After seeing ONCE AGAIN how a young puppy was looking for a new home because it was biting its owner and chewing things, I decided to write a little something and I am now posting it in four parts, thanks to character limit. This is for everyone thinking about getting a dog:
Part 1.
First and maybe the most important thing to learn: What is a dog, actually? It is NOT just a creature which will sit nicely and pose for your Instagram photos. It has its own mind and believe me, it will use it. A dog behaves like a dog and expresses its feelings like a dog, so you really should learn certain things. For example, why do dogs hump other dogs and even humans? What on earth means the term "whale eye"? What kind of nutrition is suitable for them?
Also, a dog is not a human being, so don't treat it like one. It has its own feet for walking, it's usually perfectly capable to eat things like raw meat, and it really does not need "stylish" outfits during hot summer days if it already has a perfectly good coat.
Part 2.
Research the breed. For example huskies are crazy popular these days (thanks to media, I guess), which isn't a good thing in my honest opinion. I've seen several cases where the breed was clearly chosen based on a cool appearance - and then, because absolutely zero research was made before getting a dog, in about 1-6 months it will be put down or needs a new home because people had no idea what kind of dog they were getting.
And remember: even though selective breeding has resulted with hundreds of different kinds of dog breeds, that seemingly perfect breed is still full of individual dogs. They are not all the same, and you can't expect a dog to behave JUST as the book says.
Part 3.
Do you have enough time and interest to train your dog properly and are you willing to solve its possible behavioral problems? I tell you, it's much nicer to go for a walk with a dog who won't try to attack everyone it sees, and it's definitely better for both of you if the dog does not pull on a leash.
Puppies bite and growl when they play. They will most likely try to destroy everything you own. They will poop on your floor, on your bed and on your sofa. And guess what? It's not just puppies, even adults do that in some cases. Ever heard about separation anxiety? Yeah, you should definitely take a look. We had that problem with Cira after we moved, and it was absolute hell. But with simple tricks and loads of patience we solved the problem, and for last four years Cira has been sleeping well while we are away from home.
Some dogs are easy to train, some are not. It took less than a month for Isla to figure out that she needs to poop and urinate outside the house, but with Cira it took almost a year. Then again, Cira has never been afraid of anything, but Isla was afraid of almost everything, even doors. It took more than a year of hard work, but now she's a really calm dog and doesn't scare easily.
Part 4.
And finally: do you have enough time and resources to take care of an animal for over ten years? The dog itself can cost even several thousands or you can get it for free, but what about sudden vet bills? Food, toys, leashes, collars, possible raincoats, harnesses, meds etc.? What about their messiness? Some of them simply love rolling around in mud, and they carry tons of sand in their coats right into your home. And shedding, oh, the shedding... Taking care of a dog does not only mean that you lay on a sofa with it and keep it company: it needs to go out several times per day, preferably for long walks. Many dogs need much more than that, and they need mental activities too or they'll find something to do on their own (chewing furniture is a favourite thing of many bored dogs.) I don't want to make owning a dog sound like work, but it seems like some people just don't realise that they are not only getting a pretty picture to show people on Instagram: they are getting an alive, feeling family member and they can't really expect it to instantly behave like that perfect dog they saw in a movie. Life with pets is very different behind the scenes, but I wouldn't give up our dogs for any price.
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