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RuumzQuestions to ask before Raise a Dog
18 Aug 2011 Comments Off
Posted under Tips
Looking at yourself and ask these questions:
Thinking About Getting a Dog?
The first question is not “What Kind of Dog” but whether to get a dog.
Can you provide what the Dog needs?
Then you need to carefully select the dog so that it makes a good match for you and your family. And please don’t forget that dogs live from ten to fifteen years or even longer.
Can You Provide the Socialization a Dog Needs?
The parent often recalls that “that’s how dogs were always kept, and that’s how it should be.” Indeed dogs are more commonly kept as indoor pets than they once were. But the living conditions are very different as well. The outside dog in times past was rarely alone. And it is being alone, not outdoors, that causes the trouble for the dog is a social animal. The dog requires companionship for its mental health as much as it requires food for its physical health. A great many outdoor dogs are poorly socialized because they are not made a regular part of the family. This leads to “bad” behavior, like barking, digging, escaping, destructiveness, and aggression, and other problem behaviors. It is possible to keep a dog outdoors and both mentally and physically healthy, but it is a lot of work.
Do You Really Want A Dog?
A dog is a lot of fun, and a lot of work. Successfully keeping a dog means attending to its needs for physical and mental stimulation as well as feeding, grooming and cleaning up.
How much free time do you have?
Since you only have 24 hours in a day, consider how much extra time you have left over.
Are you craving something to fill that space, or do you end each day wishing for extra hours to get anything done?
You need to have plenty of time to spend with a dog. A puppy takes more time than a dog. It is a lot of work to teach all the things a dog needs to know to be a fun, healthy happy dog.
How much time?
Let’s start with what an adult dog needs: The average adult dog needs you to play with it, exercise it, teach it good manners, groom it, feed and water it, and let it relieve itself. Count on at least half an hour every morning, and an hour every evening. Some dogs will take more time than that. Puppies take even more time.The younger the dog the more time you have to add. For very young puppies you will want to take them out to relieve themselves about every two hours. That is one reason why busy people often start with an adult dog instead of a puppy.
What do you enjoy?
TV, garderning, reading a book, hiking, work, coffee breaks, socializing, and shopping are a few examples. Take a moment to list five things you enjoy. If more than one person needs to be considered, place your lists side by side.
Can your adult dog join you in these activities?
Sure puppies are cute, but until they’re vaccinated and housetrained, they need a structured routine and limited exposure to outdoor environment. Additionaaly,a young puppy may not want to leave the “den” (your home) and may need time to develop physically before joining you in any strenuous activites, such as running long distances or hiking. This question targets the adult dog your puppy will grow into and outlines your chief activity for the next ten months: namely, raising your puppy.
What’s your personality like?
Are you controlling, relaxed, permissive, structured, intense? Be honest with yourself. In choosing a breed, it’s better for all involved to choose one who will understand and flow with you. If you’re getting your dog so that he can bond with a specific family member, make matching their personality traits the highest priority.
Do You Have the Patience?
Puppies are babies. They will do things that make you mad, just because they are learning. And as they grow up they act just like teenagers. They try to get away with doing what they want, instead of what you want. And adult dogs often were not properly taught, they need help learning
Teaching in a way that makes your dog healthy and happy, instead of afraid or angry, takes patience and understanding.
When a task is difficult do you give up? or work it through? Before getting a dog think about how you will handle it if the dog turns out to need more work than you thought.
What personality traits make you feel uncomfortable?
Think of this question in terms of other human beings. Does someone who is too relaxed cause your fingers to strum? Can you feel your buttons being pressed when you’re dealing with a person who needs a lot of direction? Does someone’s intensity overwhelm you? If these human traits bug you, more than likely the dog versions will too.
Who Will Have the Responsibility?
Does the responsible person have trouble getting all their chores done without being reminded? If so, it might not yet be time to get a dog. Having a dog is a responsibility.
The ultimate responsibility for the dog must rest with the adult. If the adult members of the family are not willing to take the responsibility then it is not appropriate to get the dog. Remember, getting rid of a dog because a child failed to care for it may disappoint the child, but it will very likely be the death of the dog.
Is Your Family Cooperative?
You need help. Everyone who shares the house must feel ok about having a dog in the house. Dogs naturally live their lives in groups and most are very unhappy if they are left alone in a yard. They don’t want a big yard to run in half as much as they want the warm smell of you when you are away, and your face to kiss when you are home. If you can’t keep the dog in the house it is a bad idea to get the dog. Keeping a dog outdoors most of the time fails more often than it succeeds.
Everyone who shares the house must be willing to learn how to help teach the dog good manners, and not confuse the dog by using the same words to mean different things. And you will need help if you are sick, or if you need to be away for a short time.
What are Your Long Term Plans?
You always need to be one step ahead. What will change for you and the dog in the future, will you be going away to school? going to work? and if you go away can you take the dog? if the dog can’t go with you what will happen to it?
Always think about what comes next. Find out about puppy kindergarten before you get the puppy, find out about dog training classes before your puppy gets out of kindergarten, think about fun things to do with your dog to keep both of you busy and active.
Are You Ready for the Commitment?
These books are about RAISING AND TRAINING dogs: You should be reading these books before you get a dog. These books will help you understand your commitment.
Start here:
“Before & After Getting Your Puppy ” by Ian Dunbar
“What All Good Dogs Should Know ” by Volhard
“How To Raise A Puppy You Can Live With Book & Video Set” by Rutherford and Neil
“Mother Knows Best” by Benjamin
“Help! My Dog Has An Attitude” by Bohenkamp
“Dr. Dunbar’s Good Little Dog Book” by Dunbar
“Living With Kids And Dogs…Without Losing Your Mind” by Colleen Pelar
“Sirius Puppy Training Video” by Ian Dunbar
“Dog Training For Children Video” by Ian Dunbar
“Superpuppy Training Manual” by Peter & Nancy Vollmer
“How To Housebreak Your Dog In 7 Days” by Shirlee Kalstone
** No matter how much you may like their looks, don’t pick a breed with qualities that may add stress to your life. Stress affects everyone badly from you and your family to, most of all, your puppy. Too much stress will force you to take a quick review of your lifestyle, and unfortunately, the newest addition is usually the first to go.
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