| Sixty percent of American homes include at least one | | | | prepared for a new dog's arrival. If you want to get a |
| dog. Owning a dog is a great experience, but there's a | | | | dog as a gift, present the person with a card to |
| lot of responsibility that goes along with ownership! In | | | | surprise them, then take them to the shelter or breeder |
| order to ensure that your dog is as happy and healthy | | | | to let them pick out the dog that is just right for them. |
| as he/she can be, you should follow a few rules of | | | | A dog is living being with independent thoughts, feelings, |
| thumb. | | | | and needs. Owning a dog is a huge responsibility that |
| Before you even get a dog you should think and | | | | can last up to fifteen years or more. Having a dog |
| consider breed choice carefully. Study the breed (or | | | | means much more than supplying it with food and |
| mix of breeds) that you are interested in, and learn | | | | water. Careful planning and preparation are a must |
| what that dog(s) has been bred to do. Consider the | | | | before bringing a dog, or any other living creature into a |
| dog's natural abilities/temperament and try to match | | | | home. |
| them best to your home environment. | | | | How Much Is That Doggie In the Window.... |
| For instance, if you live in a small apartment then a | | | | How many times have the waggily tails and adorable |
| large, active dog such as a Labrador retriever wouldn't | | | | antics of pet shop puppies enchanted us? Cute as |
| be such a good idea; unless you bike, run, roller blade | | | | they are, one should never, ever buy a puppy from a |
| or do another activity that you could share with your | | | | pet store...ever. |
| canine friend in order to burn off all of it's natural | | | | Pet shop puppies and other puppy stores that sell |
| energy. Alternatively, if you seek a dog that will do all | | | | either purebred or "designer dogs" (mixed breeds); all |
| those activities with you, then a lazy, physically | | | | have one thing in common-they all get their puppies |
| challenged breed may not be the right choice for you. | | | | from puppy mills. |
| In order for a dog to be happy-truly happy-you need to | | | | Puppy mills are horrible, mass dog-breeding operations |
| honor the traits that have been bred into him. For | | | | that are notorious for over breeding, inbreeding, and |
| instance, a working dog needs a job, much as it needs | | | | horrific cases of abuse and inhumane treatment-all in |
| food and water. A herding dog needs room to run, | | | | the name of making money. These operations prey on |
| preferably with something to round up. A toy dog | | | | consumers who only see adorable puppies in appealing |
| needs lots of attention and gentle affection. If these | | | | storefronts and on fancy websites. |
| basic needs are not met, a dog develops behavioral | | | | What they don't see is where the puppies came from. |
| issues such as anxiety, chewing, digging, barking | | | | Puppy mill operations are virtual torture chambers with |
| excessively, biting, and more. | | | | too many dogs stuffed in too small cages, living in filth |
| If your home environment can't honor the traits of your | | | | and squalor conditions with no medical or preventive |
| favorite breed, you need to choose another type of | | | | care. |
| dog. To do anything less would subject the dog to a | | | | Life is particularly cruel for "breeding stock" dogs that |
| life that does not challenge, honor, or accommodate | | | | usually spend their entire lives in cages, never feeling |
| the traits that have been genetically programmed into | | | | the sensation of the ground under their feet. They are |
| him/her-and that doesn't sound fair, does it? | | | | continually bred for years with no human |
| To bring a dog into a home that does not honor it's | | | | companionship and no hope of ever becoming a part |
| genetically programmed traits would be similar to | | | | of a family. Once they are no longer able to produce |
| preventing a very athletic child from ever participating | | | | puppies, they are usually killed. |
| in sports, or even going outside to run and play. You | | | | The purchase of these puppies perpetuates the |
| wouldn't be able to change who the child is, simply by | | | | industry, and the need for more breeder stock dogs to |
| providing a non-athletic, video-game-playing home. No | | | | live and die in horrible conditions. This irresponsible and |
| matter what, the child is, and always will be, athletic. It's | | | | over-breeding practice results in hundreds of |
| what he has been genetically programmed to be, and | | | | thousands of puppies with major health and/or |
| nothing can change that. Preventing such a child from | | | | behavioral problems. |
| playing sports and honoring their traits would be totally | | | | So where do you get a dog? There are many, |
| unfair, and would make the child miserable. | | | | wonderful, purebred and mixed breed dogs in shelters |
| The same holds true with a dog---if you can't supply it | | | | rescues around the country in need of homes. (Be |
| with the type of environment or intellectual stimulation | | | | sure the shelter/rescue you deal with has exemplary |
| the particular breed requires, then that would be totally | | | | veterinary and business references). The American |
| unfair to the dog, and you would do best to choose a | | | | Kennel Club is a great resource to find reputable |
| different breed that realistically fits into your lifestyle. | | | | breeders of pure breed puppies, and occasionally |
| Ho, Ho, OH NO! | | | | these breeders may also have young dogs for sale. |
| Never get a dog during the holidays, as a gift for | | | | Again, check references, and always take a reputable |
| someone, or on a whim. Bringing a dog into a home | | | | behaviorist/trainer with you on your dog search to |
| during the holidays (typically the busiest and most | | | | ensure the dog you choose is emotionally balanced, |
| stressful time of year) isn't fair to the dog. Pick a time | | | | healthy, and the right breed type for your family. |
| well after the holidays when the home is quiet and well | | | | |