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Things to consider:
- Are you getting this dog because it is something that you and
your entire household want, or because the kids keep bugging you?
- Are you looking for a companion or a decoration?
- Are you looking for a status symbol? A dog is not a possession like
a BMW or a Salvador Dali painting. You can't just admire it occasionally
and ignore it the rest of the time.
- Are you getting a dog to act as an ego booster? Your own value
should never be placed on a pet. It's too much of a responsibility for
them to carry.
- Are you getting a dog as a child substitute? What will become of the
dog if/when you do have children and things are not going so smoothly?
- Are you in it for the long haul? Do you switch homes,
hobbies or jobs frequently? Do you begin projects and leave them
unfinished? If you have to move, will you make every effort to to take
your pet along with you or give it back to the adoption group for
convenience sake? This is terribly unfair to the pet who has come to
love and rely on you, the adoption organization who considered you a
good candidate, your family and you. Dogs live 10 - 15 years, are you
ready for that commitment?
- Are you financially able to support a pet? Is the initial adoption
cost something you have to save up for? Food and treats alone are an
added expense. You will need to purchase a bed, food bowls and perhaps
even rent or buy a crate. What about monthly heartworm prevention? Will
this put a strain on your budget? What if there is an accident or illness
requiring costly veterinary care, can you afford it?
- Are you willing to share your home, yard and possessions with a pet?
Are you wiling to let it be near you at all times? If you prefer your
home to always look like a picture from House Beautiful, a dog may not
be the best pet for you.
- Dogs can be messy eaters, have accidents in the house, chew on
things they are not supposed to, dig in the yard, bark, jump on you or
visitors. There is no magic breed or age of dog that never does
any of these things. Can you deal with these things on a short, or even
long-term basis? Are you willing to do what it takes to train a dog even
if it means obedience classes or a behaviorist?
- Dogs need exercise. Are you a couch potato, or a marathon runner?
Responsible dog owners do not let their dogs run free, and this can
never be considered with a Greyhound. Will you walk the dog or play with
it in the fenced in yard to help keep it and you in good shape?
- Are you home enough? Pets sleep a lot but they also need you with
them. A normal working day is usually not a problem, but if you are
always the first at the office and the last to leave with your briefcase
stuffed full of work a dog is probably not the best choice. Do you take
night classes, go away frequently on weekends, have an extremely active
social calendar, are you constantly driving the kids from one event to
another? Many behavior problems stem from a dog being left alone too
long.
- Are your children, if you have any, old enough to understand what
having a dog means? Not only the care, but respecting their space. Dog
bites often occur with children because they pulled an ear or a tail one
too many times, laid down on top of a dog when it was sleeping or tried
to take food, a treat or a toy away from it. Dogs consider the entire
family members of their pack. They would not accept that kind of
treatment from their siblings and should not be expected to tolerate it
from children. Dogs should, however, be taught to respect their place in
the pack, and it should be after the rest of the family. This can be
accomplished by simple consistent training.
The above questions are meant to help you decide whether a dog
is the right pet for you. Dog ownership is not meant for
everyone, better to find out before you bring a new pet home. A decision
not to adopt should not be considered a failure, but an informed,
responsible choice on your
part.
On to the
application.
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