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They are lifetime
commitments and before you see that cute little puppy in the window and
whip out your credit card, think about all the positives and negatives
that come with the responsibility of pet ownership. Not just today, but
7-15 years from now! Yes, 7-15 years from now, because that is the type
of commitment you need to try to make to the best of your ability. If
you still want the puppy, it will be there tomorrow…and if it is not,
there are thousands of dogs being bred every day -----which is entirely
another topic. There are an equal number of dogs at local animal
shelters and rescue groups just waiting for a SECOND CHANCE, because
their first owners might not have thought through what I just asked you
to do.
I would love to
give you some statistics, but as my statistics teacher once told me,
they are only as good as the control group. Unfortunately, because of
the over pet population and the lack of resources needed to get accurate
information it is difficult to come up with real figures, but here is an
idea for you.
- 80% of the
dogs brought into a shelter are brought in because of
training issues – which manifests itself from people making
misinformed decisions on the breed, size, family situations, or
timing of getting a dog.
- There are
still Gas Shelters operating in the United States, in Ohio, West
Virginia, Mississippi, and other Southern States.
- Only 15% of
dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with
their owners. ------Please have your pet wear ID tags, and
microchip and or tattoo your pet.
- For every
human baby born in the US, thirteen puppies and kittens are born (www.mspca.org)
- Only 12-15%
of American Pet Owners remember to include their pets in their
wills, and up to 66% of Americans die without a valid will in place
(Wall Street Journal – Guide to Planning Your Financial Future)
Responsibility
on the Breeders Part Too!
Responsible animal
ownership needs to be reevaluated in our society. For every purebred
dog in the shelter, there is a breeder who bred that dog. There needs
to be responsibility on the breeder’s part to take the dog back.
I am in favor of
breeding animals; however, I would only recommend reputable breeders.
It is the non-reputable breeders and the puppy mills that help attribute
to our over population.
If you decide to
go to a breeder, ask questions, get referrals. If they are leery of
giving you a referral, walk away. Make sure they care about the dogs
they breed. Make sure they will take the dog back if you have
circumstances that will no longer allow you to keep your dog. This will
help to alleviate overpopulation in the overcrowded shelters.
Buying or
Adopting:
Adoption could be
a great choice for individuals who wish to “rescue” a dog/ save a dog
from certain death; or for someone who doesn’t care about genetics,
lineage, and working ability (especially in the working, herding,
sporting breed dogs). It is not meant for someone who is looking to
save money because you don’t have to pay $500 - $2,000 or more for a
dog. You still must consider the financial responsibility of a dog, it
might initially be healthy but what about later on? The cost of annual
medical checkups and vaccinations, spaying and neutering, licenses,
training classes, grooming, special treats, toys, food, shelter,
kenneling while on vacation and other financial responsibilities.
Wonderful dogs
come from shelters, but keep in mind they are usually at the
shelter for a reason. Either they got too big, they didn’t fit into the
family, or they were never trained properly. They probably developed
poor habits. Perhaps they became mouthy, they began jumping and once
they got too big they knocked people down, they were never housetrained,
they stole food from the table, they chewed things in the house, they
became aggressive with family members because they were never taught
pack order, they were never obedience trained, or a variety of other
issues. Ask questions at the shelter; get as much information as you
can. Spend as much time with the dog as possible. If you are unsure, go
back and visit with the dog again. Take the dog away from it’s
surroundings. Keep in mind the dog is in a stressful situation and its
full personality will not show under these conditions. So many times I
have seen a dog come from a shelter and change 100% in two weeks after
being in a home environment. If you have trained in obedience, then you
should know what to look for, and if you have not, consult with a
trainer in your area. (Make sure the trainer is reputable as well, as
you do not need any type of formal training to be a dog trainer – see my
dog training page). Many of these issues are trainable issues, but you
need to be aware of the dog you are adopting.
Rescue Groups
are another source of adopting a dog. They usually have already
temperament tested the dog and the dog has been living in a foster home
where it has received some re-introduction into home life. All
reputable rescue groups will require you to complete an application, and
will conduct a home visit to make sure you have the adequate housing for
the dog. The adoption fee and other requirements will vary with each
rescue group. Some require fenced yards, others will not adopt to homes
with small children, etc…so check with them. Most have web sites and if
you go to
www.petfinder.com you should be able to find one in your area. If
looking for a breed rescue group, you can do a Google search, or go to
the
www.akc.org web site. For German Shepherd Rescue, email me and I
will be happy to give you a list of the ones that I have worked with
that have been very cooperative. Just like with all things, I have found
some rescue groups to be uncooperative, so please don’t be discouraged,
if you are not happy with one, contact another. Rescue is a two way
street, the rescue wants to place the dog in an approved home where the
dog will be best suited, but you are also a consumer looking for a
lifetime commitment for your animal as well.
As for
buying
a dog, this might be a better option for some individuals, again
depending on their situation. I have some friends who train in
competition obedience, do therapy work, search and rescue, etc, and they
need a dog with certain temperaments and drive, and they prefer to
research lineage, breeding stock, history, genetics, and working
ability. Therefore, they opt for a breeder. I have also utilized this
venue due to my personal interests and circumstances.
However, I cannot
stress enough that there are many many breeders out there and there is
no formal license required for breeding. Research the breeder, review
the contract, make sure certain genetics for the breed are guaranteed,
get references, visit with the kennel if you can, make sure the parents
are OFA certified (hips and elbow certification,
www.ofa.com, and above
all make sure that they love their dogs and are willing to take the dog
back if the situation arises. They chose to breed the dog, they chose
to bring it into the world, they are responsible for making sure the
puppy goes to a good home, and they should continue the responsibility.
Breed for You?
I believe a lot of
the mistakes people make is that they do not research the breed of dog
before they decide on that dog. You don’t want a Jack Russell if you
are in your 80’s and living in a small home. They are cute, but
typically they need exercise, they are smart, fast, and always on the
go.
With that said, my
breed, the German Shepherd Dog, is a working dog and I believe he should
be worked. Dogs in general need stimulation. Lack of stimulation will
leave the dog to mischief, and German Shepherds are smart, intelligent,
working animals, who love to please their owners, and enjoy working so a
short walk around the block in not enough stimulation for these types of
animals.
Please research
your breed of dog and visit local dog shows. Obedience trials held by
the AKC are a great way to see dogs work in obedience. There are all
breeds working at all levels and you can get a list from the AKC by
going to their web site.
http://www.akc.org/events/search/
You can also see
working dogs work at local Schutzhund Club Trials which is an exciting
all day event where dogs compete in the sport of Obedience, Protection,
and Tracking. For a list of these events, go to:
http://www.germanshepherddog.com Click on events
Other venues are
to talk to breeders, ask your veterinarian, your groomer (as they handle
all breeds) and your dog trainer.
Ultimately, when
you accept this animal as your pet, please remember you agree to take
care of him. This means you make a commitment to him. In return, he
will give you unconditional love. I guarantee that …..and that my
friend….. is absolutely priceless. PLEASE do not let him go, he does
not deserve it.
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