By Lisa Ellman ~
A family member told me he wants to get a dog. I asked if he would like me to go with him to check out the shelters? And he said, “Yes.”
We got to a shelter and began walking the corridors, checking out the couple dozen or so dogs. I found only one dog that would fit his needs, regarding size, age, etc.
Unfortunately, the dog had just been brought in and wouldn’t be available until the following week. This news brought out the truth behind “his” wanting a dog. It turned out that his teenage kids, who live with him every other week, were the ones that wanted a dog. He was actually on the fence about it.
Along with the subsequent news he would be going out of town the following two weekends, THEN starting school (he’s a teacher).
I asked, “What makes you think you should have a dog? Please, do not get a dog!” I pointed out that not only was he not committed to the idea, but he didn’t have the time.
The more social the animal, the more time it requires. Dogs are commonly more needy and time consuming than any other pet. Cats are needy at times (mostly their own times).
Birds need a lot of care and — depending on the species — stimulation, and even rats, which make great pets, need to have their cages cleaned weekly and are quite social, needing more care and time than people imagine.
I have often promoted the idea that families bring a new pet into the home during summer vacation, as opposed to the end-of-year holiday time, a.k.a. a “Christmas puppy.” My rationale addresses several points:
• Things are crazy and chaotic around the holidays. Family and friends are coming and going through your home.
• Your family may be planning to go out of town. What are you going to do with your new dog that needs some intense initial bonding time?
• There is often a lot of food around, some of which may be toxic to a dog, plants as well. You can’t be, and don’t want to be, watching the dog during your parties; or lock it in a room or outside for hours at a time.
• The kids don’t have as much time off as on summer break. Summer offers time to really bond with the new pet, or in the case of puppies, maybe start some basic training. The time before summer break can be spent researching which is the right pet to fit the family and preparing the home.
In the case of a do — securing the yard and gathering up necessary equipment like bowls, bed, leashes, etc.
All of this preparation and consideration should apply to any animal you plan to bring into your home. Especially preparing your kids for the responsibilities and time commitments.
Even goldfish need the water in their bowls changed frequently and can easily be overfed. Unfortunately, I’ve killed my fair share.
So, before impulsively deciding to bring a live being, be it mammal, reptile or bird, consider the amount of time you have to provide the attention it deserves. You want to ensure that whatever the animal is, it lives a long, happy life. Can fish be happy?
Lisa Ellman has been working with animals for over 20 years, including dog grooming, presentations with wild animals and vet tech positions. Her passion, however, is dogs and in 1996 she founded Good Dogma Obedience Training, offering basic obedience training and behavior modification. Her comprehensive theory on training is simple: “Train the human, condition the dog.” See her website at: www.Gooddogma.net and catch her radio show on 97.3 FM The Rock in the Estero Bay Area, 4 p.m. Saturdays. Email her at: [email protected]. Good Dogma is a monthly feature of Tolosa Press.
