<strong>Good Dogma </strong>
By Lisa Ellman
A family member told me he wanted to get a dog. I asked if he would like me to go with him to check out the shelters? He said, “Yes.”
We got to an animal shelter and began walking the corridor checking out the couple dozen or so dogs. I found only one dog that would fit his needs, regarding size, age, etc.
Unfortunately, the dog had just been brought in and wouldn’t be available until the following week. This news brought out the truth behind “his” wanting a dog.
It turns out his teen-age kids, who live with him every other week, were the ones that wanted him to get a dog. He was actually “on the fence” about it.
Along with the subsequent news he would be going out of town the following two weekends, THEN starting school (he’s a teacher), I said, “What makes you think you should have a dog!?! Please, do not get a dog!”
Pointing out that not only was he not committed to the idea, but he didn’t have the time. The more social an animal is, the more time it requires. And dogs are commonly more time-needy than any other pet.
Cats are needy sometimes (on their own times). Birds need a lot of care and stimulation, depending on the species, and even rats, which make great pets, need to have their cages cleaned weekly and are quite social, needing more care and time than people imagine. You can train them, too!
I have often promoted the idea that families bring a new pet into the home during summer vacation, as opposed to the end-of-year holidays, aka a “Christmas puppy.” My rationale addresses several points:
• Things are crazy and chaotic around the Holidays., with family and friends coming and going through your home.
• Your family may be planning to go out of town. What are you going to do with your new dog that needs some intense initial bonding time?
• There is often a lot of food around, some of which may be toxic to a dog, plants as well. You can’t be, and don’t want to be, watching the dog during your parties. Or lock it in a room or outside for hours at a time.
• Your kids don’t have as much time off as they would on summer break. Summer offers time to really bond with a new pet, or in the case of puppies, maybe start some basic training. The time before summer break can be spent researching the right pet to fit the family and preparing the home.
In the case of a dog, that means securing the yard and gathering up necessary equipment — bowls, bedding, leashes, and more.
All of this preparation and consideration should apply to any animal you plan to bring into your home; especially preparing your kids for the responsibilities and time commitments.
Even a goldfish needs to have the water in its bowl changed frequently, and can easily be overfed. Unfortunately, I’ve killed my fair share.
So, before impulsively deciding to bring a live being, be it mammal, reptile or bird, consider the amount of time you have to provide the attention it deserves. You want to ensure that whatever the animal is, it lives a long, happy life. Can fish be happy?
Lisa Ellman has been working with a wide range of animals for over 20 years. Her passion, however, is dogs, and in 1996 she founded Good Dogma Obedience Training. With a foundation built on positive reinforcement, Good Dogma provides basic obedience training and behavior modification for the family dog and human members of the pack. Lisa’s comprehensive theory on training is a simple one: “Train the human, condition the dog.” Good Dogma is a monthly feature of Simply Clear Marketing & Media.
