So You're Thinking About Getting a Dog
Prepare yourself for the realities of training, cost and the impact that lovable pooch might have on your house
Alison Hodgson
March 18, 2013
Houzz Contributor. Author of The Pug List: A Ridiculous Dog, a Family Who Lost Everything, and How They All Found Their Way Home http://alisonhodgson.net
Houzz Contributor. Author of The Pug List: A Ridiculous Dog, a Family Who Lost Everything,... More
“When did you become the crazy dog lady?" my sister, Torey, asked the other day out of nowhere. Sure, it was right after I put another picture of my dogs on Facebook, one of thousands on my phone that I have been known to force on complete strangers, but it's what any dog lover does, right?
Up until a few years ago, I was the least likely person to become a crazy dog lady. With a few exceptions, I experienced dogs as panting messes of fur, drool and naughty behavior. But then I gave birth to my son, Christopher, an animal lover with a passion for dogs in particular. As soon as he was ambulatory, he was hitting on strange dogs wherever he could: parks, garage sales, the sidewalk in front of our house (dog owners in a hurry learned to avoid our street), anywhere really. When he was not quite 2 years old, we stopped at a sale where the homeowner's friendly dog was lounging in the driveway. I remember it was a smaller breed, because Christopher had to bend over to pet, pet, pet it, the calm and gentle way he had been taught. The owner, an older lady, asked if we had a dog of our own, and I told her we did not.
She fixed me with a gimlet eye and bore a hole into my soul. "You have got to get this child a dog," she said. She didn't come right out and accuse me of neglect, but it was implied. Her intensity made me nervous, but I knew she was right; something deep inside of Christopher lit up and came alive only when he was with a dog.
The thing is, we were in the middle of a mass of testing and diagnoses for him, and I was extra busy having a difficult pregnancy with his sister. I ran the numbers: toddler with special needs + newborn + puppy/dog = insanity. The prudent thing was to wait, which we did ... for another nine years. In the meantime I did my research.
Up until a few years ago, I was the least likely person to become a crazy dog lady. With a few exceptions, I experienced dogs as panting messes of fur, drool and naughty behavior. But then I gave birth to my son, Christopher, an animal lover with a passion for dogs in particular. As soon as he was ambulatory, he was hitting on strange dogs wherever he could: parks, garage sales, the sidewalk in front of our house (dog owners in a hurry learned to avoid our street), anywhere really. When he was not quite 2 years old, we stopped at a sale where the homeowner's friendly dog was lounging in the driveway. I remember it was a smaller breed, because Christopher had to bend over to pet, pet, pet it, the calm and gentle way he had been taught. The owner, an older lady, asked if we had a dog of our own, and I told her we did not.
She fixed me with a gimlet eye and bore a hole into my soul. "You have got to get this child a dog," she said. She didn't come right out and accuse me of neglect, but it was implied. Her intensity made me nervous, but I knew she was right; something deep inside of Christopher lit up and came alive only when he was with a dog.
The thing is, we were in the middle of a mass of testing and diagnoses for him, and I was extra busy having a difficult pregnancy with his sister. I ran the numbers: toddler with special needs + newborn + puppy/dog = insanity. The prudent thing was to wait, which we did ... for another nine years. In the meantime I did my research.
Anyone whose dog I admired, or at least tolerated, said the same thing: "In the beginning, it's a lot like having another child." I had two and then three children of my own, so I knew that was code for "crapload of work," and this was not encouraging. But there was my boy, with a multiplicity of special needs and a passion for dogs.
So, I did what I always do in times of uncertainty and attacked stack after stack of books, from training and behavioral guides to personal essays and memoirs, anything I could get my hands on about life with a dog. In my reading I came across something the writer Jon Katz said in one of his books: at the end of the day, a dog is an animal and even a good dog, a well-trained dog, will do stupid and disgusting things. He gave the example of his Lab, who loved to roam in the woods, find vile things to eat and then be sick inside the house. Most people don't want a real animal, Katz contends; they want a Disney dog.
4 Questions to Ask Yourself
I hadn't realized a Disney dog was exactly what I wanted, and up until that moment, I had thought if I worked hard enough, I could transform an animal into a cartoon fantasy. Facing reality was simultaneously a relief and a little disheartening, but in retrospect it was very helpful.
If you are thinking about getting a dog, answer these questions to start the process.
So, I did what I always do in times of uncertainty and attacked stack after stack of books, from training and behavioral guides to personal essays and memoirs, anything I could get my hands on about life with a dog. In my reading I came across something the writer Jon Katz said in one of his books: at the end of the day, a dog is an animal and even a good dog, a well-trained dog, will do stupid and disgusting things. He gave the example of his Lab, who loved to roam in the woods, find vile things to eat and then be sick inside the house. Most people don't want a real animal, Katz contends; they want a Disney dog.
4 Questions to Ask Yourself
I hadn't realized a Disney dog was exactly what I wanted, and up until that moment, I had thought if I worked hard enough, I could transform an animal into a cartoon fantasy. Facing reality was simultaneously a relief and a little disheartening, but in retrospect it was very helpful.
If you are thinking about getting a dog, answer these questions to start the process.
1. Do you have room in your budget? "There's no such thing as a free lunch." That economist's adage extends to canines: There's no such thing as a free dog. Trust me.
This may sound cold, but it's quite caring to first assess whether you have the expendable income that dog ownership requires. The cost of food, routine vet bills and basic gear adds up quickly, and that doesn't even take into account medical emergencies, fences, training, possible boarding and dental care.
Dental care? Yes, and it's quite expensive, since sedation is involved. I don't even want to tell you about anal glands, but you should know they exist and, depending on the dog, require regular attention.
This may sound cold, but it's quite caring to first assess whether you have the expendable income that dog ownership requires. The cost of food, routine vet bills and basic gear adds up quickly, and that doesn't even take into account medical emergencies, fences, training, possible boarding and dental care.
Dental care? Yes, and it's quite expensive, since sedation is involved. I don't even want to tell you about anal glands, but you should know they exist and, depending on the dog, require regular attention.
2. Are you willing to make time? Dogs need exercise and attention. Consider your schedule and current commitments to help decide if you can meet a dog's basic needs. Research different breeds. Our English Lab, Jack, requires much more exercise than our little pug, Oliver, does, but in a pinch we could leave Jack home alone all day and he would be fine, and our home would be, too. Ollie? Not so much.
3. Do you have the space? Will you need to make room for a kennel? Where will the dog sleep? Will you allow your dog on the furniture? Many dogs like to be right by their people, which means they can be constantly underfoot. We taught our dogs to stay out of the work zone in the kitchen and to keep off the furniture unless invited, but this required training, which brings me to the next point.
3. Do you have the space? Will you need to make room for a kennel? Where will the dog sleep? Will you allow your dog on the furniture? Many dogs like to be right by their people, which means they can be constantly underfoot. We taught our dogs to stay out of the work zone in the kitchen and to keep off the furniture unless invited, but this required training, which brings me to the next point.
4. Are you prepared to invest time and money in training? I can't even tell you how many books I read before we bought Jack and I was ready to go. If it had merely been the two of us, we would have been so much simpler. I had no idea how much energy it would take to teach my family how to be with him. Jack was and is a wonderful dog, but it was exhausting in the beginning as he figured out where he fit in our family. Group classes were helpful in socializing him as well as modeling for our children how to be, and still it took a lot of time and work.
If you said yes to everything above, the next step is centering in on a type of dog or breed.
Many books and websites can give an idea of what to expect from the standpoint of energy, exercise requirements, playfulness, ease of training, even affection level. Since neither my husband, Paul, nor I had ever trained a dog and because our children were younger, Paul and I focused on breeds that were highly trainable, easygoing and affectionate.
In the end we went with an English Labrador retriever, which is stockier and generally more placid than its American cousin. Jackie Boy had a slew of medical emergencies the first year, but with steady exercise, relentless training and a little maturity, he became a wonderful addition to our family. Our pug, Oliver, a stud dog for a backyard breeder, was a rescue. He lived in an outdoor kennel for three years and was never fully housebroken. We have had him a year, and the short story is we're still working on it.
Even if you plan to go to a shelter and are open to any breed, do your research to help you make the very best decision for everyone's sake.
Many books and websites can give an idea of what to expect from the standpoint of energy, exercise requirements, playfulness, ease of training, even affection level. Since neither my husband, Paul, nor I had ever trained a dog and because our children were younger, Paul and I focused on breeds that were highly trainable, easygoing and affectionate.
In the end we went with an English Labrador retriever, which is stockier and generally more placid than its American cousin. Jackie Boy had a slew of medical emergencies the first year, but with steady exercise, relentless training and a little maturity, he became a wonderful addition to our family. Our pug, Oliver, a stud dog for a backyard breeder, was a rescue. He lived in an outdoor kennel for three years and was never fully housebroken. We have had him a year, and the short story is we're still working on it.
Even if you plan to go to a shelter and are open to any breed, do your research to help you make the very best decision for everyone's sake.
Be warned: Having a dog could take a toll on your home. Your dog may:
• Chew on the furniture.
• "Evacuate" every orifice on the rugs.
• Scratch the floors.
• Shed — oh, the humanity! — everywhere.
• Dig in your yard and gardens.
• Eat prized plants.
• Track in dirt.
• Press a moist nose on glass doors and windows.
• Stink up the joint.
Of course, most of these behaviors can be avoided with consistent training, which, in the beginning anyway, is a lot of work.
• Chew on the furniture.
• "Evacuate" every orifice on the rugs.
• Scratch the floors.
• Shed — oh, the humanity! — everywhere.
• Dig in your yard and gardens.
• Eat prized plants.
• Track in dirt.
• Press a moist nose on glass doors and windows.
• Stink up the joint.
Of course, most of these behaviors can be avoided with consistent training, which, in the beginning anyway, is a lot of work.
When I polled my dog-loving friends, the stories of wear and tear in their homes came flooding in. And yet, everyone agreed that the joy of having their dogs made it more than worth it.
My family would definitely agree that our life is richer since we have opened our hearts and our home to dogs. Here's Oliver (in the foreground) and Jack, with our youngest, Eden.
Your turn: Tell us about your dog below (include a photo too, please)!
More: 50 dogs in design
My family would definitely agree that our life is richer since we have opened our hearts and our home to dogs. Here's Oliver (in the foreground) and Jack, with our youngest, Eden.
Your turn: Tell us about your dog below (include a photo too, please)!
More: 50 dogs in design
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However: a tired dog is a happy dog and if you can't put in that work - do your research on breed!
ADORABLE!!!!