| So you've decided it's time your family had a dog. | | | | Dog Owner Reality #3 - Dogs Are Expensive. Very |
| Your kids have bugged you for months and after | | | | Expensive. And I'm not talking about how much the |
| seeing how happy your neighbors seem with their | | | | breeder charges for the sweet little bundle of slobber |
| wonderful pet you've given in and you're ready to go | | | | either. You'll need to budget for puppy vaccinations, |
| dog shopping. Perhaps you had a dog as a child, so | | | | licensing, food, toys, bedding, kennels, flea and tick |
| you know how much fun dogs can be - right? Well | | | | meds, heartworm meds and then if you have to |
| most likely what you've forgotten though is that | | | | leave for vacation and haven't a pet sitter, then |
| your mom or dad were the ones actually caring for | | | | kennel boarding fees. The list goes on of course |
| the dog. You have lovely warm fuzzy memories of | | | | because there's always something. Long story short, |
| romps in the front yard on sunny afternoons with | | | | you'll need to add the cost of caring for your new |
| the Rover of your childhood. Ask your parents to go | | | | dog into your family budget for at least 10-15 years |
| down memory lane with you and what you may find | | | | if not longer, depending on the breed you choose. |
| out is how much trouble old Rover really was and | | | | Dog Owner Reality #4 - Your Little Puppy Could |
| that mom had to continually clean the dog doo off | | | | Grow into a Huge DOG. Well, duh, but you'd be |
| your feet during those afternoon romps in the yard. | | | | surprised at how many eager puppy owners fall |
| As an adult with a family now, you should take a | | | | madly in love with their new adorable little chubby |
| few minutes to learn some of the important aspects | | | | cherub and then 6 months later wonder what in the |
| of real dog ownership before you commit to your | | | | world is this 100 lb.monster tracking mud into their |
| first puppy. | | | | kitchen and eating them out of house and home. |
| Dog Owner Reality #1 - Puppies are like human | | | | Where'd the cherub go? He grew into a DOG that's |
| babies who poop on the floor. A puppy is like a | | | | where, and with a little planning ahead, you'll know |
| toddler and until you've properly trained them they | | | | pretty much exactly what to expect when your dog |
| require constant looking after and follow-up. Even | | | | is grown up. |
| after you've housebroken your puppy he'll still need | | | | Dog Owner Reality #5 - Dogs Love to Run and Play |
| to be supervised unless you want everything in your | | | | - A lot. This could be a bonus or a big pain in the |
| home to have a nice 'chewed-upon' look to it. | | | | hiney depending on your lifestyle. If you're into |
| Dog Owner Reality #2 - Without Training a Puppy | | | | walking for exercise, then you'll have a ready-made |
| Goes Nuts. I remember the dogs of my childhood. My | | | | walking companion in your new dog. If you have kids, |
| father would bring home a stray or a stray would sit | | | | then they too will have built-in romping partners. One |
| on the front porch until my Mother gave in and | | | | of the health benefits of dog ownership is the |
| started feeding it; enough said. These dogs were | | | | increased cardiovascular exercise they can bring to a |
| never trained. They barked at everything, dug up the | | | | family. Keep in mind however, that you can always |
| yard and chewed up their own dog houses. One dog | | | | choose a dog breed that doesn't require quite as |
| would dig out of the fenced in yard and run in traffic | | | | much extra activity if you're not in the position to |
| like a wild dog. So, in order to keep your dog safe | | | | get out of the house daily. Select a dog breed to fit |
| from oncoming semi-trucks and your yard safe from | | | | your activity level and you'll be pleasantly rewarded. |
| doggie destruction, you'll need to find puppy classes | | | | Now that you've made the decision to bring a dog |
| or at least purchase a good self-help dog obedience | | | | into your family, you'll find that with the proper |
| training book. Dogs need to be taught what's | | | | training and planning your new companion will bring |
| expected of them just like your kids do. Oh, and | | | | much joy and happiness to your family and create |
| while you're at it, teach your kids how to socialize | | | | lasting memories for all. |
| correctly with your new pet. | | | | |