“Giving a dog as a
gift”
Thinking of giving a dog as
a gift? You might want to think
again. Animal shelters say they see an
increase in the number of animals given up after the holidays. The holidays are a very busy time and having
a pet dog is a big responsibility.
Dogs live 10-15 years or
more and adopting a dog is a long-term commitment that needs to taken very
seriously.
There is a reason why there
are so many homeless dogs and it is usually because the owner and dog were
mismatched and not because there is something wrong with the dog. Owners often
do not realize how much effort is required to having a pet dog and are not
meeting their dog’s needs so behavior problems may arise. Millions of dogs are
killed in Shelters every year.
Bringing a dog into a home is a very big decision that should be
carefully weighed out.
Here is a fun alternative
to giving a dog as a gift.
If you know someone that
really wants to get a dog, give him or her this guide and a promise to help
them pick out the right dog for their needs.
You can even make up a cute, handmade certificate that states your
promise to help them pick out the dog.
You can wrap the certificate up inside of a dog bowl or with a box of
dog treats or something too. This way,
you get to be a part of giving them the dog but also be responsible enough to
help them pick the dog that would be best matched to them. The following guide goes into further detail
on how important it is to match the individual dog to the person.
Guide to adopting a dog.
It can be a very emotional
experience to fall in love with a dog and want to give them as a gift. But there are a lot of factors to consider
as to what kind of dog is best for suited for each person. The amount of exercise a dog needs is usually
one of the most important needs that often do NOT get met properly. If a dogs needs are met, you will have a
great companion full of love for you.
If you don’t meet your dogs needs you will run into problem behavior
that can be a nightmare. This article
will help you to truly understand what a dogs needs will be so you can pick the
right match for a successful life together!
What kind of breed should
you get? Should you adopt a puppy or adult dog? Where should you get the dog?
Just like people, dogs have
individual personalities. Some dogs are
highly energetic, while others are more calm and passive, some dogs are very
social, and others not. So if you
have your heart set on a particular breed for example, you still need to search
within that breed and find the dog that best matches your lifestyle. Also, think about the option of finding a
mixed breed with at least one of the breeds you may like.
But before you even consider
what breed of dog, you should first examine your life a little to discover what
kind of dog would best “match” you. If
you are someone who loves the outdoors and is very athletic, then you’d
probably do best with a high energy dog.
If you are someone who likes to stay home and are not able to get out
and walk very much then you wouldn’t want a dog that is considered high energy
and needs a lot of extra exercise.
In this sense dogs are like
people, they all differ in personality and needs. Some dogs are more high energy and those dogs need to be matched
with someone who plans to bring them out a lot; running, hiking, dog sports,
long walks, etc. Others may want a
mellower dog as a companion, who is content with hanging out with you all day
and doesn’t require as much exercise as a high-energy dog.
Adopting an adult dog has
a lot of benefits over adopting a puppy because you already know what type of personality the dog has and if it
matches yours. Plus, puppies require a
lot more work with housetraining, chewing and you’ll lose sleep at night caring
for their needs; while adult dogs have already gone through all those difficult
puppy phases. There are a lot of places
to find adult dogs needing homes. You
can contact your local animal shelter, or search for dog rescue organizations
in your area online. There are rescue
organizations for purebred dogs as well.
Although adopting a mixed breed also has a lot of health benefits
because they tend to get the best of their mix of breed genetics without the
health problems many purebred dogs suffer from.
How old are the household
members in your family?
If you have children under 8
then you will not want to get a puppy under 6 months of age because puppies
have sharp teeth and claws that can cause injury. You also would not want to get a small, toy size dog because
these dogs are so small they can be very fragile and sustain injury
easily. So with small children you are
better off getting an adult dog that is medium to large in size. Dogs over age two can be ideal because they
have already gone through the difficult puppy and adolescence stages.
If you have elderly or
physically challenged people in the household you would not want to get a
large, young, energetic dog that could knock them over and sustain injury.
Dogs need daily exercise
and good obedience training.
If you are going to be gone
all day for work as many are, you’ll need to set aside an hour or so to take
care of them both before you leave and after you get home. It is important to understand that you’ll
need to exercise them BEFORE going to work and also after returning home. If you do not meet your dog’s energy and
training needs YOU WILL have behavioral problems such as: excessive barking,
uncontrollable jumping on you, separation anxiety, destructive chewing, and
possibly aggression among many other possibilities.
I hope this guide can help
you make the right choice for you when deciding to adopt a dog. When a dogs needs are met they can be a
truly wonderful companion for many years to come.
---------------------------
Julie Bjelland Lokhandwala
has created the interactive Online Dog Training Guide and Consultation at: http://www.webdogtrainer.com/
You can ask Julie any dog
question!
"Julie had an
immediately calming effect on us as dog owners. She can explain the canine perspective and how we as humans can
interact with our dog in a positive way, even when disciplining. Julie was
super patient with all of our questions and even fielded our email questions
after training ended," said Sina and Ed of Fremont, California.