Becoming Responsible- There's No Such Thing as the Poop Fairy

When you get a dog, you are signing your life away to be a slave to your dog’s bowels.  It’s just how it is.  Your dog has to poop, so you must come home from work early or hire someone to go to your house, and you let your dog out to do his business.  When he’s done, you have an obligation to fulfill; you must remove it from the premises, the doggy equivalent of flushing the toilet.  And yet, thousands, if not millions, of dog owners shirk this duty every day.  It’s this sort of crappy behavior that results in dogs being banned from parks, beaches, and other public places.  As dog owners, you can’t just dump your responsibility to scoop the poop entirely.  Ignoring your obligations has consequences that extend beyond you and your dog.

Where, Why, and How to Adopt a Dog

So, you presumably know what breed you are interested in, and what age would be the best fit for you.  Now all that is left is to determine where, why, and how to go about adopting that new member of the family.  There is one last question you need to ask yourself before you begin searching for your new canine pal:  what do you expect from your dog?  If companionship is all you desire, consider adopting your dog from a shelter or other rescue/re-homing situation.  If you are seeking performance, optimal health, and/or strict adherence to breed standard in conformation or temperament, adopt from a reputable breeder.  These are the only two acceptable avenues of obtaining a dog, no exceptions.