| "body"> | | | | about the genetic line of the mother and father |
| Let's face it - everything is cute when it's small | | | | probably before you ask. Both of the parents |
| and furry. Puppies especially, but keep in mind that | | | | should be registered with the AKC and should |
| even a wolverine is playfully adorable if it's young | | | | have documentation to prove it, not to mention a |
| enough, so for the sake of all the Fidos out there | | | | veterinarian for a reference. |
| and your life, make a personal selection that is | | | | Be prepared to lay down a pretty penny for your |
| suited to your lifestyle. And as wonderful as they | | | | pooch's regular check ups. Health insurance is |
| seem when they're young, keep in mind that they | | | | available for pets, believe it or not, but most |
| grow up and mature in more ways than probably | | | | people don't know about it till they see the |
| most of the humans you know. | | | | pamphlet in the emergency room after something |
| A good question to ask if you find yourself aching | | | | tragic has happened. Yearly check-ups are not |
| for a canine companion is whether you want a | | | | usually covered, but these are important for your |
| puppy or an adult. There are plenty of wonderful | | | | pet's health. Dogs are not like humans, if that's not |
| adult dogs that need a home. This is also an ideal | | | | obvious enough, so they can't tell you that their |
| choice if you are past the point or in repulsion of | | | | back has been hurting or they've been |
| the rigors of potty-training as most adult dogs, | | | | experiencing some hearing loss or that their vision |
| barring any separation anxiety or bowel disorders, | | | | has been cloudy lately. They also can't tell you if |
| prefer to do their dirty business outside of the | | | | they've been bitten by a mosquito carrying |
| home. The majority have also long since past the | | | | heartworms or if they've contracted tapeworms. |
| tumultuous puppy stage which is equivalent to the | | | | If they scratch a lot, then that's their signal to |
| human's terrible two's only this little one doesn't | | | | check for fleas, but that's about the extent of |
| understand much, if any, English and won't wear a | | | | the amount of translations that they can get |
| diaper. | | | | across. Luckily we have the angels of the animal |
| When it comes to a dog, size does matter - in a | | | | health care industry to help us out with all of this - |
| big way. Ask yourself how much room you have | | | | the veterinarians. |
| and no, the park down the street doesn't count | | | | Your veterinarian's office is not just a fun place |
| into the equation because you don't live there and | | | | for puppy shots and to have a room full of |
| for Fido to actually have a chance to run around | | | | people croon over how adorable he is, but for |
| in it, you would have to be with him on the other | | | | maintaining the health of your pet its entire |
| end of the leash. Your home is going to be your | | | | lifetime. It's a good idea to have a veterinarian in |
| dog's home whether you're there or not and if | | | | mind before you adopt their future patient and to |
| you live in an efficiency apartment, two mammals | | | | be aware of the cost for their services; that way |
| running around in it is going to be a tight fit. A | | | | the only surprises will be the ones Fido leaves for |
| backyard is always more beneficial, but not | | | | you on your floor. Yearly vaccinations, neutering, |
| necessary if you're around and available enough to | | | | and spaying services are available at minimal costs |
| get Fido the exercise he needs. Also, make sure | | | | through various charitable pet organizations in your |
| that you check your landlord's pet policy for | | | | area, but they usually don't have the resources or |
| weight limits too. In most places the size of the | | | | facilities to care for an injured or sick pet |
| dog is proportional to the amount of the pet | | | | especially in an emergency - and don't doubt for a |
| deposit. | | | | minute that there won't be at least a few of |
| Once you've decided whether or not you can | | | | those in your pet's life. |
| handle a big dog or would prefer a smaller one, | | | | Dogs are notorious for getting themselves into |
| your next hurdle is sifting through all the breed | | | | unimaginable situations. Veterinarians and animal |
| specifics. It should be said that there are literally | | | | technicians could tell you story after hair-raising |
| thousands of pets, a number of them purebred, | | | | story of examples of this. There are the stories |
| waiting for a good home at your local animal | | | | of the dogs who eat pantyhose, birth control pills, |
| shelters for almost no cost, unlike purebreds from | | | | bed sheets, and about a thousand that will eat |
| breeders that can run you a cost of hundreds, | | | | those little rubber bouncy balls. Then there are the |
| and in extreme cases, thousands of dollars. The | | | | stories of the escape artists who roam the |
| pets at the shelter are quality animals that are | | | | neighborhood or the ones who just ran for their |
| sometimes actually in a life or death situation. The | | | | lives because of fireworks that their owner was |
| ASPCA doesn't just deal with stray dogs, they | | | | just sure they'd get a kick out of. There are the |
| are involved in the prevention of animal cruelty | | | | kids who were painting while mom had her back |
| and you'd be surprised how many litters of | | | | turned and before she could stop them they'd |
| puppies they acquire on a daily basis. Check your | | | | made the black lab a colorful Dalmatian with toxic |
| local pet stores for "adoption days" that are run | | | | paint that he got sick from. |
| by local no-kill shelters or other pet placement | | | | The stories will go on and on, each a little weirder |
| groups. | | | | than the last, but the point is the same for all of |
| Don't think that just because you have your | | | | them - pay attention to your dog's surroundings |
| heart set on a particular breed that a breeder is | | | | and train, train, train. I can't say this enough, |
| your only choice either. For every breed, there is | | | | training will save your dog's life, it's a proven fact, |
| usually a rescue organization that would love to | | | | ask any veterinarian or dog owner. There are dog |
| find homes for all the pets that have either been | | | | trainers all over the nation that will tell you the |
| found or surrendered because of various reasons. | | | | same thing - repetition and positive rewarding are |
| All kinds of information for every breed imaginable | | | | key to training your dog. If a car is coming and |
| as well as a list of registered breeders in your | | | | he's off the leash for whatever reason, he must |
| area are available online at . | | | | know that you mean it when you say "Come!" A |
| When going through the breeds, remember that | | | | dog that jumps all over your company will only be |
| temperament is vital - an example is an elderly | | | | cute if it's little and very, very polite about it; |
| couple that adopted a lab puppy and then had to | | | | anything bigger than ten pounds will just be a |
| give him away because he was too hyper. Not | | | | furry pest. |
| only was this pretty devastating to them, but to | | | | Think of it this way - you wouldn't move in with |
| the dog as well. You wouldn't keep going out with | | | | someone who didn't know where to go to the |
| someone who was always yelling at you, and | | | | bathroom and never even turned their head when |
| dogs don't like that either, so think about the | | | | you called out their name, would you? Training |
| things you currently do now - not the things you | | | | resources are available throughout your |
| will do once you get a dog. Everyone has that | | | | community. Some trainers give private lessons, |
| fantasy of going hiking with their dog on the | | | | while other stores like PetsMart have group |
| snowy Alps, but in the real world, you're better | | | | classes. For those who don't care how much it |
| off finding a pet that you don't have to change | | | | costs to make a dog learn to sit, there are doggy |
| your entire life or address for. Do you already | | | | "boot camps" that the pup can go away to for a |
| enjoy long walks or are you a homebody that | | | | couple of weeks to learn basic commands, but |
| gets worn out just walking to the living room? | | | | for the companion animal, a few basic home |
| Exercise and not to mention bathroom habits are | | | | lessons usually do the trick. |
| going to be the two major factors that Fido will | | | | The point is to think about the things you want in |
| need some kind of participation on your part to | | | | a dog as well as what the dog would need from |
| get done everyday. | | | | you and if you're prepared to provide for him. |
| When it comes to health, there are some breeds | | | | The fact that you will outlive this pet should be |
| that are prone to more genetic diseases than the | | | | enough motivation to be completely willing to take |
| average mutt. Don't let that deter you, just be | | | | the time and put forth the effort in ensuring |
| aware of what the history is of the breeder. A | | | | them the best life they could have. |
| reputable breeder will give you all the information | | | | |