Why maybe adopting a dog isn't for you

I never encourage people to adopt dogs. This may seem strange to those who know me as a dog lover, but this is precisely why I think it is a tad dangerous to encourage people to adopt pets before they have taken the time to really consider whether they want one.

Like I mentioned in a previous post about whether bringing a dog into your home may be the right move for you, adopting a pet is a serious responsibility. When you bring a pet into your home, you are responsible for another living creature. This is not a responsibility to be taken likely, and thorough research is a must to determine whether you have the time, energy and financial means to take care of this living thing through the best of times, and through the worst.

It's a wonderful thing to fantasize about how a pet in your home will change your life and the lives of your family members. There are countless moments of joy and silliness when you discover the quirks and eccentricities of your pet. However, in some unfortunate cases, pets may not be all you imagined, whether it's because the environment of your home simply does not fit well with his or her temperament, or whether it's because they have a medical condition that you weren't prepared to deal with.

This is why I can never stress enough how important it is for prospective new dog owners to do their research before they invest in adopting a pet. What kind of dog is good for your family and home? What can be expected from a particular breed and what medical issues may arise? Will you have time and energy to ensure he or she gets enough play and exercise, and are you financially able to provide it the care it needs? This is the responsible thing to do when taking on another life, and ensures no surprises arise when you bring in a new pooch to your home.

I've met people and heard stories of those who adopted pets and brought them into their home, only to realize later that it was too much of a commitment for them, and ended up giving the animals away or abandoning them again.

If integrating a new pet into your home ends up being something you don't think you can take on, this doesn't mean you can't still have loving animals in your life. Many shelters and animal rescue foundations have opportunities for people to volunteer and donate their time and energy to work with animals. These are also organizations that allow you to rent a pet for awhile, so you don't have to commit to one full time. These are all great ways you can keep animals in your life while also giving back to creatures who need attention.

Remember, your pet may only be a part of your life, but you will end up being the whole of theirs.

Should you fly with your dog?

I can only offer my personal opinion on this, and I think in most cases, putting your pet dog on a plane is a horrible idea.

If you happen to have a small dog that can travel inside the cabin with you, or you are wealthy enough that your dog travels with you inside a private plane, then I'd say go for it, as you'll be right there to provide your pet comfort. However, for many mid-sized to large dogs, they are relegated to the unpleasant cargo area where the noise of the engines are amplified, they aren't allowed to leave their cramped cages to relieve themselves (no matter how long the flight is), and they don't have access to fresh food and water.

The cargo area is also subject to extreme temperature swings, ranging from very cold to very hot, depending on where you depart from and where you land, and there will be no one there to make sure your pet is managing those conditions comfortably. Moreover, your pet will have no idea what's going on and will likely panic, especially with the onslaught of unfamiliar smells and sounds. Some people say sedating your pet will do the trick, but I've never been comfortable doing that, and drugging an animal can also lead to other problems.

A simple search online shows that many people's beloved pets have died on flights due to extreme conditions or improper handling. Such as this, or this and this. Pets have even been lost.

As much as I love my pet, if I had to fly somewhere for some reason and the only way he could come with me was via flying in cargo, I would dismiss the idea immediately and find a caretaker for him instead. If I had to move somewhere, then I would find him a good home with a family who would care for him and love him. He may always wonder where I went, but I would rather experience heartbreak and let him wonder than let him suffer even one moment on a plane; not to mention the lengthy and harsh quarantine conditions that many governments impose on animals when you move to their countries with a pet.

I have come across several airlines that cater especially to animals, each one claiming that they will handle your pet in only the most humane fashion, such as Air Animal and Pet Shipping. I have never tried any of these services though. Have you? Leave a comment below with your experience.

Everyday poop bag for dogs

When I go to the grocery store, I always bring my own canvas bag to put the groceries in so I don't create more garbage by asking for a shopping bag. However, this doesn't solve the problem of the fruits, vegetables and meats that are placed in separate smaller plastic bags when you purchase them.

Don't throw these bags away though. They can always be reused for things like trash, kitchen scraps or, in my case, picking up my dog's waste when we go out for walks.

I also make a habit of not throwing away any used tissues and napkins that aren't too soiled. These also come in handy for reuse when I handle my dog's poop to put into the bags.

This means I have never had to spend money on doggy bags, and the small plastic bags I collect don't go waste.

This post first appeared in my other blog, Salubrious Exclamation.

Pros and cons to spaying and neutering your dog

It's sometimes difficult for new dog owners to decide whether they want to spay or neuter their dogs. Although I am a firm believer in spaying and neutering, I think it's important for dog owners to know both sides of the argument, and to weigh the pros and cons of the procedures.

Pros to spaying or neutering your dog:

It eliminates the risk of pregnancy

Dogs who have undergone spaying or neutering are unable to get pregnant, or get other dogs pregnant. No matter how well many dog owners think they are looking after their dogs, there is still a possibility that they may get away and either become impregnated, or get other dogs pregnant. With dog overpopulation already such a problem, it would be terrible to unexpectedly bring more unwanted puppies into the world who may or may not find good homes, increasing the number of dogs that may end up neglected, abused or abandoned. Not to mention the fact that an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy would put either your dog or another through the ordeal of giving birth when it wasn't necessary and could have easily been avoided.

It reduces aggression and unwanted behavior

This point should not be misunderstood as meaning spaying or neutering would negatively affect your dog's playful or hyper personality—your dog will remain as active as it was born to be. However, spaying and neutering can help eliminate particularly aggressive or unwanted behavior that dogs tend to exhibit when they're particularly hormonal.

For example, un-neutered dams or bitches (female dogs) will have a bloody discharge when they go into heat, which can become messy if not cleaned up properly by the dog herself. The way dog will to clean herself will be by licking constantly and for long periods of time, behavior that can become irritating to a dog's owner. Dams in heat will also be interested in attracting dogs of the opposite sex by urinating a lot, which I think most dog owners can agree is an undesirable behavioral trait. Having sires (male dogs) constantly approaching a dam can also be frustrating if there is no intention to get the her pregnant. It means you would not be able to bring her to dog parks or areas where other canines are roaming about potentially running into a situation where you need to break up a mating session.

For dams and sires (male dogs) alike, when they're in the mood to mate, they can become extremely aggressive, to the point where you could be bitten if you try to interfere. A surge in hormones and the desire to mate can also result in your dogs taking it out on other dogs, your furniture, and anything else in order to expel some pent up energy. By spaying and neutering your pets, you eliminate or at least reduce this kind of aggression.

However, don't worry, if your dog is naturally playful and hyper, they will still exhibit those characteristics after the procedure.

It eliminates the risk of certain diseases

Dogs, like people, are susceptible to various diseases, including cancer. By spaying or neutering your dog, your dog will not be able to contract viruses, bacteria and cancers specific to the reproductive organs. For dams, neutering not only ensures she will never mammary cancer or tumors, the inability to get pregnant will also eliminate their potential to become injured from undergoing an unwanted or dangerous birth. For male dogs, spaying makes sure he will never experience cancer or tumors and growths on his testicles.

Cons to spaying your neutering your dog:

There may be surgical complications during the procedure

This is really the only real "con" I think can of regarding spaying or neutering your dog. Depending on the breed, dogs can be vulnerable during surgery just like people can be. Specifically, some dogs do not react to anesthesia as well as others. For example, surgeries performed on short-nosed dogs like Pugs and French Bulldogs can be particularly dangerous because of the nature of their respiratory systems. This is why it is important that you have a thorough discussion with your vet, and make sure the doctor knows the complications surrounding performing surgery on certain types of dogs. Certain dogs may also have allergies to certain medications and anesthesia, which is why you should also do your own research to decide whether you are comfortable spaying or neutering your dog.

Dogs will experience discomfort and pain afterwards

It is awful to see your dog feeling any kind of discomfort or pain, but unfortunately this is inevitable following a surgical procedure such as spaying or neutering. Most veterinarians are able to prescribe pain killers to treat the pain until a dog is healed enough that she or he no longer needs them, and most dogs usually recover quite quickly and are back to their old selves within a few days. However, if you're the kind of person who absolutely can't stomach this idea, then perhaps spaying and neutering is not for you.

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There are also many myths surrounding the spaying and neutering of dogs, such as the idea that dogs will gain weight after the procedures or that the surgery is too costly. These ideas are frankly not true, and dog behavior expert Cesar Milan has a great web page specifically addressing these myths.

Know an emergency vet

If you have a dog or any kind of pet, you should keep the contact information of an emergency 24-hour veterinarian in an easily accessible place. If you are really careful, keep the number of a backup vet handy too.

With pets, emergencies happen fast. They may require immediate treatment after eating something they weren't supposed to, getting hurt by something in the house, getting bit or stung by an insect, coming in contact with something they're allergic to, swallowing a foreign object or substance ... the list goes on. Not to mention the fact that pets can't speak your language, so you won't always know what's wrong. That's why it's a much better idea to have a certified vet on your speed dial to help you through a crisis when it arises. And they do arise.

With this in mind, it is also a good idea to keep a health calendar of your pet and familiarize yourself with its habits and physical characteristics. This makes it much easier to determine that something is wrong if you see your pet exhibiting behavior that is out of the ordinary, or if you find a strange bump on its body that you don't remember being there before.

Know your pet and know your vet. You may be thankful for those precious few minutes you saved by keeping the doctor's number nearby if an unfortunate problem ever arises.

Reasons to adopt a dog

If you want a dog, you should adopt one instead of buy one. Everyone has heard this, but many people don't know the reasons why buying pets contributes to a much bigger system that is sadly, incredibly inhumane.

Buying a dog encourages puppy mills

I will be honest, I have purchased previous dogs I've owned because I was ignorant about how they ended up in the pet store to begin with. I mistakenly thought store-bought dogs were less likely to have health problems down the line, and if someone's gotta buy the puppy, might as well be me, for I can guarantee it will have a safe, loving home.

Then I did a little research and realized how buying a dog contributes to a truly terrible cycle.

In handing over money to a pet store in exchange for a dog, you are essentially encouraging them to continuously acquire more dogs from many inhumane puppy mills in order to turn a profit. These puppy mill breeders are not necessarily licensed, and are not looking out for the dogs' best interests when they keep them in extremely poor conditions and cramped cages, just so they can create more puppies to make money from. Many dogs are not properly cared for and are continuously impregnated just for the purpose of birthing puppies. Cruel and careless practices mean many dogs are born with defects, health and behavioral problems that may not be apparent until they get older.

The only way to discourage such puppy mills is to not buy dogs. If there is no market for puppies, puppy mills cannot benefit by forcing dogs to make more, and they will abandon the practice.

What happens to the dogs in stores though? Well, the truth is many will be used to breed more puppies, or inhumanely killed. However, please don't think that by purchasing a dog you are doing dogs any favors. In saving one life you are probably hurting countless more by encouraging people to continue the practice of forcing more puppies into the world. Instead, appeal to local authorities and politicians to implement laws that will crack down on these awful people who treat animals so barbarically.

If unsold pet store dogs are lucky, they may be sent to pet shelters where they will hopefully be adopted. This just goes to show that dogs in pet stores are not necessarily of "better quality" than those you could find in adoption centers. It may seem like many dogs in pet stores look cuter and healthier, but if you dress up anything nicely in a shop window it will seem more appealing. Think of it like seeing a beautiful Gucci purse in a display case and the same one on eBay. One looks much nicer than the other, but it's the same purse.

I know sometimes it's difficult to walk by those pleading puppy eyes in a pet store and resist that temptation to hand over some cash so you can take it home. But you can help be a part of the solution to the end of inhumane puppy mills by not giving in, and hoping that if that dog is put up for adoption instead, someone kind like you will be the one to give it a nice home.

It's cheaper

From a purely financial perspective, adopting a dog is cheaper. Notice I did not say adopting a dog is free, like many people think. If you're lucky to find a shelter or adoption center that will let you take a dog home for free, that's great. But in many cases there will be a small fee to cover the dog's vaccinations and care for the time it has been at the shelter, which can be a few hundred dollars.

This may sound off-putting to some of you, but just think about it, would you rather give less money to an organization that is about rescuing and saving animals, or more money to a pet store that in turn probably encourages the inhumane practice of puppy mills?

You won't have to worry too much about adopting a dog with major health or behavior problems either. If you have concerns or requirements regarding adopting a dog, simply tell the shelter, and they will do their best to accommodate you. Unlike pet stores, many adoption centers make sure their dogs are actually ready to be adopted, and will try to match them to homes that are the most suitable for them.

Dogs that aren't rescued are put down

This goes without saying. Thousands upon thousands of abandoned or neglected dogs are waiting for homes in shelters, and sometimes there is simply not enough space, money and manpower to handle them all. This means after awhile they need to be put down. So if you're thinking of getting a dog, visit your local animal shelter to see who needs a home. And at some point you — like many before you — will lock eyes with one dog, feel that tug in your heart, and you will say, "This is the one."

What kind of dog should you get?

So you've decided you're ready to get a dog. You've thought through all the changes and adjustments you need to make when bringing a pet into your life, and find that you are emotionally and financially able to care for a dog.

But what kind of dog should you choose?

Not all dogs are created equal. This is an important thing to keep in mind when choosing what kind of canine to bring into your family. Although all dogs deserve to be loved and find good homes, you can help make sure your pet will be happy in its new environment by considering some very important factors.

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Your living situation and access to the outdoors:

The size of your home and how often you are willing and able to get your dog the exercise he needs is a very important thing to consider when choosing your new pet. Although there are people who live in tiny apartments who can care for their Bull Mastiffs and Golden Retrievers just fine, these are the same people who need to make sure they have access to parks and wide outdoor spaces so their dogs can get exercise. Dogs need exercise and the opportunity to be outdoors just like people, both for their health and their sanity. Some people wonder why their dogs are anxious all the time and chew through furniture, and the most of the time the answer may be as simple as the dog is not getting enough exercise.

If you live in a big city and are unable to, or don't have time to, get to wide open spaces often, you might want to rethink getting a high-energy dog that needs a regular work out.

This doesn't mean small dogs don't need exercise, or that running around the house is enough for them. It irks me to think some people keep their small dogs cradled under their arm every time they step out the front door together. Although sometimes that is necessary, do get a leash if you have a small dog and let it roam around on its own once in awhile. They like to explore and stretch their legs too.

Grooming:

All dogs need to be groomed, even if they have short hair. Even people with short hairdos keep their hair brushed and combed, if not for style then at least for comfort. Consistent grooming is good for a dog's coat and improves their blood circulation. So don't skip doing this even if you end up with a short-haired dog.

Perhaps you are more interested in getting a dog with long hair. If you are not confident in caring for its coat yourself, make sure you can afford to send your pooch to a licensed groomer, because keeping long-haired dogs' fur in check can cost a substantial amount of money. It is important too, because tangled and matted fur can be very uncomfortable, even painful, for Shih Tzus, Poodles and similar dogs. Just imagine having knots in your hair that you can never brush out and they keep getting caught in things.

Then there are dogs who have relatively short hair, but will still require professionals to handle their coats. This is because some dogs, such as Border Collies, are unable to shed and must undergo a process called "stripping" to pull the dead fur out of their coats. If done improperly, this can be very painful for the dog (imagine getting your hair yanked out by the handful), so make sure you know what kind of care your dog's fur needs.

Health:

Many breeds of dogs are commonly known to have predispositions to various diseases, injuries or health issues. Brushing up on your knowledge of what kinds of health problems your dog may run into will help you be prepared if that unfortunate day ever comes. The Internet is rife with information from animal associations, pet owners and forums about what conditions some breeds are genetically predisposed to.

If you plan on caring for a mutt or mixed breed dog, its potential health problems will be more difficult to determine. However, do your best to find out your dog's history and lineage, you definitely won't regret knowing where your dog came from.

Behavior:

Some dogs were bred to hunt, some for herding, others to fight and some just to sit around and look pretty. Then there are dogs who are mixes of the aforementioned canines and may exhibit many of these qualities or a completely different set of them. It's helpful to know what your dog was originally "designed" for; you'll be less surprised when your Basset Hound starts howling for—what you think is—no reason.

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These are some of the more major things that are important to think about when choosing a dog. I hope this list was helpful to you in your search for the right dog to bring home. Good luck!

Should you get a dog?

Most people imagine only the fun things before getting a dog; playing with him in the park, the dog greeting you happily when you come home after a long day, and having someone warm and fuzzy to snuggle with on chilly evenings.

However, please really, really think carefully about what you're doing before you bring a dog home. Don't get me wrong, I have always had dogs in my life and never regretted a moment of it, even when they were naughty, even when they got sick, even after the deep heartbreak I felt when previous pets got old, took their last breath and left me forever. I never regretted any of that. Having a dog in your life is a wonderful thing.

But getting a dog is a massive responsibility beyond simply feeding him, walking him and cleaning up after him. When you bring a dog home, you are making a promise to nurture and take care of a life, something that shouldn't be taken lightly.

This means you should seriously consider whether you have the time, energy and financial capabilities to properly take care of a dog. Your responsibilities aren't simply limited to keeping an animal alive. Taking care of a dog means devoting your time to loving him , making sure he gets exercise even when you don't feel like it, and having the patience to train him without losing your temper if he has a propensity for naughtiness. The financial aspect is also an important one to consider; figure out if you're ready and able to pay thousands of dollars if your dog becomes injured or sick.

Dogs are abandoned every day because their owners suddenly realized they didn't have the time or patience for them, or decided that taking care of them was becoming too costly. Owners end up regretting their decision to bring a dog into their lives when they find they simply weren't ready for the energy of a Border Collie and were only equipped to deal with a Pomeranian. Some dogs are abandoned because they end up with a lot of health problems that owners are not prepared for, emotionally or financially.

But dogs aren't inanimate objects. They may not have obvious facial expressions to show it, but they know if they are being abandoned, abused or neglected. Avoid becoming one of those people who inflict this kind of pain on their pets by thinking long and hard about the decision you're making, then conduct lengthy research about exactly what kind of pet would be most suitable for your home. Like I said, caring for Border Collies and Pomeranians are not the same thing.

If you still want to have dogs in your life but don't think you can make a full-time commitment, then volunteer at your local animal shelter. Give money, donate food and toys, or sign up to provide a foster home so you can take care of dogs on a short term basis. However, do not commit to taking care of a life unless you are absolutely sure about taking the plunge.

Bringing a dog home is bringing a life home, make sure you're ready for it—all the good times and the bad.