There are many pros and cons to owning a dog. Obviously for people who experience much enjoyment from their canine companions, the pros far outweigh the cons. However, when considering bringing a dog or puppy into the home, one needs to be realistic about the challenges that owning a dog can present.
My professor, the late Johannes Odendaal, always used to say: “A dog is not a motor car - you cannot just park it in the garage and switch it on when you need it!”
1. Caring for a dog costs money - dogs need to be fed (good foods are not cheap), sterilised, vaccinated annually, receive veterinary treatment for illnesses and injuries and treated with anti-parasite applications.
2. Dogs cannot always accompany us on holidays and suitable dog sitters have to be found to care for them in our absence. This can be a difficult and costly exercise.
3. Dogs are not allowed in all the places that we go to on a daily basis and have to learn to stay at home happily by themselves for periods of time.
4. Dogs require time and energy - they need to be exercised on a daily basis (see “Ten Reasons to take your dog for a daily walk“) trained, groomed and played with.
5. Dogs and humans do not often have the same agenda, and your dog may do many things that try your patience or embarrass you.
6. Dogs can be messy - they shed hair, walk muddy footprints into the house and drool on the carpet. Having one or more dogs in the home usually results in the need for extra housework.
Obviously these problems pale in comparison to the great enjoyment and companionship we can receive from our canine family members. In fact, studies have shown that people who own dogs are generally healthier both mentally and physically than non-dog owners and have a longer life-expectancy. Children who grow up with dogs in the home get sick less often and are less likely to develop allergies than those without pets. Elderly persons who own dogs are generally more independent and self-sufficient than those who don’t. Tests have proved that the simple act of patting a dog lowers blood pressure and increases feel-good hormones. The unconditional love and acceptance available from one’s dog is priceless.
Unfortunately many people get a dog for the wrong reasons. Here are what I consider to be the worst reasons to get a dog:
To teach a child responsibility or to provide a child with companionship
Many people, who themselves have little personal interest in dogs, seem to think that it is a good idea to get a dog for the sake of their child. They either believe that caring for a dog will teach responsibility or that a puppy or dog will be a good playmate. However, children and even teenagers are by nature irresponsible and young children also struggle with the concept of empathy. They are therefore incapable of caring for a relatively helpless dog that cannot easily communicate its needs or desires. Toddlers can actually cause tremendous harm to a puppy which may be physically manhandled as though it were a toy. There is certainly nothing wrong with raising a family that includes both canine and human “children”, but the motivation to do so should be your great love for dogs and your desire to care for and spend time with a dog. I would also like to caution all those considering the idea, that trying to raise a puppy and a baby together is usually disastrous. Most people simply do not have time to attend to the needs of a young human and young canine. The dog is always the one who loses out and ends up developing behavioural problems. Puppies and toddlers are also usually a bad combination, as toddlers tend to tease the pup and to encourage unwanted behaviours. They are also not able to understand or handle the mouthing and chewing that a normal puppy will engage in. If you are considering getting your first family dog, I strongly recommend waiting until your children are of school- going age. At the age of six or seven, children are far better able to follow the instructions of their parents with regard to interacting with the dog or puppy and the time they spend at school also gives the puppy a much needed break from the kids. Alternately, if you already have a puppy and are considering having a baby, it would be a very good idea to wait until the dog is at least 2 years old, so that the dog can mature and hopefully calm down a little and, more importantly, you can spend time training the dog and teaching it the manners and social skills it will need to deal with a baby or toddler.
As a security system for the home
As the owner of three large dogs, I certainly do not underestimate the feeling of security that a dog can provide. I personally prefer breeds of dogs that make people think twice about entering my property, coming close to my car or approaching me on walks. However, personal security alone is not a good enough reason to get a dog. When a person gets a dog simply for this reason, they will usually treat the dog in a manner which they mistakenly believe will make it a good guard dog: the dog may be relegated to the garden and expected to patrol the perimeter of the property; the dog will most likely not be socialised, as the owner does not want it to be familiar with many people; the dog may be treated quite indifferently or even harshly to make sure that it does not become “soft”; the dog is unlikely to ever be taken outside the home for walks; aggressive behaviour may be encouraged. Unfortunately any dog that is treated in the above manner, is likely to develop all sorts of problems. I firmly believe that a lot of the incidents of aggression reported involving the traditional guardian breed type dogs are attributable to the foolish way in which they are treated and not simply to some innate temperament trait. There is no doubt that dogs of certain breeds are more suspicious of strangers and can be effective in deterring the average, petty criminal. However, a dog that has no bond with its human family is unlikely to feel protective towards them and keeping a dog that is indiscriminately and dangerously aggressive (will bite any human it encounters) is irresponsible and exceedingly stupid. If you have no personal interest in dogs and do not want the dog to be a valuable member of your family, then sign-up with a reliable armed response company instead!
After being inspired by a dog in a movie
There have been many wonderful films with many wonderful canine stars. Over the last century movies have made several breeds quite famous, from German Shepherds (Rin Tin Tin) to Rough Collies (Lassie) and more recently St Bernards (Beethoven), Dalmations (101 Dalmations) and Huskies (Six degrees below Zero). However, it must be remembered that the wonderful behaviour and often heroic deeds portrayed by the dogs in such movies are often simply part of a Hollywood storyline and not necessarily based on reality. Dogs in movies and TV series have expert trainers on hand to coordinate their every move. Unless you intend to employ a full-time animal trainer your dog is unlikely to be as impressive in your daily life. Dogs in movies tend to make the public think that dogs are capable of instinctively knowing what you want them to do. This is very far from the truth. It usually takes lots of training and socialising to create a canine companion that is a pleasure to live with. For instance, while Huskies may look great on the big screen, living with them is another story! They may make wonderful companions for those people who understand the breed and are capable of meeting their great need for exercise, but they will literally run circles around the average family - that is when they are not running off as fast as possible into the distance!
There is only one right reason to get a dog: Because you LOVE dogs and know for certain that you have the time, energy, resources and motivation to care for one and fulfil ALL its needs!