Worst reasons to get a puppy
December 8th, 2009
Here are a few of the worst reasons to get a dog that have the highest statistical chances of causing stress and craziness.
1. Christmas time! Please don’t buy someone a dog for a present. This is the single worst reason to have a new addition added to the family. As a woman, I think my significant other would be pissed if I (somehow) secretly adopted a human baby and was like “Suprise happy birthday! He’s for you. I hope you enjoy him!” . Dogs as gifts are unfair to both the dog and the gift receiver. Giving away a dog as a present does not allow the potential owner to consider if this dog is right for them. It might not be. And wouldn’t you feel bad if they sold it! That’s why I like to give gift cards!
2. But it’s so cute! The puppy in the window is so adorable, I know. Please don’t be tempted. Impulse buying a cute puppy at the pet store may be more than expected. First the mark up is outrageous. Expect to pay up to 2,000 for a dog from a pet store. And unfortunately, this is not a case of you get what you pay for. Often these dogs come from puppy mills run by irresponsible breeders. The dog may have a weak constitution or poor temperament and require extra and expensive care. Trust me, I’ve done this one and its a huge mistake. I know it’s cute! But do some research and find a responsible breeder.
3. Taking home the mean dog from the pound. Most people are not experienced enough to handle that vicious dog from the pound. This is not the fixer-upper boyfriend from college. It is a dog with sharp teeth and a bad attitude. With so many dogs in rescue, there is bound to be many good dogs surrendered due to misfortune but the bad ones may have been abused or neglected. It could seriously be dangerous to adopt these dogs. Be realistic. If you are a professional dog rehabilitator, thank you! We need more of you! If not, it’s probably best to leave it to the Cesar Milans in the world.
4. Buying a dog for the sole purpose of guarding. Buying a large dog with the only purpose of intimidating those walking by is a bad idea. I admit I would love to have dogs that guard my house when I’m away but these dogs would also be members of my family. The tradition of pole dogs is ancient and necessary in cultures that truly need protection from wild animals and surprise raids by warring factions but in the modern world this is an awesome invitation for a lawsuit!
5. One more couldn’t hurt! I admit I frequently feel the urge to bring home a new dog under this mindset. I already have two and they’re reasonably well behaved I could handle one more! There are so many doggies out there that need homes! However, this is one of the top five reasons people need to rehome their pets. They simply have too many. While some people actually have a diagnosable animal hoarding problem, this is usually not the case in people who have a few and want one more, yet. Being realistic about the number of animals one can keep is really important.
6. I think I want to have puppies! OMG puppies! That’s awesome. So have you done all of your health checks, conformation checks, and are you prepared for the possibility of killing your dam? Puppies are a huge commitment and require a lot of research, preparation, and money.
