Should you or shouldn’t you have a dog around the house? MARIA SOCRATOUS weighs it up
‘MUM, why don’t I have a little brother or sister?’ ‘Dad please come and play with me. I don’t have anyone to play with.’ Sound familiar? One-child families are used to listening to such patter from their only child. Child psychologists urge parents to consider having a puppy at home to help the situation but choosing the right one could then become the least of your problems.
Acquiring a dog is a simple matter of visiting the local pet shop, dog shelter or neighbour whose bitch has just given birth and choosing the one that appeals. Or is it?
Dogs may differ in appearance to babies, but the responsibilities are largely the same. The advantage with babies is that it takes them about a year to walk and they were nappies until they are potty trained… with a two month puppy in the house, there are no such luxuries.
One of the requirements for responsible dog ownership is to research the subject before popping out to pick up a puppy you fancy. The difference between breeds and temperaments is a big issue. The whole family will benefit from the addition of a pet in the house, especially if that pet is a puppy that is friendly towards children. Whether you decide on a pedigree or mixed breed, the care and training is the same. All demand the same vaccinations, annual checkups and heartworm prevention.
When choosing a dog whether it is a purebred or mixed breed it should be considered on its own merits without regard to its parentage.
Irene, a dog owner for the past 12 years, cannot even contemplate life without a dog. “When my son and daughter were growing up we decided to get a puppy as a good introduction for them to the animal kingdom. Now the children have left home, our old dog is still with us but not for long. I was not on the look out for another dog but this stray adorable dog came to our gate one day and as it wouldn’t go away he became part of the family too!”
Samantha opted for the purebred of a Pekingese for her three young children. “We live in a flat and I wanted the children to have the interaction of a pet. The Pekingese is small and cuddly so the children feel they can treat it like a friend. Dogs are more loyal than any other pet and don’t cause so many allergies as cats.”
A surprising crossbreed of the Pekingese and the Poodle is the Pekeapoo. The low shedding rate of its coat makes it an ideal choice for those that have allergies. The Pekeapoo derives from the Poodle its extraordinary intelligence and are said to be the most affectionate and faithful companions. Unlike its parent dog, the Pekingese that are known to have narrow nasal passages, it has a longer muzzle, making it much easier for the dog to breath.
“Coming home to an empty house is very sad and lonely. But being welcomed by friendly barking lifts up your spirits”, said Mary a divorcee in her mid 50s. “It’s a blessing having a loyal, sweet tempered dog awaiting for your arrival home. Humans can be cruel and nasty to each other; dogs show no such characteristics to us. When treated well you can only gain and benefit from such a friendship.”
“My mother is a widower and living on her own for the last five years. With the recent break-ins in her neighbourhood and incidents of attacks on old citizens reported in the newspapers, I persuaded her to consider having a dog in the garden to guard the house and herself,” said Peter a young executive. “Being stubborn and not so animal friendly, she did not take to the idea at first. The first day I took the one-year-old Rottweiler to her house she just ignored us both. Now, six months after that first encounter, she loves having the dog around and I feel that she has not only a companion but also a guard to look after her. My wife and I decided to have the mild tempered Labrador as after some research I found out that it is very good around a young family.”
GUIDE dogs, police dogs, guard dogs, cattle dogs, toy dogs, the courageous dog saving lives in unapproachable areas and so on. The benefits of having a dog at home or in our lives in general outweigh their shortcomings. Whatever the heritage of the dog, its value as a pet rests on its health, temperament and rapport with humans.
Too many mixed breed dogs are found in animal shelters or wandering the streets. If you ask your local vet about a responsible approach to a dog he will say for a puppy three vaccinations are needed in the first few months of its life and then a yearly vaccination and check up. Professional grooming, four times a year is recommended. Owners have to make a careful selection of potential mates for their pet and they have to consider the advantages of sterilization to the health of the animal. Sometimes it is beneficial to spay females and neuter males to prevent random breeding”.
