Thinking of getting a puppy? Think again!
Ask the vet
Esther Van Luipen
Getting a puppy
Part 1
Are you thinking about getting a puppy? We are here to help, because over the next four weeks we will be publishing a series of articles which will help you decide whether to get a puppy, how to choose a breed that will suit your home and family and how to choose a healthy puppy when you go to pick one up.
A puppy is a dog in a baby suit. This might sound ridiculous, but that is exactly how nature intended it to be. The outer appearance of a puppy deeply appeals to the emotions of adults, who will feel the immediate need to care for it and nurture it.
This is why it is so important that before you go and look at puppies, you have really thought about whether you will be able to look after it when he or she isn’t looking tiny, fluffy and adorable anymore.
Before you take a puppy, make sure you like the dog it will be growing into.
Big responsibility
A dog, depending on the breed, can live for between ten and 20 years. So, when you are thinking about getting a dog, first ask yourself whether your situation is stable enough to care for an animal for such a long time.
It’s a serious responsibility that, all going well, lasts at least a decade, maybe two. There’ll be emotional high and lows; there’ll be more expense than most people would believe; and there’ll be lots of minding, training and walking.
House training
You need to be constantly watching and training your dog if you are going to be able to house train it middling fast. Also puppies tend to bite and chew a lot.
Will you be able to put up with chewed skirting boards, gnawed table legs and of course and mangled shoes (and they could be your best ones)?
Maybe maturity matters
If you want to skip the puppy training and the destructive stage of adolescence, it is worth considering a mature dog. There are lovely dogs available in shelters all over the country. Dog pounds don’t want to get rid of dogs for the sake of it: They want a match made in heaven, so the new dog owner and the adopted dog will both be very happy. That’s why they try to get a suitable dog for you, like a dog that likes kids if you have children or a quiet dog for elderly people. Check out the website of mayo SPCA (www.mayospca.ie), which updates on a daily basis, or contact them directly. There’s also worthy shelters like MADRA (Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue & Adoption) in Galway – you can visit their website www.madra.ie.
Next week Some insights into popular breeds
Esther van Luipen is a veterinary surgeon in Claremorris Small Animal Practice. Feel free to contact her with any of your small-animal concerns on 094 9373955 or at living@mayonews.ie.
