I am sure you have heard the phrase that the mother’s milk is the best and there is no such substitute for a new born infant. Well the same goes to most of the species that are living in this planet. There is a very incorrect procedure or culture that we have in Nepal while adopting or even buying a puppy.
Firstly, we all want a decent dog in our house. Mostly of us do not even do a background check or know some basics of having a new dog for us.If you are one of those who is in need of the so called branded dog, you will mostly been given by the puppy mill. There they do not at all care about the health of the dog and puppy. They are only concerned about the money, hence they go against the rules of normal breeding and produce puppies throughout the year.After that the puppies land in the retail stores or been advertised through the various media. If you happen to see the puppy on sale in the shops, there is one thing most of us ask, that being-how old is the puppy?Then the sellers replies that it has been less than a month or so. This surprised me a lot as the law or the adopting process says that we are not allowed to have the puppy less than 3 months.
This kind of practice is not done in our part, when I asked personally why the puppies are so young? The answer I got was if it’s big no one would buy it. Hence, I personally request all the citizens of the Nepal and also to the whole world to look after the following while adopting or having the puppy
- Try to adopt , not buy . If you look around you will find many puppies the need a good home. If you are one of those who need of having branded dogs or puppies then maybe you should change the mindset. Dogs are dogs in the end, unless you want your dog to find the drugs or bombs then please do not go for the brand of the dog. You will be considered a good person if you are able to train any breed of dog. Buying the dogs will encourage the puppy mills and they are horrible in nature.
- Do not take away the puppy from its mother before 3 months. If done so, later on they might be complications in the health of the dog and also they might have problem socializing with others.
- If you are buying one of the top breeds of the dogs , then personally ask the seller to show you it’s mother and father. The seller should be able to. If he declines the request then the breed might not be a genuine one, and you will be just spending your money in vain.
- Try to built a health dairy from day one and follow proper vaccination protocol for the puppies. This is very important, as you would not want to spend fortune later on treating a sick dog or being bitten by rabies infection.
- In Nepal and also in many third world country we do not microchip the puppy. Many puppies are microchipped before you adopt or buy it. This is a mandatory practice in first world country and I highly recommend other follow this as well.
- We all love puppies, they look cute and handsome when young. Also they trouble you very less. But I have seen many dogs are abandoned once they grow up. I don’t know why the owners do this, or they plan to dump their own mother and father when they grow old. Having a puppy is a commitment os 13-14 years depending on various factors. These are a part of your family, stay true to your commitment and don’t be an asshole playboy or playgirl.
- Do not hesitate or adopt/have a puppy in hurry. Also don’t take them because of the pressure of someone. If you are incapable to raise them them do not burden yourself rather spread the news to someone else. Maybe someone will raise their hand.
Here below I have compiled the checklist on the adoption of the puppy from various sources.
Questions for All Adopters:
- Do you have any other dogs and how will they react to a new pet?
- Is your current residence suited to the dog you’re considering?
- How will your social life or work obligations affect your ability to care for a dog?
- Do you have a plan for your new dog during vacations and/or work travel?
- How do the people you live with feel about having a dog in the house?
- Are you (or your spouse, partner or roommate) intolerant of hair, dirt and other realities of sharing your home with a dog, such as allergies?
- Do you or any of your household/family members have health issues that may be affected by a dog?
- What breed of dog is the best fit with your current lifestyle? (You can find information on specific breed)
- Is there tension in the home? Dogs quickly pick up on stress in the home, and it can exacerbate their health and behavior problems.
- Is there an adult in the family who has agreed to be ultimately responsible for the dog’s care?
Other Considerations:
- What do you expect your dog to contribute to your life? For example, do you want a running and hiking buddy, or is your idea of exercise watching it on TV?
- If you are thinking of adopting a young dog, do you have the time and patience to work with the dog through its adolescence, taking house-breaking, chewing and energy-level into account?
- Have you considered your lifestyle carefully and determined whether a younger or older dog would be a better match for you?
- Can you train and handle a dog with behavior issues or are you looking for an easy-going friend?
- Do you need a dog who will be reliable with children or one you can take with you when you travel?
- Do you want a dog who follows you all around the house or would you prefer a less clingy, more independent character?
Size Considerations:
- What size dog can your home accommodate?
- Will you have enough room if your dog grows to be bigger than expected?
- What size dog would suit the other people who live in or visit your home regularly?
- Do you have another dog to consider when choosing the size of your next dog?
- How big of a dog can you travel comfortably with?
Dog Costs:
- More likely than not, the adopting agency will charge a fee to help defray the cost of taking in homeless or lost animals. The adoption fee you pay will be a tiny fraction of the money you will spend over the life of your dog.
- You may need to pay for your adopted dog to be spayed or neutered before bringing him or her home.
- Some expenses are mandatory for all dogs, including:
- Food
- Routine veterinary care
- Collars, leashes and identification tags
- Basic grooming equipment and supplies
- Other expenditures may not be required but are highly recommended:
- Permanent identification, such as a microchip or tattoo
- Training classes
- Additional grooming supplies or professional grooming (depending on your new dog’s needs)
- A spare collar or leash
- A bed and toys
- A crate or carrier
- Unexpected costs: Accidents and illness can result in costly emergency veterinary care. Recovery tools for finding a missing dog can include posters and rewards.
- A dog with special physical or behavioral challenges may require specialized professional support to overcome any obstacles these issues present.
Time Considerations:
- Dogs need to be fed two to three times a day, more often in the case of puppies, and need a constant supply of fresh water.
- A responsible dog parent should spend at least one hour per day giving direct attention to his or her dog. This may include training, exercising, grooming, and playing or, with cats, it may just be lap time on the couch. Dogs will need to be taken out to potty several times a day.
- A dog with an abundance of energy needs more time to exercise and interactive toys to keep them entertained.
- Dogs with long coats may need 20 minutes a day of grooming to prevent matting.
- Dogs with certain medical conditions may need additional attention, including specifically timed injections in the case of diabetic animals.
- Remember that adopted dogs may need additional bonding and reassurance time in the early weeks.
