Am possibly a little late with this thread but here's two cents' worth of
advice from someone who has been doing companion animal rescue for
twenty-five years.
PLEASE do not go to a breeder or pet store! DO adopt from your local
humane society or area rescue groups. There are NOWHERE near enough homes
for all these animals; people do not need to be encouraged to keep
breeding their animals or buying stock from appalling puppy mills in the
Midwest.
BE SURE you alter your animal, prebuterally if possible. (Sign of a good
shelter: compulsory spay/neuter for EVERY adopted animal.)
BE SURE to provide obedience training and keep it up. Shelters are
inundated with stray throw-aways (which goes back to spay/neuter) and
young dogs that have never been worked with. The latter are no longer
cute puppies and they're bouncing off the walls so people just dump them.
(I could personally KILL the vast majority of these irresponsible,
uncommitted people.)
Don't procure the first cunning little number you see. Work with an
adoption counselor who knows how to temperament test AND who knows the
history of the puppy you're interested in, specifically how long it was
with its mother and siblings before being left at the shelter. As to
temperament, the last thing you or IMHO anyone remotely inexperienced
needs is an alpha, and socialization, so essential, starts with the pup's
relationship with mum and siblings -- at least seven to eight weeks with
big dogs and as much as twelve with small.
If you've young children, A) don't believe them when they swear they'll
take care of the animal. Even teenagers tend to fail here. And B) think
seriously about adopting an older dog, one all wired in. A puppy can
amount to a year of hell, an extra burden people with toddlers don't seem
to take into consideration. While I foster litter after litter of puppies
and kittens -- animals found in dumpsters, plastic bags beside freeways,
boxes in the woods, you-name-it -- you couldn't pay me to take on a puppy,
primarily because I know what wonderful old shoes there are at shelters,
dogs literally dying for homes. Too, they are so GRATEFUL, particuarly if
what you offer is more than they're accustomed to. (All my second-hand
dogs think I'm God. :-))
I could go on and on but simply will commend you for understanding that
research is important, nay crucial. As a librarian I would urge you too
to visit your library on the subject.
You're about to make a ten-to-fifteen year commitment. Dogs in this
country live an average of two years. Why? Irresponsible owners. So when
you do finally make your choice, please rise to the occasion. So many
people don't.
Mariah Meriam
Spay/Neuter . . . pets too!
ZPG
On 27 Jul 2000, KBryan wrote:
> Gezzzzzz for those of us who have lost a DEARLY loved fuzzy faced friend (how's
>that for alliteration?) I can say that I was almost boo hoo'in like a baby!
>
> Might we all suggest a site for Alan to publish his book? I'd buy it! If not just
>for the monthly crying jag that would ensue!
>
> ************************
> Raising a puppy is just simply a matter of observation, firm yet gentle resolve and
>determination on your part, patience, and love. There is no other pet in the world
>that will return love to you and your family and bond with them, than a dog. :-)
> Alan
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
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