Sunday, April 8, 2012

Companionship And Liability - Weighing The Choice Of Owning A Dog

By Mattathias Pearson


Owning a dog is one of the most exciting things for some families. For many young kids, having a puppy and growing up with them is a major dream. That being said, it's not always a picnic to own a dog. There's a lot of work as well. Beyond teaching kids about responsibilities, owning a dog can also enrich everyone's lives by teaching patience and the joys of unconditional love. If you think your family can handle the work involved, getting a dog might be a worthwhile endeavor.

Owning A Dog Comes With Responsibility

Visiting The Vet:Owning a dog comes with a lot of tasks. Visiting the vet regularly for vaccinations and well visits is one of the most important among these new responsibilities. While you won't need to visit the vet as regularly as you might with a child, it's important to be aware that you will need to make a few visits throughout the year to preserve your pet's health. By spending time at the vet when the pet is healthy, you can definitely help to avoid otherwise preventable illnesses that could end in a needless tragedy. As for which vet you should choose, ask your friends who are also pet owners who they use and make sure your vet puts you at ease when you visit.

Keeping Them Fit And Exercised: Another of the responsibilities that comes with owning a dog is keeping them fit and active. Make sure your dog gets a walk at least once a day and gets the opportunity to run and play outdoors and indoors regularly. Whether it's setting them out on a dog chain in the backyard or letting them run around in a fenced in area, they need to get out and be active. If you need to get out and exercise more, owning a dog is also a great excuse to walk more around the neighborhood or in your town's parks and trails. Regardless, make sure you let the dog get his or her energy out because if you don't they might become aggressive and act out within the home.

Regular Bathing And Grooming: You'll also need to budget for regular grooming. Owning a dog with thick or long hair that can matt easily means more trips to the groomer. This isn't just about keeping up appearances. As a matter of fact, when dogs' hair gets matted, it can be downright painful. Clipping their nails and bathing them fairly regularly is also a good idea. These are all important steps to keeping your dog happy and healthy.




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