Pawspective

Living With Dogs, An Alternative Lifestyle

When You Want A Dog ...

One fine day from out of the blue, it strikes you ... maybe you were sitting out in your porch and a man walks passed your gate with a Golden Retriever on his side strolling down. It doesn't have to be a Golden Retriever, it could be a German Shepherd, a Rottweiler or a Doberman Pinscher. It can also be one of those smaller breeds like the Shih Tzu or the Pomeranian, although most likely, it would be a woman who would have them on at their side. It can also be one of those days that it ain't so much of a one fine day but kind of bluesy one, feeling a little lonely. You don't even have to be out sitting on your front porch. Watching cable tv probably and a commercial comes on with AHHH YESSS! A Golden Retriever! They always use the breed for TV commercials, the same goes with Dalmatians. Thanks to Disney's 101 Dalmatian and Air Bud flicks. Now we have Snow Dogs that I bet a lot would want Siberian Huskies now while living in a tropical island. And so, it hits you ... YOU WANT A DOG!

Before You Even Believe You Want A Dog

For whatever circumstance that the thought entered your mind and definitely before you start attempting to go out getting yourself a dog, keep this in mind. Dogs live. They breathe the same air that you breathe. Of course, they would much rather eat the same food that you eat when given a choice, they would always go for human food over dog food unlike you. I don't suppose you would settle for theirs unlike them who would gladly settle for what you have. They don't ask much and are ever grateful for what little you give. You can spoil them, you can dote on them, you can practically give anything and even if you don't, they might feel bad for awhile but they forget and yes, they are very forgiving. There are no bad dogs. just bad owners. They are what their owners make of them and make out of them. And when you have a dog, you have them for life or at least for the short life on the average of 10 to 15 years. And I suppose the saying that the good ones die young explains why they have such a short lifespan.

They are God's creatures of virtue. And if you open your heart, these virtues are all for the taking. The dog teaches its master loyalty, humility, gratefulness. They teach man all about relationships, deep meaningful and bonding ties. Their attention is almost always on their master. They know when you are feeling a little blue. They would come up to you, may lick your face if you let them and if you don't, they stay close or just lay down by your feet. They never ever withhold their affection for you. They never lie. Well, how could they, anyways? But even if they could, they really don't do it very well and you just know what's up their sleeve. They are as honest as one might wish of a man. Such humble creatures they are. They know all about respect for they respect the order of things. They rarely answer back. They know about what challenge is, when to retreat gracefully. They stand their ground if they must. All these virtues they teach us. Dog spelled backwards after all is GOD.

A dog is not just a dog. It takes a responsible person to own a dog. Responsible enough to respect another life full of virtues it shares for whom who opens its heart.

Of Course, Now You Really WANT A Dog

Just exactly how responsible a person are you? Responsibility is when one accounts for one's actions. Owning a dog is not just simply blurting out "I HAVE A DOG!" My very first dog came into my life when I was 9 years old. I wasn't much of a responsible person, I wasn't even much of a person. Just a child. I did not know any better. My parents never even explained to me the responsibilities that came along with having a dog nor did the breeder. I saw a picture in a dog book given to me as present, memorized the captions listed for every breed in it and cried myself to death for two weeks straight pestering my Dad until finally gave in. How the hell would I know about feeding, grooming or breeding? I never even knew the difference between our family doctor and my dog's doctor more so with vaccinations. Hey, that's some thirty-something years ago, okay? No web, no National Bookstore ... just Alemar's. It wasn't until the late 70's that I found out that there was such a thing such as dog shows so I suppose, there weren't responsible ethical breeders or puppymillers. All fall under backyard breeders-everybody bred right on their own backyard. I even tried pulling my dogs apart once wondering why they were stuck together. My dogs through the years taught me to be a responsible person and even up to this time, they still never fail in teaching me and that is what living with dogs is all about.

The Things You Should Know Before You Start Living With A Dog

Nowadays, there are more responsible ethical breeders. They come in different variations and deviations. Some are responsible, others ethical, more breeders and a few are out-right righteous. There tons of dog books and when one can not afford the hard bounds, there the dog magazines. Alemar's don't exist anymore but there are lots of National Bookstore, Page One and many more specialty bookshops. Hey, there's the internet that just floods you with information. Ignorance can no longer be used as an excuse. And yet, there are just things left unsaid most of the time.

I haven't come across an article that tells you real hard facts such as when you live with a dog, you have to get used to the fact that hair will always be on your clothes. One should refrain from wearing black. They never tell you straight out that you better keep all the shoes and the slippers where they are supposed to be before you bring home the puppy. Come in a dog lovers' home and you will almost always find chewed furniture. A good way to check up on your household help if they really cleaned is pull up furniture away from the walls and almost all the time, you will find balls and balls of fur. Go away for a vacation or stay away for about 3 days and it would give you a pretty good idea if the help did their chores.

Living with dogs requires cleaning, a lot of cleaning. You possibly can't be sloppy or a slob. You will find your things chewed, laid upon or papers torn to pieces. Dogs can't tell a signature shirt from one that you got at the bargain center or flea market. All they know is that your scent is in the shirt. You can't be too lazy not to let them do their business or they will mess up inside your home. Then you'll end up with more work cleaning the poop or the pee. Well, if you took them out in the first place! Expect too, to have hair on your food once in a while. And sometimes, when you brush your hair, you find that there's dog hair in your brush. I even experienced pouring dog shampoo in my hair. I used to be picky with my clothes. Now, I've just resorted to wear T-shirts with holes over and over again. I play with the dogs and either their teeth of nails put holes in my shirts and my shorts. Blue jeans are good for less holes but slippery material such as the ones for sports are best because the hair don't really stick. Never, never have white furniture or white seat covers for your car. Vinyl or leather is good, at least all you have to do is wipe with a damp rug. And when you kiss your loved ones or when they kiss you back, almost always will you find dog hair in your mouth or theirs. Loved ones, not the dog for dog really has dog hair. Duh.

But of course, if you really are a dog lover ... then all these things don't matter. You just learn to live with them and your family ... and friends ... and relatives ... because they love you, they just have to learn to live with you and your dog.

So Before You Buy A Dog ...

PAWS FOR A THOUGHT, God Bless ...