Aunt Mary's Doghouse

It's A Dog's Life - Ask Milo

By Mary Cody

Are You Ready For A Dog?

Do you ever find yourself thinking about getting a dog?

It starts with a simple thought - your dog is lonely and needs a companion; your children have been hounding you for a dog; you've lost a pet or your pet is getting older and you want the inevitable loss to be more bearable; you never had a dog but always wanted one; you've witnessed the attention a dog gets in public and think having one will greatly enhance your social life; you want someone to come home to; you want a sporting companion to walk/jog with or maybe you are keenly aware of the plight of the dogs in area shelters and you want to help one.

Whatever your particular reason, wanting a dog is only part of the equation. Being ready is equally important.

(1) Are you ready to make a long-term commitment and accept the responsibility as primary caretaker for the dog?

Depending on the breed a puppy could live on average 12 to 15 years. Can you honor your commitment to the dog for the life of the dog?

Dogs should not be considered disposable under any circumstance. Like any loving relationship the commitment should be sincere and meaningful.

As for responsibility, I've heard many people claim they're getting a dog for their child and it's expected the child will take total responsibility for the care of the dog. If this is your intention you're making a big mistake. A child can't be relied upon to adhere to a schedule without constant coaching. Resentments can build and the dog suffers.

A dog is the responsibility of the family and all members should participate in the feeding, exercise, grooming and training - but at least one adult should be willing to be the primary caretaker.

(2) Can you afford the long term costs of dog ownership?

Consider the costs involved in maintaining a pet. There is the initial cost of purchasing the dog. The sky is the limit on the purchase price of a purebred dog.

An alternative would be to adopt from a shelter where there is no shortage of abandoned dogs in need of a home. Believe it or not, some very expensive dogs are dumped at the shelter for some very lame reasons. The pooch may have been an unwanted gift or a new Disney dog may have become popular replacing this one.

A shelter adoption ranges on average from $55 to $150 and the fee is based on numerous variables such as medical expenses.

Next we have the long term veterinarian expense to consider. Your dog will need an annual exam, some routine tests, vaccinations and maybe some medication. If the dog will be spending time outside it will require year-round preventative medicine for heartworm, fleas and ticks.

Of primary importance the dog should immediately be spayed if female and neutered if male, both for the health of the dog and for population control. There are far too many dogs and not enough homes and the only viable solution is to spay/neuter.

The good news is that most adoption organizations provide for this service. Additional expenses will be food, treats, pet supplies, maybe grooming, at least one training class, more vet visits for check-ups, emergency treatments or illness and one more thing, boarding. If you can't travel with your dog and dont have someone to care for your pet while you are away you can spend from $12 to $35 per day, per dog.

I admit it sounds overwhelming but it really isn't. It costs far less to care for a dog for a lifetime than to outfit a growing child in designer label gear!

(3) Can you commit to investing the time necessary to training the dog to be a good family member?

Obedience training is crucial because it reinforces the bond and teaches communication skills between the dog and its human family. Plus if you don't invest the time now you will spend far more time/money correcting your mistakes and may even sacrifice the personality of your dog.

Everyone loves a well-trained dog and if you have one you will be more likely to appreciate and take pride in your dogs good qualities and thoroughly enjoy your pets companionship. Training is great fun too, especially if you add a few tricks so your dog can show off to guests.

Next time we'll explore how to go about deciding on the breed, age, size and sex that is right for your household. Meanwhile do your homework. Visit an area shelter or volunteer there. Being a volunteer is a great way to experience dog ownership without long term commitment.

Or take it one step further and volunteer to be a temporary foster home. This provides you with the opportunity to have a dog live with your family until it's placed. You might even foster until the right pooch for you comes along.

Go to the park and observe doggie playtime in designated pet areas. Ask the pet owners questions.

Go to pet adoptions sponsored by area pet stores. Interact with the dogs and talk with the volunteers involved with rescue. Orphaned Pets is one experienced volunteer group that is often found in Montclair at Pup 'n Suds grooming salon on Bellevue Avenue.

Also search the Internet for dog related topics. A good place to start is www.op.petfinder.org. A great site for kids to get the scoop is www.geocities.com.

All for now. If you have any questions, e-mail them to AskMilo2000@yahoo.com.

Its time to take Milo for a walk through his town, Montclair.

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