Pet Training Tip No. 3 - March 2008

Written by J. P. Bonnelly of www.therepublicofdog.com.

Q: I am considering adopting a dog for my family. Do you have any advice or items I should be considering before adopting our dog?

A: Here are some questions I ask when doing a pre-adoption consultation:

Do you have time for a dog? It is very important that people realize a dog will take time in order to provide proper care. Things to consider are feeding (twice a day), walks, training, vet trips, socialization and of course your attention/time and love.

Why do you want a dog? Make sure the reason you are adopting a dog is true to your heart. I have heard about people getting a dog because “it is what you are supposed to do” or “it is the thing to do”. If you are adopting a dog for the kids, are you ready to take care for the dog when the kids stop? It happens. I’ve seen dogs surrendered to shelters because the kids no longer take care of the dog and their parents want to “teach them a lesson”. It happens. A dog can help teach kids responsibility, but that is for the lifetime of the dog. Adopt a dog because you truly want to bring them into your life.

Can you afford the expenses of having a dog? Caring for a dog over his/her lifetime is an added expense to your budget. Take into consideration the following costs involved with having a dog in the family: Yearly medical exam and vaccinations ($80 - $150). Monthly heartworm and flea control ($20/month). Food can vary greatly depending on the quality. Spring for better quality dog food now to keep the vet bill low later. Dog food (about $10 - $40/month). Other expenses included: treats, training, dog beds, toys, grooming, daycare or boarding. For a little more info on the expenses, check out the following link: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1671&articleid=1543

Will you train your dog or how will you handle behavior issues that might surface? Pretty much a must have on the training. The price of dog training ranges quite a bit. Look into obedience training right off the bat! Don’t wait for issues to get out of hand before calling someone for help. I start training dogs as early as 10 weeks of age! And it is never too late to train a dog because you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Is this a good time in your life for a dog? This is an important aspect to review before adopting a dog. Are you constantly traveling? This could add to the expense of having a dog. Plus, if you are gone all the time can you really give a dog the attention he or she needs? How about the family schedule? I am sometimes amazed at how busy families are these days. Is there truly time in the family schedule for a dog family member? Adopting a dog can be a wonderful experience for the entire family and it is important to know that you can provide the attention and love a dog needs on a daily basis.

Will you be a compassionate and responsible dog owner? This question sums up all of the ones listed above. Adopting a dog requires compassion, responsibility, dedication, time and plenty of love. There is no perfect formula out there for raising a dog, but apply these basics requirements and you will be off to a good start!