Dog Owner Reality Check List: What To Know Before You Get A Dog

Article Title: Dog Owner Reality Check List: What To Know
Before You Get A Dog
Author: Sherry Frewerd

So you've decided it's time your family had a dog. Your kids
have bugged you for months and after seeing how happy your
neighbors seem with their wonderful pet you've given in and
you're ready to go dog shopping. Perhaps you had a dog as a
child, so you know how much fun dogs can be – right? Well most
likely what you've forgotten though is that your mom or dad were
the ones actually caring for the dog. You have lovely warm fuzzy
memories of romps in the front yard on sunny afternoons with the
Rover of your childhood. Ask your parents to go down memory lane
with you and what you may find out is how much trouble old Rover
really was and that mom had to continually clean the dog doo off
your feet during those afternoon romps in the yard.

As an adult with a family now, you should take a few minutes to
learn some of the important aspects of real dog ownership before
you commit to your first puppy.

Dog Owner Reality #1 – Puppies are like human babies who poop
on the floor. A puppy is like a toddler and until you've
properly trained them they require constant looking after and
follow-up. Even after you've housebroken your puppy he'll still
need to be supervised unless you want everything in your home to
have a nice `chewed-upon' look to it.

Dog Owner Reality #2 – Without Training a Puppy Goes Nuts. I
remember the dogs of my childhood. My father would bring home a
stray or a stray would sit on the front porch until my Mother
gave in and started feeding it; enough said. These dogs were
never trained. They barked at everything, dug up the yard and
chewed up their own dog houses. One dog would dig out of the
fenced in yard and run in traffic like a wild dog. So, in order
to keep your dog safe from oncoming semi-trucks and your yard
safe from doggie destruction, you'll need to find puppy classes
or at least purchase a good self-help dog obedience training
book. Dogs need to be taught what's expected of them just like
your kids do. Oh, and while you're at it, teach your kids how to
socialize correctly with your new pet.

Dog Owner Reality #3 – Dogs Are Expensive. Very Expensive. And
I'm not talking about how much the breeder charges for the sweet
little bundle of slobber either. You'll need to budget for puppy
vaccinations, licensing, food, toys, bedding, kennels, flea and
tick meds, heartworm meds and then if you have to leave for
vacation and haven't a pet sitter, then kennel boarding fees.
The list goes on of course because there's always something.
Long story short, you'll need to add the cost of caring for your
new dog into your family budget for at least 10-15 years if not
longer, depending on the breed you choose.

Dog Owner Reality #4 – Your Little Puppy Could Grow into a Huge
DOG. Well, duh, but you'd be surprised at how many eager puppy
owners fall madly in love with their new adorable little chubby
cherub and then 6 months later wonder what in the world is this
100 lb.monster tracking mud into their kitchen and eating them
out of house and home. Where'd the cherub go? He grew into a DOG
that's where, and with a little planning ahead, you'll know
pretty much exactly what to expect when your dog is grown up.

Dog Owner Reality #5 – Dogs Love to Run and Play – A lot. This
could be a bonus or a big pain in the hiney depending on your
lifestyle. If you're into walking for exercise, then you'll have
a ready-made walking companion in your new dog. If you have
kids, then they too will have built-in romping partners. One of
the health benefits of dog ownership is the increased
cardiovascular exercise they can bring to a family. Keep in mind
however, that you can always choose a dog breed that doesn't
require quite as much extra activity if you're not in the
position to get out of the house daily. Select a dog breed to
fit your activity level and you'll be pleasantly rewarded.

Now that you've made the decision to bring a dog into your
family, you'll find that with the proper training and planning
your new companion will bring much joy and happiness to your
family and create lasting memories for all.

About The Author: Find the information you need to properly
care for your new dog at `The Dog Owner's Handbook'
http://dogownerhandbook.homestead.com

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