Be Your Dog's Best Friend
Module 2 - Section 1
Module 2 - Section 1
Considerations before getting a puppy.
1. Points to consider
2. Owner's responsibility
3. More than two dogs?
1. Points to consider
2. Owner's responsibility
3. More than two dogs?
Far too many people buy a puppy on an emotional impulse – normally at Flea markets, side of the road, in pet shops, shopping centres etc, and all too often, these impulsive purchases can end in heartache.
Getting a new puppy is an exciting event for an individual or family. However, so often far too little thought is put into the decision. When we bear in mind that we could spend the next 14 odd years (or more) with this dog, it puts a whole new perspective onto the decision to get one. It is a lifetime commitment and not only does the potential owner owe themselves the time to investigate further; the prospective dog deserves the time and energy this involves. If people did take the time, then we would have a lot less dogs in shelters.
If you were looking for a new car and wanted it to be a VW Polo and blue in colour, would you just look in the paper, phone the owners, ask its age, the price and then ask for it to be delivered? Of course not, you would go and look at the car, check the condition, look at the service booklet and get as much history on it as possible, check the tyres, take it for a test drive, etc and you may even get a mechanic to look at it before you part with your cash. After all, this vehicle needs to take you from A-B in a reliable and safe manner with good petrol consumption and so on.
Then why is so little research put into getting a dog? A dog that will live with you and your family for well over a decade – a dog that has sharp teeth that could cause damage to the family. Simple, people just haven't thought about it from this point of view, and that is why people will have pup’s delivered to them or purchase from internet sites such as junk mail and various other unsavoury avenues – it is simply that people have not been told to consider such a purchase – once they realize that these questions need to be asked, it is very doubtful if an emotional purchase would be made again in the future.
1. Points For clients to consider
What new owners need to ask themselves is why do they want a new puppy? What do they expect from that puppy? What is the aim of getting it? The following questions will give you an idea of what to ask yourself to have a good idea of which questions are going to be relevant rather than including them all:
Is it to replace a dog that has passed? As you can never replace one child with another; neither can you replace a dog that has passed on with another dog. Dogs, as people, are individuals. We often come across owners who are constantly comparing the new edition with one that they had before. This just doesn’t work, is unfair to the dog and often a bond is never formed.
This tends to happen when a friend or family member has said that the quicker a new dog is obtained the better. We disagree. People need to go through the grieving process before getting another dog, but having said this, there is no hard and fast rule, we are all individuals and must do what is right for us – but don’t be pressured into getting a dog you don’t really want by outside influences, or because you think the existing dog is lonely.
What are the family’s expectations of the new puppy? It is a good idea to get the family to put together a list of what they want from the dog. If you have a husband who wants a large outside watch dog, a mother who wants something small for company, one child who wants a medium sized dog to go running and playing with, another who wants a dog to cuddle up too, you will soon realize that you have a potential problem on your hands! This may sound rather unlikely, but unfortunately it happens all too often – people don’t talk! The first step in deciding what breed you want is for all members in the family to make a list of their expectations and the reasons they want a pup and then to sit down and discuss the various options and find a happy medium.
Are you thinking of getting a breed you have had before? If you have always had a particular breed, such as a Collie and now decide to get another one, have a look at how your own life may have changed since you last had a puppy - can you handle this type of dog at your current age, do you have a large enough garden for one, are you strong enough to handle it, can you give it the exercise it needs, especially if a working breed.
If you have existing dogs, how will the new pup/dog fit in? We often come across situations where people already have two dogs and suddenly decide they want another. It may be a case of you being a caring person or family and adopting a dog that was found on the side of the road or similar. What you may not realize is that the addition of this new dog could very well upset the apple cart in their own pack and cause reactive behaviour and various behavioural problems. When you have an existing pack that co-habits happily, you owe it to the pack not to cause unnecessary disruptions.
I want a dog for protection If this is the reason for purchasing a pup, forget it. Dogs are animals that require attention and not watch dogs that spend all their time in the yard as security measures – rather invest in electric fencing or an alarm, or both!
Some of the reasons not to invest in a dog for protection - dogs are social animals and will be very unhappy living outside by themselves, and very often dogs like this will develop behaviour problems. A dog living outside can easily be poisoned. Thirdly, a dog that is not made to feel that the family is part of its pack is more likely to look after itself, not the family. A dog that is part of the family, is kept inside at night, is more likely to be a deterrent to a potential burglar by barking from inside the house, raising the alarm, rather than outside in the garden.
Dogs that are bought as watchdogs/protection dogs tend to be breeds that are perceived to be good for protection such as Rotti’s, Boerboel, Pitti etc. Do you really want one of these dogs, untrained, mixing with your kids or visitors when outside, or heavens forbid dashing out the gate (by mistake of course) when somebody else is walking their little Maltese past your gate?
Are all members of the family ready for a new pup? If you are pregnant or considering a family, now may not be the time for a new pup as you will have your hands full with baby responsibilities and have very little free time for the pup. Also, if you have very young children, it would be better to wait till the child is older and more responsible. It is very difficult to watch a young child and pup 24/7 and ensure that the puppy’s ear/hair/tail etc are not pulled and to watch that the pup does not start to use the child as the newest chew toy! The first few weeks with the new addition are crucial and you need to have both the time and the energy to do the work concerned if you want your pup to grow up to be a well behaved, well balanced member of the family.
You may desperately want a new pup, but your husband may be totally against it. Married life is difficult enough without adding in additional stress factors and what a way for a dog to come into a family – unwanted - dogs feel stress as well!
Can you make sure that your dog receives enough interaction with different people? Again, this may sound like a strange statement, but all too often we work with dogs that are afraid of men, children or different races, simply because they have not had enough interaction with them especially when pups.
Are you thinking about changing jobs or have just changed? This could mean that you would be busier at work than normal and that your times may not be the same as they were before, and it will be more difficult to help the pup settle. You may be in for overtime, working after hours at home, or travel more, which would leave you in a difficult situation with a new pup on your hands.
Getting a new puppy is an exciting event for an individual or family. However, so often far too little thought is put into the decision. When we bear in mind that we could spend the next 14 odd years (or more) with this dog, it puts a whole new perspective onto the decision to get one. It is a lifetime commitment and not only does the potential owner owe themselves the time to investigate further; the prospective dog deserves the time and energy this involves. If people did take the time, then we would have a lot less dogs in shelters.
If you were looking for a new car and wanted it to be a VW Polo and blue in colour, would you just look in the paper, phone the owners, ask its age, the price and then ask for it to be delivered? Of course not, you would go and look at the car, check the condition, look at the service booklet and get as much history on it as possible, check the tyres, take it for a test drive, etc and you may even get a mechanic to look at it before you part with your cash. After all, this vehicle needs to take you from A-B in a reliable and safe manner with good petrol consumption and so on.
Then why is so little research put into getting a dog? A dog that will live with you and your family for well over a decade – a dog that has sharp teeth that could cause damage to the family. Simple, people just haven't thought about it from this point of view, and that is why people will have pup’s delivered to them or purchase from internet sites such as junk mail and various other unsavoury avenues – it is simply that people have not been told to consider such a purchase – once they realize that these questions need to be asked, it is very doubtful if an emotional purchase would be made again in the future.
1. Points For clients to consider
What new owners need to ask themselves is why do they want a new puppy? What do they expect from that puppy? What is the aim of getting it? The following questions will give you an idea of what to ask yourself to have a good idea of which questions are going to be relevant rather than including them all:
Is it to replace a dog that has passed? As you can never replace one child with another; neither can you replace a dog that has passed on with another dog. Dogs, as people, are individuals. We often come across owners who are constantly comparing the new edition with one that they had before. This just doesn’t work, is unfair to the dog and often a bond is never formed.
This tends to happen when a friend or family member has said that the quicker a new dog is obtained the better. We disagree. People need to go through the grieving process before getting another dog, but having said this, there is no hard and fast rule, we are all individuals and must do what is right for us – but don’t be pressured into getting a dog you don’t really want by outside influences, or because you think the existing dog is lonely.
What are the family’s expectations of the new puppy? It is a good idea to get the family to put together a list of what they want from the dog. If you have a husband who wants a large outside watch dog, a mother who wants something small for company, one child who wants a medium sized dog to go running and playing with, another who wants a dog to cuddle up too, you will soon realize that you have a potential problem on your hands! This may sound rather unlikely, but unfortunately it happens all too often – people don’t talk! The first step in deciding what breed you want is for all members in the family to make a list of their expectations and the reasons they want a pup and then to sit down and discuss the various options and find a happy medium.
Are you thinking of getting a breed you have had before? If you have always had a particular breed, such as a Collie and now decide to get another one, have a look at how your own life may have changed since you last had a puppy - can you handle this type of dog at your current age, do you have a large enough garden for one, are you strong enough to handle it, can you give it the exercise it needs, especially if a working breed.
If you have existing dogs, how will the new pup/dog fit in? We often come across situations where people already have two dogs and suddenly decide they want another. It may be a case of you being a caring person or family and adopting a dog that was found on the side of the road or similar. What you may not realize is that the addition of this new dog could very well upset the apple cart in their own pack and cause reactive behaviour and various behavioural problems. When you have an existing pack that co-habits happily, you owe it to the pack not to cause unnecessary disruptions.
I want a dog for protection If this is the reason for purchasing a pup, forget it. Dogs are animals that require attention and not watch dogs that spend all their time in the yard as security measures – rather invest in electric fencing or an alarm, or both!
Some of the reasons not to invest in a dog for protection - dogs are social animals and will be very unhappy living outside by themselves, and very often dogs like this will develop behaviour problems. A dog living outside can easily be poisoned. Thirdly, a dog that is not made to feel that the family is part of its pack is more likely to look after itself, not the family. A dog that is part of the family, is kept inside at night, is more likely to be a deterrent to a potential burglar by barking from inside the house, raising the alarm, rather than outside in the garden.
Dogs that are bought as watchdogs/protection dogs tend to be breeds that are perceived to be good for protection such as Rotti’s, Boerboel, Pitti etc. Do you really want one of these dogs, untrained, mixing with your kids or visitors when outside, or heavens forbid dashing out the gate (by mistake of course) when somebody else is walking their little Maltese past your gate?
Are all members of the family ready for a new pup? If you are pregnant or considering a family, now may not be the time for a new pup as you will have your hands full with baby responsibilities and have very little free time for the pup. Also, if you have very young children, it would be better to wait till the child is older and more responsible. It is very difficult to watch a young child and pup 24/7 and ensure that the puppy’s ear/hair/tail etc are not pulled and to watch that the pup does not start to use the child as the newest chew toy! The first few weeks with the new addition are crucial and you need to have both the time and the energy to do the work concerned if you want your pup to grow up to be a well behaved, well balanced member of the family.
You may desperately want a new pup, but your husband may be totally against it. Married life is difficult enough without adding in additional stress factors and what a way for a dog to come into a family – unwanted - dogs feel stress as well!
Can you make sure that your dog receives enough interaction with different people? Again, this may sound like a strange statement, but all too often we work with dogs that are afraid of men, children or different races, simply because they have not had enough interaction with them especially when pups.
Are you thinking about changing jobs or have just changed? This could mean that you would be busier at work than normal and that your times may not be the same as they were before, and it will be more difficult to help the pup settle. You may be in for overtime, working after hours at home, or travel more, which would leave you in a difficult situation with a new pup on your hands.
Is this pup for you or your child? We have seen parents give into a child’s constant demands to get a puppy with the child promising to feed it, play with it, walk it etc – well – we all know what happens there, don’t we? If a child is being given a pup as a present, the child must first be over 7 years of age – an age where the child starts to have the emotional maturity and understanding to work with a puppy, and even then, we feel this age is far too young. A lot of this will depend on the child in question – we have come across 13 year old kids that were less mature that a 6 year old!
If you are under the impression that the pup will teach the child responsibility - it just doesn’t work (on average), the person who ends up looking after the pup (often resentfully) is Mum, who may already have a full time job and her hands full when she comes home, and still has to make supper, help or check homework etc. A pup is not a toy; it is a living, breathing animal that has needs which have to be met.
Another aspect to consider if you have decided to give the child a pup despite the points above, the breed needs to be carefully considered. Scotty once had a client who purchased a GSD for a 7-year little girl. All was fine till the pup reached about 5/6 months, then the child could simply not handle the dog and the dog ended up taking the girl for a walk, and she slowly but surely lost interest as she could just not handle the dog.
Are you going on holiday soon? This is an important question to consider as what will happen to the pup, and additionally that you will miss out on the crucial period. We do not always realize how much time is involved in looking after the pup initially, and it may be better to get the pup when you have the time to spend with the pup. If the holiday is close to when you want to adopt a pup, the breeder (if worth their salt) will normally keep the puppy a bit longer, as long as it has been paid for, although this is not the ideal situation due to the early socialization period being missed. It would be better to wait for the next litter when you will have the time.
I want a dog for company This happens a lot more than people realize and is often an emotional, spontaneous purchase from a pet shop or flea market. On occasion, people, after a death in the family, a divorce, couples unable to have children etc, will get a pup for company. What then happens when new friends enter their life, or a new relationship starts?
A dog is not a substitute for a child or another human being. Pups that are purchased for this reason are often exposed to anthropomorphism – where the dog is treated like a human. This is not what dogs are, they are dogs, not people, and treating a dog like this can easily result in behaviour problems such as separation anxiety, reactive behaviour, demanding behaviour, over dependency etc.
Remember that a dog needs canine interaction, not just human interaction. Failure to meet with this need may well result in a dog that is fearful or reactive to other dogs, may develop separation anxiety or demanding behaviour, to mention just a few. The canine social interaction does not necessarily mean that you have a second dog, rather that the pup goes to puppy school and mixes with other dogs on a regular basis.
Another important point it to look carefully at the breed you choose. We have come across clients who got a Border collie as a first-time dog and had no idea what they were letting themselves in for – high energy, high maintenance and not a sit at home, first time dog owner kind of breed. Another example was a 65-year-old client who got a Rotti, both for company and security and just couldn’t control or manage to exercise the dog and it had to be given back. The reasons that dogs end up at shelters is so very varied and at the risk of sounding repetitive, if we had thought it through properly, the whole situation could have been avoided.
If you are under the impression that the pup will teach the child responsibility - it just doesn’t work (on average), the person who ends up looking after the pup (often resentfully) is Mum, who may already have a full time job and her hands full when she comes home, and still has to make supper, help or check homework etc. A pup is not a toy; it is a living, breathing animal that has needs which have to be met.
Another aspect to consider if you have decided to give the child a pup despite the points above, the breed needs to be carefully considered. Scotty once had a client who purchased a GSD for a 7-year little girl. All was fine till the pup reached about 5/6 months, then the child could simply not handle the dog and the dog ended up taking the girl for a walk, and she slowly but surely lost interest as she could just not handle the dog.
Are you going on holiday soon? This is an important question to consider as what will happen to the pup, and additionally that you will miss out on the crucial period. We do not always realize how much time is involved in looking after the pup initially, and it may be better to get the pup when you have the time to spend with the pup. If the holiday is close to when you want to adopt a pup, the breeder (if worth their salt) will normally keep the puppy a bit longer, as long as it has been paid for, although this is not the ideal situation due to the early socialization period being missed. It would be better to wait for the next litter when you will have the time.
I want a dog for company This happens a lot more than people realize and is often an emotional, spontaneous purchase from a pet shop or flea market. On occasion, people, after a death in the family, a divorce, couples unable to have children etc, will get a pup for company. What then happens when new friends enter their life, or a new relationship starts?
A dog is not a substitute for a child or another human being. Pups that are purchased for this reason are often exposed to anthropomorphism – where the dog is treated like a human. This is not what dogs are, they are dogs, not people, and treating a dog like this can easily result in behaviour problems such as separation anxiety, reactive behaviour, demanding behaviour, over dependency etc.
Remember that a dog needs canine interaction, not just human interaction. Failure to meet with this need may well result in a dog that is fearful or reactive to other dogs, may develop separation anxiety or demanding behaviour, to mention just a few. The canine social interaction does not necessarily mean that you have a second dog, rather that the pup goes to puppy school and mixes with other dogs on a regular basis.
Another important point it to look carefully at the breed you choose. We have come across clients who got a Border collie as a first-time dog and had no idea what they were letting themselves in for – high energy, high maintenance and not a sit at home, first time dog owner kind of breed. Another example was a 65-year-old client who got a Rotti, both for company and security and just couldn’t control or manage to exercise the dog and it had to be given back. The reasons that dogs end up at shelters is so very varied and at the risk of sounding repetitive, if we had thought it through properly, the whole situation could have been avoided.
I want a dog like Lassie. Pictures/movies/adverts such as Lassie, A Hundred and One Dalmatians, Jock of the Bushveld, Rin Tin Tin and the numerous adverts featuring dogs, results in people wanting to get a dog ‘just like that dog on TV’. What they don’t realize is that the dog in the picture has been extensively trained to perform the particular behaviours, and that many of these behaviours are ‘chained’ (The process of combining multiple behaviours into a continuous sequence linked together by cues) to form a sequence, not something the dog would do naturally on its own.
Unfortunately, with dogs that are the current ‘flavour of the month’ you will find that there are a lot of backyard or unethical breeders who will take advantage of the current rage, and breed from inferior stock. This once again often ends up with dogs with health problems, and often ending up in rescue centres, or worse.
Another point here is ‘famous’ people appearing on TV with their dogs in tow. Over the last few years small dogs, such as Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua, have become the ‘in thing’ with pre-teens and teenagers. So often all these adolescents think the dog is for carrying around under their arms when out with friends, giving no thought as to the rest of the time.
If you are looking for a small dog, do avoid the Teacup varieties – the fact of the matter is that there is really no such thing as a ‘teacup’ puppy – this term is not recognized by dog associations. Basically, a Teacup is the result of breeding the ‘runts’ together. These tiny dogs are prone to multiple health problems. If you are considering a Teacup variety, please do research first and foremost, especially speaking to your vet.
Are you thinking about getting a pup for a boyfriend/girlfriend etc? This is also a situation where pups very often end up at Rescue Shelters. If the person really does want a pup, then rather give them a cheque/voucher towards the purchase together with a good book such as Dr Ian Dunbar ‘Before and After Getting a Puppy’ and a list of reputable breeders. Both these books are free to download on the Friends of the Dog website. www.friendsofthedog.co.za
Is the pup going to be left alone all day? This situation can be successful if the owner is prepared to take the pup out in the morning for a walk, leave it in a puppy playpen, get somebody to come in at least twice during the day and take it out and spend some time with it, and then walk it again in the evening, although there are very few people who will be either prepared, or have the time to do this and it really is not the best option for the pup - dogs are social and need social interaction. The alternative is Puppy Day Care – however, this can become very expensive.
Are you thinking about downsizing your home? There are more and more situations like this occurring. Previously down-sizing happened as people were approaching, or reached retirement, but with the economic climate nowadays, downsizing occurs much more frequently. The new home may have a garden that is pocket sized and totally unsuitable for the breed, or that the complex does not allow pets or only allows certain breeds.
This is not to say that you can’t keep a dog in a small area – you can. Scotty had her 58kg Rotti staying with her in a double story house in Portugal with only a veranda for his outside needs. Needless to say, he was walked three times per day and was perfectly happy. This is a common situation in the UK and we also believe in certain parts of the USA.
Are you living in a Townhouse or Flat? If so, you will firstly have to make sure that dogs are allowed and what breeds, weights or sizes are allowed, as there are often restrictions. If you are in a flat, is there an appropriate area nearby to take the dog out to cater for its elimination needs, and what arrangements have been made for the dog to eliminate inside when you are out?
Are you considering emigrating? Again, emigration is something that is on the rise. Even if you may only be considering the move two years from now when your child finishes matric or similar, a decision of what to do with the dog still needs to be taken into consideration for when the journey occurs. In addition to quarantine in many countries, which can be of a few months’ duration, the cost of taking a dog overseas is exorbitant. The number of people looking for homes for their pets has risen astronomically over the past few years, with multiple e-mails advertising same, daily. We just have to realize that most of these dogs will not be homed – then what happens to them? If a home is not found then the dog will either end up being euthanized or spending years in a pro-life shelter with perhaps 60 other dogs in one run – does not bear thinking about!
2. Owners Responsibility
Once the family has decided to go ahead and get a pup, there are other questions that need to be asked, and a family decision made as to who is responsible for what.
Can you afford to buy a dog from a reputable breeder? These dogs will cost a lot more than those found in pet shops, flea markets and back yard breeders or rescue centres, with good reason. If not buying a dog from a reputable breeder, then rather give a dog in a shelter a home.
Who will exercise the dog? As we all know, a dog needs regular exercise, not just from the physical point of view but for mental stimulation as well.
Unfortunately, with dogs that are the current ‘flavour of the month’ you will find that there are a lot of backyard or unethical breeders who will take advantage of the current rage, and breed from inferior stock. This once again often ends up with dogs with health problems, and often ending up in rescue centres, or worse.
Another point here is ‘famous’ people appearing on TV with their dogs in tow. Over the last few years small dogs, such as Paris Hilton’s Chihuahua, have become the ‘in thing’ with pre-teens and teenagers. So often all these adolescents think the dog is for carrying around under their arms when out with friends, giving no thought as to the rest of the time.
If you are looking for a small dog, do avoid the Teacup varieties – the fact of the matter is that there is really no such thing as a ‘teacup’ puppy – this term is not recognized by dog associations. Basically, a Teacup is the result of breeding the ‘runts’ together. These tiny dogs are prone to multiple health problems. If you are considering a Teacup variety, please do research first and foremost, especially speaking to your vet.
Are you thinking about getting a pup for a boyfriend/girlfriend etc? This is also a situation where pups very often end up at Rescue Shelters. If the person really does want a pup, then rather give them a cheque/voucher towards the purchase together with a good book such as Dr Ian Dunbar ‘Before and After Getting a Puppy’ and a list of reputable breeders. Both these books are free to download on the Friends of the Dog website. www.friendsofthedog.co.za
Is the pup going to be left alone all day? This situation can be successful if the owner is prepared to take the pup out in the morning for a walk, leave it in a puppy playpen, get somebody to come in at least twice during the day and take it out and spend some time with it, and then walk it again in the evening, although there are very few people who will be either prepared, or have the time to do this and it really is not the best option for the pup - dogs are social and need social interaction. The alternative is Puppy Day Care – however, this can become very expensive.
Are you thinking about downsizing your home? There are more and more situations like this occurring. Previously down-sizing happened as people were approaching, or reached retirement, but with the economic climate nowadays, downsizing occurs much more frequently. The new home may have a garden that is pocket sized and totally unsuitable for the breed, or that the complex does not allow pets or only allows certain breeds.
This is not to say that you can’t keep a dog in a small area – you can. Scotty had her 58kg Rotti staying with her in a double story house in Portugal with only a veranda for his outside needs. Needless to say, he was walked three times per day and was perfectly happy. This is a common situation in the UK and we also believe in certain parts of the USA.
Are you living in a Townhouse or Flat? If so, you will firstly have to make sure that dogs are allowed and what breeds, weights or sizes are allowed, as there are often restrictions. If you are in a flat, is there an appropriate area nearby to take the dog out to cater for its elimination needs, and what arrangements have been made for the dog to eliminate inside when you are out?
Are you considering emigrating? Again, emigration is something that is on the rise. Even if you may only be considering the move two years from now when your child finishes matric or similar, a decision of what to do with the dog still needs to be taken into consideration for when the journey occurs. In addition to quarantine in many countries, which can be of a few months’ duration, the cost of taking a dog overseas is exorbitant. The number of people looking for homes for their pets has risen astronomically over the past few years, with multiple e-mails advertising same, daily. We just have to realize that most of these dogs will not be homed – then what happens to them? If a home is not found then the dog will either end up being euthanized or spending years in a pro-life shelter with perhaps 60 other dogs in one run – does not bear thinking about!
2. Owners Responsibility
Once the family has decided to go ahead and get a pup, there are other questions that need to be asked, and a family decision made as to who is responsible for what.
Can you afford to buy a dog from a reputable breeder? These dogs will cost a lot more than those found in pet shops, flea markets and back yard breeders or rescue centres, with good reason. If not buying a dog from a reputable breeder, then rather give a dog in a shelter a home.
Who will exercise the dog? As we all know, a dog needs regular exercise, not just from the physical point of view but for mental stimulation as well.
Who will be responsible for washing and grooming the dog? In the event that they will not be taking the dog to a parlour, whose responsibility will it be and how often will this need to occur.
If the dog is a breed that requires grooming at a parlour, can they afford it? This should be considered when looking for a breed and enquiries at parlours should be made as to how much it costs and how often the pup/dog will need to go.
Who is going to be at home to look after and supervise the puppy? You can’t just leave a puppy unsupervised when it first comes home. Somebody has to supervise or else day care to be considered or a pet sitter.
Who will take charge of house/toilet training? To ensure that your pup learns where to eliminate requires dedication and consistency.
Whose job will it be to feed the dog? A puppy requires feeding 3 to 4 times a day and when mature, twice a day.
Can you afford to give your dog good quality dog food? Good quality dog food, sold at vets and up-market pet shops, is, for obvious reasons, much more expensive than brands bought elsewhere. The ideal food in our opinion is raw food, but this must be of a good quality and from a company that is registered with the Department of Agriculture. However, what people do not always realize is that this expense results in lower vet bills due to better health, longer life, less or no ‘rear end smells’ (flatulence) and much less dog poop in the garden. When feeding a good quality food, you will end up feeding your dog less quantity and more likely than not, avoid a lot of vet bills.
Are there enough funds to cover the veterinary fees for inoculations, deworming, sterilization, medical problems etc? Your local vet will be able to give you the estimated cost for keeping a dog per annum and we have included a link here to an article on this subject for your own knowledge - http://www.friendsofthedog.co.za/how-much-will-that-dog-really-cost.htm but bear in mind this was written in 2010! . Also, what needs to be considered is the sterilization, licences, the microchips, shampoo, deworming, flea and tick products etc and this does not take into account any illness. If you decide on a canine medical aid, you will need to find out the cost of this and be aware that not everything is covered; there is normally a portion of vet fee’s that clients are liable for in the case of everyday care.
In this day and age, no animal owner should be without Pet Insurance, just as we need to have medical aid ourselves, or at least a Hospital Plan. Vet visits nowadays are very expensive, and you really are doing yourself, and your dog a favour by considering Medical Insurance and we have added a full section in on this topic, to help you make an educated decision.
If the dog is a breed that requires grooming at a parlour, can they afford it? This should be considered when looking for a breed and enquiries at parlours should be made as to how much it costs and how often the pup/dog will need to go.
Who is going to be at home to look after and supervise the puppy? You can’t just leave a puppy unsupervised when it first comes home. Somebody has to supervise or else day care to be considered or a pet sitter.
Who will take charge of house/toilet training? To ensure that your pup learns where to eliminate requires dedication and consistency.
Whose job will it be to feed the dog? A puppy requires feeding 3 to 4 times a day and when mature, twice a day.
Can you afford to give your dog good quality dog food? Good quality dog food, sold at vets and up-market pet shops, is, for obvious reasons, much more expensive than brands bought elsewhere. The ideal food in our opinion is raw food, but this must be of a good quality and from a company that is registered with the Department of Agriculture. However, what people do not always realize is that this expense results in lower vet bills due to better health, longer life, less or no ‘rear end smells’ (flatulence) and much less dog poop in the garden. When feeding a good quality food, you will end up feeding your dog less quantity and more likely than not, avoid a lot of vet bills.
Are there enough funds to cover the veterinary fees for inoculations, deworming, sterilization, medical problems etc? Your local vet will be able to give you the estimated cost for keeping a dog per annum and we have included a link here to an article on this subject for your own knowledge - http://www.friendsofthedog.co.za/how-much-will-that-dog-really-cost.htm but bear in mind this was written in 2010! . Also, what needs to be considered is the sterilization, licences, the microchips, shampoo, deworming, flea and tick products etc and this does not take into account any illness. If you decide on a canine medical aid, you will need to find out the cost of this and be aware that not everything is covered; there is normally a portion of vet fee’s that clients are liable for in the case of everyday care.
In this day and age, no animal owner should be without Pet Insurance, just as we need to have medical aid ourselves, or at least a Hospital Plan. Vet visits nowadays are very expensive, and you really are doing yourself, and your dog a favour by considering Medical Insurance and we have added a full section in on this topic, to help you make an educated decision.
Where will the dog sleep? Do you have an area where the pup can sleep safely? Crates or puppy play pens are the ideal location for new pups, together will some play space next to them. Please bear in mind, that a pup should never be left in a Crate for long periods of time – we do cover Crate training and how to use the crate in a later section.
If you are going to crate train, can you afford the crate or playpen? The price of crates and playpens has increased a lot over the last 5 years. A crate is a wonderful investment. Not only does it help to have pups easily and quickly toilet trained, a pup can be taught to spend time in its crate chewing which will save the furniture from sharp little teeth and it teaches the dog to settle down and spend some time alone. Our own choice, although more expensive initially, is the metal, fold down crate.'
What will the equipment cost? Collar and leads, blankets and kennels, bowls, beds, toys, etc cost?
What is the cost of puppy socialization and who will take the puppy? All pups should be exposed to a good puppy socialization class. As these normally occur on a weekend, who is going to give up that time to take the pup and to do the exercises that are taught and the additional socializing that is required?
What is the cost of further obedience training and who will take the dog? Although this is not an absolute necessity, especially if the dog is well socialized within the family, and goes on walks and this is maintained on a regular basis, it should be taken into account and a good idea to consider. If the dog is not well socialized, the initial socialization skills can be lost.
Will the dog be boarded if you go on holiday, or perhaps the services of a house sitter are obtained, what are the costs of this? All these options cost money. It is also possible to take your dogs with you; a crate is excellent for this and nowadays there are plenty of ‘pet friendly’ facilities available.
We are not trying to put off people getting dogs. In our opinion, every family should have at least one dog, but being realistic about what to expect, and what it can cost, is something every potential dog owner should think about.
If you are going to crate train, can you afford the crate or playpen? The price of crates and playpens has increased a lot over the last 5 years. A crate is a wonderful investment. Not only does it help to have pups easily and quickly toilet trained, a pup can be taught to spend time in its crate chewing which will save the furniture from sharp little teeth and it teaches the dog to settle down and spend some time alone. Our own choice, although more expensive initially, is the metal, fold down crate.'
What will the equipment cost? Collar and leads, blankets and kennels, bowls, beds, toys, etc cost?
What is the cost of puppy socialization and who will take the puppy? All pups should be exposed to a good puppy socialization class. As these normally occur on a weekend, who is going to give up that time to take the pup and to do the exercises that are taught and the additional socializing that is required?
What is the cost of further obedience training and who will take the dog? Although this is not an absolute necessity, especially if the dog is well socialized within the family, and goes on walks and this is maintained on a regular basis, it should be taken into account and a good idea to consider. If the dog is not well socialized, the initial socialization skills can be lost.
Will the dog be boarded if you go on holiday, or perhaps the services of a house sitter are obtained, what are the costs of this? All these options cost money. It is also possible to take your dogs with you; a crate is excellent for this and nowadays there are plenty of ‘pet friendly’ facilities available.
We are not trying to put off people getting dogs. In our opinion, every family should have at least one dog, but being realistic about what to expect, and what it can cost, is something every potential dog owner should think about.
3. More than 2 dogs?
Our message to you – think long and hard about getting a 3rd dog! Many people just want to give a good home to a dog, especially if it is coming from a shelter. Always remember, that as sorry as you may feel for some beautiful dog that is desperate for a home, your first responsibility is to your existing dogs.
Although many people have multiple dogs, it does not always go as planned, especially when there are 3 of them.
Here’s why: -
Having said all the above, there are many homes that have multiple dogs and it is a joy to behold when they all get on well, and the owner has the time, money and patience to deal with all the dogs.
If you do decide to go this route, first and foremost, take your dogs, one by one, to meet the new addition, starting with the dog you believe may be a problem. If this goes well one-on-one, then your next step is both the dogs, meeting the new dog/pup together. Dogs will react very differently in a neutral environment, then they will in the home, so if you feel that you have a good chance of success in integrating a new pup/dog, most of the shelters, will give you’re a trial weekend.
What you do want to avoid, is walking past a pet shop, or an adoption day at a shopping centre, with adorable pups in it, or a lovely dog that is really cute and really needs a home. This is where ‘emotional buying’ tends to occur - rather go home and have a good talk with your existing dogs before making the decision!
Our message to you – think long and hard about getting a 3rd dog! Many people just want to give a good home to a dog, especially if it is coming from a shelter. Always remember, that as sorry as you may feel for some beautiful dog that is desperate for a home, your first responsibility is to your existing dogs.
Although many people have multiple dogs, it does not always go as planned, especially when there are 3 of them.
Here’s why: -
- Are the existing dogs well socialized and will accept another dog into their pack? If not well socialized, we would not consider it. If either of the dogs have any behaviour problems, such as resource guarding of toys, food, people etc, this will need to be resolved first and foremost.
- Consider the age of your existing dogs. If either of them are in the adolescent period, do wait until they mature more. If a senior dog, then read through the section on senior dogs and perhaps adding a new puppy before making a decision.
- Please avoid any of the Bullie type breeds. These are wonderful dogs, however, they do better as ‘only’ dogs, as they become very attached to their owners, and resource guarding of an owner normally happens.
- Ensure that the breeds do tend to get on in general. Have a look at our Compatibility Chart which will give you a good idea. https://www.friendsofthedog.co.za/breed-compatibility.html
- Please avoid having two females together. As we said in an earlier section, this is very often a recipe for a disaster.
- Two dogs, especially one of either sex, tend to bond together and get on well, and bringing in a 3rd dog, can really upset the apple cart, with two of the dogs bonding more, and the 3rd dog being left out, especially if the new dog is a bit pushier, and one of the existing dogs more laid back. The newcomer may try to ‘take over’ the owner, and there is nothing sadder than seeing a dog that used to be the apple of some owner eye, lying over to the side, just watching the goings on and really not looking that happy – we have unfortunately seen situations such as this, over and over.
- Also consider the sizes of the dogs if you are going to get another one, and rather think about another dog of similar size. This is much easier for them to play and interact, rather than having one dog smaller – smaller dogs seem to be spoilt more than bigger dogs and problems can often occur.
- Is there somebody that can be in the home, for at least the first week or two, to supervise the interactions and ensure that if any problems do occur, somebody is there to sort out.
- One extra mouth to feed, vets’ bills, flea products, pet medical insurance, puppy and further training etc. All in all, the costs go up dramatically.
- If any of your existing dogs have any behaviour concerns, the odds are that the new dog may mimic that behaviour, and you end up with more behaviour concerns.
- Time – have you really the time to spend with 3 dogs and give them all the attention they deserve?
- Problems – the odds are that there may be early problems in the relationship between the dog (a lot of this depends on your existing dogs however), do you have the time, the patience and the knowledge to deal with this?
- Having a 3rd dog, makes it very difficult to walk them, especially if only one person in the home does this job.
- What about your own life? Are you changing jobs, perhaps moving home, going on holiday, having people stay with you, have somebody ill in the family and you need to spend extra time with that person, have health problems yourself? etc. If you have any scenarios like this, then do consider postponing the decision until you have the time that is going to be needed.
- If you do have two dogs that get on well together, it is often better just to leave well alone and enjoy what you already have. If you really feel that you want to make a difference in a shelter dogs’ life, then rather consider going to a shelter to walk some dogs, or even just give them some love and perhaps donate some dog toys to the shelter. Although this may not sound like much, having done a lot of work in shelters, even 20 minutes of love and attention give to a shelter dog, can have a huge impact on its quality of life.
Having said all the above, there are many homes that have multiple dogs and it is a joy to behold when they all get on well, and the owner has the time, money and patience to deal with all the dogs.
If you do decide to go this route, first and foremost, take your dogs, one by one, to meet the new addition, starting with the dog you believe may be a problem. If this goes well one-on-one, then your next step is both the dogs, meeting the new dog/pup together. Dogs will react very differently in a neutral environment, then they will in the home, so if you feel that you have a good chance of success in integrating a new pup/dog, most of the shelters, will give you’re a trial weekend.
What you do want to avoid, is walking past a pet shop, or an adoption day at a shopping centre, with adorable pups in it, or a lovely dog that is really cute and really needs a home. This is where ‘emotional buying’ tends to occur - rather go home and have a good talk with your existing dogs before making the decision!
