Recently I heard a group of dog trainers having a discussion on what they thought was a responsible dog owner. They talked about many facets of owning a dog and what they have seen from dog owners in relation to the behavior issues they help overcome. Now of course there were some very good professional opinions that came from this discussion but also some very personal opinions that probably would offend some dog owners out there! Overall, I thought this is a good subject to put out there in the blog world because whether you consider yourself a good responsible dog owner or not, it is never a bad idea to hear what others are doing, the results their having, and how we can learn from one another that ultimately makes the lives of our dogs better!
Something I see a lot of people doing is getting dogs for a Christmas or birthday gift for a loved one. A lot of the time the gift receiver did not really want a dog and even more was not prepared to get a dog, meaning such things like time needed, and overall expenses of owning a dog. Most people who are giving the gift of a dog don’t think about these things either and the long-term committment they have now placed onto the new dog owner. In my opinion this hardly ever works out and the dog is the one who suffers. Unwanted dog gifts can cause stress, frustration, and anger for people and in turn can cause the dog to feel the same. This can create an irrisposible dog owner in my opionio.
A responsible dog owner knows they are getting a dog right from the start so if you want to get someone the gift of a dog, you should make absolutely sure they have wanted one and are ready to take on all that goes along with having a dog.
Another important aspect of being a responsible dog owner is knowing what kind of dog would fit best into your lifestyle. Often I see people really bypassing this important detail because they see a certain friends dog behaving well or they like the looks of a particular breed of dog or they watch a movie with a certain breed and decide it would be great to have one just like it! None of these reasons are good reasons to get a dog or even more to get that breed of dog. If you see a particular dog behaving well it’s often due to that owner dedicating the time and effort needed to meet that breeds needs. For example, German Shepards are a great breed of dog and are one of the smartest breeds out there but they need strong leadership, obedience training and lots of exercise so maybe it’s not the best kind of dog for a family always on the go or a retired person looking to slow down a bit. Lots of thought should go into finding the right dog for you or your family. You should consider the temperament, length of hair, grooming needs and cost, exercise needs, health concerns, and age to mention a few. Contacting a trainer is not a bad idea also when considering on getting a dog. A professional can help guide you in knowing what type of dog might be the best fit because they will have worked with several different breeds and owners lifestyles. They can often assist with knowing whether you want to rescue or get a puppy from a breeder. They can help with doing temperament testing on rescue or purebred dogs, which gives you a close picture as to how that particular dog’s overall behavior will be.
Being a responsible dog owner means you are willing and able to give that dog whatever they may need to have a happy and healthy life. It is in my professional opinion that means being able to provide training if needed, and taking care of all health needs such as veterinarian care, proper diet, exercise and mental stimulation. Also, a dog is for life and should not be given away or taken to a shelter if they are old, have health issues, or for unwanted behavior issues.
So be the kind of owner your dog needs you to be. They are well worth all the financial, time, and emotional commitment!
