is necessary to be able to give it sufficient attention because no dog can do
without it. You need time to prepare his meals, to give it its daily brush, to
take it for a walk for at least an hour a day and moreover to let it out two or
three times a day, which means going with him and not letting him loose on the
street. A second, no less important question concerns the attitudes of all the
members of the family. Is everybody happy with the idea of having a dog ? Its
arrival may give rise to friction. Children so easily promise to look after and
take out their new companion, but as soon as the novelty wears off they forget
the responsibilities they have undertaken. It is vital that the mistress of the
house wants to have a dog, for it is she who, during the absence of her husband
and children, will probably have most to do with the new house pet. She may have
to cope with the less agreeable jobs such as cleaning up the mud which will be
brought into the house in bad weather, removing dog hairs from carpets and
furniture and coping with those other little mishaps which occur. The main
burden of house-training the dog will fall on her if the dog is a young one. She
will also have to look after it if it is ill. If all the family are agreed
that they want a dog there is another problem to consider. What is to be done
with the dog during holidays ? Can it always be taken along ? If not, are there
friends able and ready to offer hospitality, or will it have to go to a boarding
kennel ? in the latter case you should not wait until the day before leaving to
look around for a good kennel. As you might expect, boarding out your dog may
prove quite expensive; expenses that must be added to the dog licenses, the
unavoidable vet's bills and the cost of food which you should not economize on
the quantity. Remember that any possession that brings joy also involves care
and responsibility and the dog is no exception. If, after considering all these
points, you still have an unquenchable desire to own a dog, you may then decide
what kind of dog to choose. |
