You think of a dog.
“I would like to, but I’m afraid.” It is a duty, a responsibility. So many pros and cons in your head. I understand it. Seriously.
I will do my best to help you. Maybe what I’m going to write will make it easier for you to decide.
First and foremost: not everyone should have a dog, just as not everyone should have a child.
As the Fox said to the Little Prince, “You are responsible for what you have tamed.”
The dog will be with you only for several years. You must never forget that these few years are the WHOLE DOG’S LIFE. He will not have another one. He will not be able to influence the one he has. His whole life will depend on YOU. That’s a huge responsibility. In a way, it is greater than the decision about the child because one day, your child will grow up, become independent, move out and start deciding for himself. The dog will stay with you forever and will always depend entirely on you. So think the decision through really well. Are you ready for such a responsibility for years? Can you handle it?
It is a fundamental question you need to answer before moving on to the next one.
The second question – from which I started all the courses of puppy classes: “Why do you want to have a dog? It’s a problem.” What are your motivations? Expectations? Hopes?
If the dog is to motivate you to find time for daily walks, remember that you are risking his life in a qualitative sense. The central part of a dog’s life is going for a walk. If you neglect them for lack of time, strength or willingness, your dog will be simply unhappy. (Let’s add that depending on the race, you can also expect different behavioural problems resulting from unmet needs. And I don’t mean here the purely physiological ones).
Do the opposite: if the dog is to motivate you to walk, and you are not entirely sure whether it will succeed, then you owe your dog a test. For a year, go for walks without a dog. At fixed hours, 7 days a week, regardless of the weather or events interfering with the walk, such as a party or a great meeting with your friends, from which you do not want to leave. If you manage to do so for a year and still want a dog – start thinking about what kind of dog will be right for you. If you can’t do it – don’t fool yourself that the dog will change it. If the rain scares you away today, the dog won’t change that. You will go out with him. For 10 minutes. That is not enough. That’s not fair. It is not how it should be.
So think honestly about your motivation and answer the next: will the changes in your life make you neglect your four-legged friend?
For example, “I want a dog because I feel lonely” – will finding a partner cause you to go on a date instead of a long walk? What will you do if your boyfriend is allergic to dog hair? Will you give a friend to a shelter or offer your loved one desensitization/pills to relieve symptoms?
“I am an active person. When I run in the evenings, I’m a little scared. I would feel more confident with a dog.” I understand. Think carefully about the choice of dog. The long-term effort will serve only some breeds. Question: what will you do when the dog starts to age and is no longer able to keep up with you? Will you give up running for him? If not, will you find the time and strength to run and walk tailored to your friend’s needs? Remember that it will not look like that during one week from a dog in full strength, he will turn into an old dog who only needs a 15-minute walk. This process will be slow. Are you ready to modify your habits to synchronize them with your dog’s capabilities?
I think you understand what I mean. So think about whether you will not disappoint your friend. If your situation changes – what would you do not to harm your dog?
No comments