Print Article for : Want To Adopt A Dog

Your Online Guide » Pet Guide » Guide to Dogs

[W26]Want To Adopt A Dog

by Rebecca Prescott, Reb

Adopting a dog from a Humane Society, or a private shelter, can be a great gift to the dogs fighting for survival on the streets, abandoned by owners, or mistreated before they were rescued. However, this should not be done naively, or with the heart alone. Any new purchase of a dog needs to be done carefully, and not on impulse. There is nothing worse, for the family or the dog, to take a dog into your care and then discover that problems arise which you are unable to handle. This ultimately contributes to the sad fate of abandoned dogs.

There are many factors to consider when thinking about getting a new pet. There are the ongoing costs of food, vet bills from routine operations like desexing and minor illnesses or mishaps, as well as the time and money involved in training dogs. Depending on your experience with dogs, you may need to take your dog along to an obedience school. Dogs need to be trained so that they know how to behave around people, to prevent any biting or aggressive behaviour around neighbors or small children, and to establish a harmonious and understanding relationship with their owners. Many of the reasons people abandon dogs and other pets can be avoided if they take the time to train their dog, and understand where the behaviours that exasperate come from - and what to do about them. That is responsible dog ownership.

One of the advantages of adopting a dog from a shelter or humane society is that the animal will usually be desexed. Despite some lingering mythology around the subject, desexing does not psychologically or developmentally harm the dog in any way. That is a projection of a human response onto an animal of a completely different species.

Some private dog shelters have a 'No Kill' policy. This means that unlike many others that euthanase a dog if they are not rehomed within a certain period of time, these shelters place dogs in foster homes until a new owner is found. The advantage of adopting a dog from one of these places is that the temperament of the dog will be more well known. Plus, many of the behavioral issues that can come from the trauma of being abandoned, or being abused, are healed in a loving environment by the foster carer before the dog is available for adoption. Things like how well a dog interacts with other dogs will generally be known, which is essential if you have a multi-pet household.

No Kill shelters also rehabilitate very sick or malnourished dogs before they are put up for adoption. Most shelters and humane societies check a dog's health before letting them get adopted, so you at least know what you are getting in to. They can also provide advice on whether a dog is suitable for a more experienced dog owner, whether a dog is suitable for a family, and can provide tips on how to smoothly integrate a dog into a new household.

To decide to adopt a dog is a very noble thing to do, especially given the huge number of unwanted dogs in the world. As well as that, by adopting a dog from a shelter, you're actually helping that shelter help other animals. Whilst these dogs are not free, the charge is nominal, and generally covers health care costs for the dog. Many dogs may be given away free 'to a good home', but going this path is risky. You won't know if the dog has a serious or contagious illness, which can be a disaster if you have other pets. Plus, you won't get unbiased advice on that dog's temperament, or history. Many times these owners really just want to get rid of the dogs in their care, and not all are scrupulous about to whom they give the dogs to.

Since time immemorial, dogs have held a secure place in manâ??s hearth and home, whether it be merely for use as mousers and ratters, as in the middle ages, or to act as a guard of the household or purely as a companion to his owners. There has been no change in this scenario down the years and dogs remain, to this day, the animal that the largest numbers of humans adopt as their pet.

Perhaps it might be of interest for us to try and work out the various reasons why people want to have a dog. After all, theyâ??ve been part of human households for quite a while. It is said that dogs are descended from a creature, which was very similar to a wolf, called Tomarctus. Apparently, it wandered the earth some 15 million years ago. Since the transformation into their current form, the first known records show them as being pets to cavemen. Exactly what caused the cavemen to keep dogs as pets instead of some other creatures can only be guessed at. Perhaps they helped him in his hunts, or acted as a guard or just provided companionship in the desolate wilds.

Today, the situation can be said to be somewhat different, although companionship and providing security still remain valid reasons. Letâ??s look at some of the other reasons why people keep dogs.

It could be because the owner has just lost a dog that he considered his best friend and feels frantic to get another one. This would be one of the most common reasons for wanting a dog. Once you discover the joys of having a dog around you, one that becomes your friend and companion; it becomes hugely difficult to do without his friendly presence.

A second reason could be the â??keeping up with the Jonesâ??sâ?? syndrome. A family or a person living close to you have got themselves a dog and you see for yourself the fun they are having with their new pup. That is when you start thinking to yourself how much a dog could enrich your life and that of your family. Their selfless love and devotion canâ??t but thrill you when you come back into your house. If you live by yourself, all the more reason for you to get yourself a â??friendâ??. Someone who is genuinely happy to see you and who likes your company above all others.

A further reason for people bringing dogs into their homes is because someone in their family might be pressurizing them to get a dog. In all probability, it will be the young son or daughter and really, dogs do indeed provide wonderful companionship to kids. However, if you do face a similar kind of pressure someday, give some thought to the set-up in your home before you give in to your kidsâ?? pleas, because there will have to be someone who will take care of the dogâ??s upbringing and, if your kid is less than 10 years old, he or she may not be up to this task as yet.

Another very common reason for people bringing dogs into their households is also one of the most obvious. Someone sees a cute puppy or dog, which they like very much and which is available and they bring it home. As simple as that. But really, if you come to think of it, isnâ??t this what lifeâ??s all about. The love and affection that springs up within you when you see a particular person or animal first off is probably the chemistry that is likely to work best.

Finally, you may have fond memories of a dog you had in the old days and feel that you really enjoyed the time when he was with you. It may have helped you develop personal qualities being with him and perhaps you feel that your children would also benefit from being around a pet dog.

Now that weâ??ve examined the major reasons why people such as you may want to keep dogs, let us now try evaluating whether you are, in fact, ready to have a dog of your own. Remember, this is not a one-day exercise. You are going to be your dogâ??s keeper for the whole of his life, which, for many dogs is 12 to 15 years.

If it is a puppy that you are bringing in, you have to be prepared to go through the entire life cycle of the dog with its attendant joys, sorrows, trials and tribulations. Training him, seeing to his needs when he is little, right up to the time when your aging dog may be on medication and may need your help to even move.

It is a labor-intensive and tiring job and you will have to forego many a party and tailor your movements to suit the needs of your pet. Donâ??t even attempt to take on a dog in your household if you are a clean freak. There will be many times when your puppy will poop and pee all over the house and you will have to clean the muck. Donâ??t take him on if you are basically lazy and donâ??t like too much activity. Donâ??t take him on if you love vacations and often travel for weeks or months at a stretch.

But, if you are prepared to spend quality time at home with your dog and are not too fussy about cleaning up your puppyâ??s poop and have the sense of humor to accept his little pranks, maybe even in the middle of the night, a dog is the perfect companion for you.

So go ahead, join the ranks of the millions who, over the centuries, have chosen to keep a dog as their pet. You wonâ??t regret it.

Article Source : Benefits Of Having Dogs

About Author

Both Rebecca Prescott & Nancy Richards are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Rebecca Prescott has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Yoga Practice and Woman Menopause. Rebecca Prescott has information on here. This includes. Rebecca Prescott's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.

Nancy Richards has sinced written about articles on various topics from Doberman Pinscher, Pets and Dog Breeds. The author, Nancy Richards, is a dog lover and dog trainer for the last 8 years. She has published a comprehensive, all-inclusive ebook