IT'S the New Year and you've sat down with yourself, your spouse or your family and decided to bring a dog into your lives.
Upon making that decision you've taken into consideration the expenses that may be incurred such as food, toys, veterinarian bills, dog training classes and possibly doggy day care or dog walkers, plus boarding or pet sitting costs when you go on vacation and can't take your dog.
You have also considered the time commitment required to teach your dog good manners and behaviour - in order to have a well-behaved and socially balanced dog - which begins when your dog is a puppy and could possibly continue until your dog is three years of age or more.
You have thought very long about the fact that this dog you are going to adopt, be it a puppy or adult dog, could possibly live to 16 or more years of age and you are loyally committed to its care for that length of time - remember the commitment you are making to your dog is longer than most people make to their marriages these days.
Having said that, if your marriage was to dissolve you and your ex-spouse are committed to continue to care for your dog without choosing the option of giving up on it and surrendering it to a local shelter or rescue group.
You have confidently checked yes to all of the above comments and are now wondering what kind of dog to get.
Most people gravitate to puppies. Why? Because they are so darn cute, that's why!
But puppies require a great deal of work, especially during house training and early socialization. That's why I want to mention the large number of mature adult or adolescent dogs that are in desperate need of a good forever home. There are many benefits to adopting an adult dog.
Most have just been given up on and come with minor behavioral issues because their previous owners lacked the commitment, and therefore leadership, to provide a balanced, stable home for them.
Once that leadership has been established these dogs can be turnkey dogs; they are ready to go once they know you are in charge. That does not mean they won't require additional training. Obedience training is more about teaching the new dog owner what is required to be a competent leader to their dog than it is about teaching a dog to sit for five minutes. If you choose to get into competitive obedience, that is a whole different ball of wax compared to canine leadership obedience.
The type of dog you choose to get is just as important as the level of commitment involved. Sometimes people get a dog that is "in vogue" and after they get bored with it they give up on the dog. Sometimes people are attracted to the sleek sporty dogs but when they realize the dog has more energy than they know what to do with, the owners get overwhelmed and give up on the dog.
So choose a dog that fits into your real lifestyle rather than the lifestyle your ego wants you to have. If you are an avid jogger and want a running partner then a trendy French bulldog or pug is not going to work because of their compromised breathing due to their face shape. If you like to lounge around until noon on Saturday mornings then a border collie or pointer who are up at the crack of dawn looking for stuff to do, is not going to work for you.
Purebred versus mixed breed? Generally speaking mixed breed dogs are healthier, which means less money spent on veterinary care. But that really is a personal choice, again made after much consideration. If your heart is set on a purebred dog and you want an adult there are a number of breed-specific private rescue groups that will be able to accommodate you.
Regardless, if your New Year's resolution was to be a more responsible, committed person then dog ownership may be just for you.
