If you are absolutely confident in your abilities to fully provide for your dog, it’s time to choose a breed that will fit you. Contrary to popular belief, there is no good “starter dog” that fits everybody. There is only a good dog for you.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Should You Get a Dog?
A dog is, no doubt, a great companion for all types of people. But, dogs do not make great companions for everyone. Or, more accurately, everyone is not a great companion for a dog. Before you adopt, you must seriously consider your reasons for wanting to add a dog to your family. Be honest with yourself.
If your reason is fleeting or superficial, stop right there. A dog should not be obtained simply as a surprise, a gift, an impulse, a chick magnet, a status symbol, because they are cute, or any similar shallow reason. A dog is a living being, and by bringing one into your home you are becoming responsible for a creature that demands love, time, and attention, among other things. Perhaps at a later date you will be more emotionally ready for a dog, but right now, it is best if you do not adopt. Now, if you want a dog for weightier reasons, you must seriously and truthfully assess your living situation.
If your reason is fleeting or superficial, stop right there. A dog should not be obtained simply as a surprise, a gift, an impulse, a chick magnet, a status symbol, because they are cute, or any similar shallow reason. A dog is a living being, and by bringing one into your home you are becoming responsible for a creature that demands love, time, and attention, among other things. Perhaps at a later date you will be more emotionally ready for a dog, but right now, it is best if you do not adopt. Now, if you want a dog for weightier reasons, you must seriously and truthfully assess your living situation.
Be the Change You Want to See
After many attempts to enter the world of blogging, I believe I have finally found a topic which interests me enough that I will absolutely keep writing: responsible dog ownership. I have found the world of dogs and dog ownership to be all consuming. When Joanna Kimball of Blacksheep Cardigans wrote in her own blog, "That's it. Don't hurt dogs. It's an incredibly simple edict but, if you actually follow it, it will swallow your entire life [...]," it really resonated with me. It's true. It will, and it has.
I hope you find my future posts, above all, informative. That is my goal: to educate owners, new and old, about dog ownership. I may make enemies in this venture, but I don't care. I may find allies, too, or even create them.
I must warn before we begin, however, that I have not been an owner very long; only a year this past May. I am no breeder, no trainer, no vet. I am simply a dog enthusiast. You don't have to be a professional to do it right.
I hope you find my future posts, above all, informative. That is my goal: to educate owners, new and old, about dog ownership. I may make enemies in this venture, but I don't care. I may find allies, too, or even create them.
I must warn before we begin, however, that I have not been an owner very long; only a year this past May. I am no breeder, no trainer, no vet. I am simply a dog enthusiast. You don't have to be a professional to do it right.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)