un dog is forever. It is the first, great truth worth reflecting on before welcoming one into your life. As Nadia Sampaolesi, President, invites us to do Apnecin ours mini-guide to conscious adoption: 10 questions worth asking yourself before deciding to adopt a dog.
The occasion is the awareness campaign, in collaboration with Oipa (Italian organization for the protection of animals), Choose with your heart but first talk to one of our educators: from June 1st to September 30th, Apnec professionals (National Professional Association of Dog Educators) from all over Italy will be available for a free pre-choice interview and also for a free family placement interview. An opportunity not to be missed to ensure maximum well-being for both your furry friend and your family. And also to avoid future tragic abandonments.
10 questions to know if adopting a dog is the right choice
1. Is a dog forever?
Are we ready to tie our lives to the dog for the next 10, 15 years? «Especially in the post-Covid period, life, work, home and country are changed much more easily than in the past», explains Sampaolesi. «It should be considered, in the case of adopting a dog, that whatever change he chooses to make, he will have to contemplate it too».
For example. A 16-year-old boy who has always wanted a dog welcomes a pit bull, among the breeds that are closest to their master. At 19 the boy leaves and goes to study and live abroad. The dog stays with the parents, who are not very young and are not available to take care of the animal.
2. How many compromises for a dog?
Are we ready to compromise? Are we ready to change our daily life for our four-legged friend? Obviously, the commitment that adopting a dog requires it depends on the breed.
“If we think we take a German Shepherd with us on holiday anywhere, we are wrong. A small-sized animal, such as a Cavalier King or one Springers Spanielis more flexible», continues Sampaolesi.
3. What motivates us to adopt a dog?
«The motivation that should lead to the adoption should simply be that of wanting share our life with a dog. In reality there are often many others: you want someone to guard the house, that is a surrogate of the son who has left home, who makes one feel as safe as a husband who is no longer here».
The error is not alone adopt a dog to fill other types of shortcomings. But also choose, to do so, the wrong dog. “A poodle as a guard dog? Barks for everyone, best avoided. A Border Collie as a pet dog? Hyper vital, it requires a lot of physical activity. Better a more affectionate breed, like the Golden Retriever.
4. Do we have the necessary lifestyle (and time)?
It is said that the dog depends on the owner, and knows how to adapt to his lifestyle. It is not so. “Three walks a day are not enough for the dog, especially for certain breeds physical activity is central”, explains the President of Apnec.
«If I’m lazy, no to the Border Collie, the Cocker and working breeds in generalwhich require a lot of attention. Yes to the greyhoundfor example, which is satisfied with short runs and has decidedly less resistance». Yes also to the French and English Bulldog, which has very little resistance. Or the Pug, another breed that still requires less time.
5. What is our economic availability?
Keeping a dog costs money, but what the race largely decides. «There is a huge difference between an American Akita and a Chihuahua. Starting with performance veterinary: even the most banal pesticide is paid for by the kilo of the dog’s weight. Not only that: there are breeds that are more likely to have it genetic diseases and some less. With consequences on costs that are not insignificant».
For example, you can be quite comfortable with Cavalier kings, Maltese and poodles, you have to be prepared for frequent visits to the vet with bulldogs and Shiba Inu.
Not to mention the food: evidently, the size of the dog also changes the size of the bowl.
6. Will the dog have to live with children, the elderly or other animals?
The answer to this question is decisive. If there are children in the house, the Golden Retrievers it can be a great choice. That could be bad in the presence of the elderly due to its impetuous playfulness. Better, in this case, a Cavalier King or a Springer Spaniel.
«Be careful, if there are other animals in the house, to dogs with a pronounced predatory instinct, like the Czechoslovakian wolf», explains Sampaolesi. The new arrival must be chosen so that it can be an added value for those who are already there. «Between dog and dog, those who belong to the same “family” are better understood. Hunting dogs and hunting dogs, shepherd dogs and shepherd dogs», continues the expert.
7. Are we willing to deal with domestic accidents caused by a puppy?
From needs, that up to 7 months the puppy can leave anywhere around the houseto the bites in carpets and wooden furniture, which we must expect if we do not choose to put the safe home. Welcoming a puppy into your home has many contraindications.
8. Are we willing to take it outside in hot, cold and rainy weather?
It is often taken for granted that, when the weather is bad, the dog is satisfied with a walk around the house. It is not like this: his need for physical activity does not change according to the weather, it is valid 365 days a year. A raincoat to prevent it from getting soaked, a cloth to clean its paws when you get back, and away you go: you always go out.
9. Are we willing to train our dog?
“It applies above all to some breeds of dog, such as Molossers and German shepherds, but not only: a good education, done with the support of professionals, is essential”. It is true today, as it was not true yesterday: «The context has changed: a dog that a few decades ago lived in the countryside, free to move around and be a dog, today often has to settle for 30 square meters of garden in front of a terraced house». Does he have to get over it? Well yes, but there are those who can help him absorb the blow.
10. Do all family members agree?
If even one family member disagrees with adopting the dog, problems are around the corner. The dog perceives and suffers from not being accepted and involved by everyone, and gets confused when the rules are not enforced equally by everyone.
If the owner allows the dog to get on the sofa and the wife forbids it, it is disturbing for the dog. Do not be under any illusions: those who are not convinced will not be convinced in front of the sweet eyes of the four-legged friend. On the contrary.
«We repeat, once again, that the first need of a dog is not the garden but the family» continues Sampaolesi. After all, the garden is of no use to him: for physical activity he needs much more space. “While the family is his pack for himto bond with and spend a lot of time with».
Typical example, again the dobberman, very attached to his master: separating him from him is equivalent to killing him.
+1. I take a dog from a kennel. I can trust?
Adopting a purebred dog is naturally not the only choice, on the contrary. Kennels and shelters are full of dogs waiting for a family. «Avoid choosing via the web. We don’t adopt on Facebook like we buy on Amazon. Instead we frequent the structures, let ourselves be guided in the choice by the opinion of the professionals who work there and know the animals. And, above all, we meet the dog several times before taking him home with us», concludes the Apnec president.
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