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Tobiyah's Tips for Potential and Current Dog Owners
tiny dog

paw print Deciding to Get a Dog paw print Choosing a Type of Dog paw print Finding a Breeder, Rescue, or Shelter
paw print Spaying or Neutering Your Dog paw print Providing Medical Care for Your Dog paw print Training Your Dog
paw print Dealing with Your Dog's Death

paw print Animal Advocacy - easy ways to show that you care

© 1999, 2000 by Elizabeth Drain Harden

Charlene Vickers, where are you? We have links below to two terrific articles written by a woman named Charlene Vickers and last located at "Charlene's Barely Interactive Site." That site is now apparently defunct, at least at the URL that we had, but we are hoping that Ms. Vickers has simply moved her site to another server. If anyone knows, please let us know. Thanks!

Two Highly Recommended Web Sites

My master is a first-time dog owner, so she used WWW (among other) resources extensively to prepare before she got me. Below, we provide links to dog-related pages that we believe are most useful. If you find that a page listed here is not helpful, or if you know of a great page that we have not listed, please let us know. For a wealth of information on the topics we touch on below, we recommend two comprehensive canine web sites:

paw print Dog Owner's Guide paw print
paw print rec.pets.dog FAQ homepage paw print

paw print Deciding to Get a Dog

Questions to Consider Before Getting a Dog:
  1. Do I have the money?
    There is both the initial cost of the dog and its supplies, and the ongoing costs of its food, medical care, grooming, and training.
  2. Do I have the time?
    Dogs are pack animals and will not thrive if left alone for long periods of time; dog owners must have the time to provide their dogs with the proper attention, exercise, grooming, and training.

If you are interested in getting a dog, please visit the following pages to aid you in making a wise decision:

paw print Thinking about Getting a Dog? - a discussion of several factors you should consider
paw print So You Want to Buy a Dog - If you're thinking about getting a puppy, you may want to think again...
paw print Getting a Dog FAQ - guidance on responsibly choosing, obtaining, and caring for a dog

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paw print Choosing a Type of Dog

If, after reading the pages above, you decide that you are ready to get a dog, the next question is what type of dog is best for you. You will want to choose a dog that is compatible with your personality and lifestyle. Factors to consider include:
  • how much space you have for a dog (both inside and out)
  • how much exercise you can offer it
  • how much time you want to spend grooming it
  • how much the dog will be left alone
  • whether there are children in the household
These two sites allow you to enter that type of information and then they will suggest breeds that are likely to match your needs and preferences:
paw print Purina Breed Selector - find the breed that's right for you through an interactive lifestyle questionnaire, individualized breed comparison, or popular owner profile (such as "apartment dweller")
paw print SelectaPet: Dogs - a short and sweet Australian questionnaire that will yield up to four appropriate breeds
Once you have some particular breeds in mind, you can learn more about them at the following site:
paw print Canine Connections Breed Information Index - descriptions of each breed, as well as listings of breeders, rescue organizations, and clubs
Note: although these sites focus on pure breeds--as it is difficult to generalize about mixed breeds [here's why]--please do not rule out adopting a mixed breed dog through a local shelter. In fact, my master and I would advocate this as the first choice for those simply looking to get a family pet (it's how she got me); thinking about what you need or want in a dog is a useful exercise, though, so do not skip over this step.

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paw print Finding a Breeder, Rescue, or Shelter

When you are ready to get your new dog, you will need to decide where to acquire it. One place you should definitely avoid is the local pet store. Its owner may not be intentionally malicious or unscrupulous, but the industry nevertheless perpetuates animal overbreeding, with the resultant euthanasia of millions of animals each year. Please do not contribute to this problem by buying a pet store puppy. For more information on why you should not buy from a pet store, visit these pages:
paw print The Pet Store Owner's Thanks - a fictitious glimpse into the mind of a pet store owner
paw print The True Cost of That Doggie in the Window - the problem(s!) with pet store pups [6/20/99 - this page is no longer at the URL that we had for it; for now, we continue to list it in the hopes that it was simply moved to another server and that we'll find it again soon]
If you've concluded that you are not going to buy from a pet store, then what are your options? There are three: a reputable breeder, a rescue organization, or an animal shelter.
  1. a reputable breeder - Essentially, what distinguishes a reputable breeder from a disreputable one is that a reputable breeder's primary concern is the welfare of the animal, above making a profit. If you decide to get a dog from a breeder, it is up to you to investigate your choice of breeders. Pages such as this one can guide you in your selection:

    paw print Finding a Responsible Breeder - what you should ask a perspective breeder, and what they should ask you

  2. a rescue organization - This is probably the option that is new to you. Often affiliated with a breed club, a rescue organization typically focuses on placing dogs of a particular breed in new homes because their original owners can, for whatever reason, no longer care for them.

    paw print What to Expect from Breed Rescue - a good overview on adopting a dog through a rescue organization

  3. an animal shelter - This will likely be the least expensive of the three options, and it has the added benefit of saving a dog's life. However, because adopting through a shelter can be quicker and easier than the other options, you may act too hastily. Please read the following page to guard against that. (My master and I don't want to discourage you from adopting from a shelter, but rather to encourage you to take the time to make a good choice, so that dog ownership will be a positive experience for both you and your dog.)

    paw print Adopting a Shelter Dog - insights to help you avoid the potential pitfalls of shelter adoptions

Having considered the options generally, you then need to find a local source for your new dog. In addition to the Breed Information Index mentioned in the section on "Choosing a Type of Dog," these two sites may help you to find a breeder, rescue, or shelter in your area:
paw print Dog Breeders On-Line Directory - search for dog breeders and rescue organizations near you; note: with this (as any) source, it remains your responsibility to confirm that a breeder is reputable
paw print Animal Rescue Resources - an actively maintained list of on-line rescue organizations and shelters

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paw print Spaying or Neutering Your Dog Don't Delay - Neuter or Spay

Unfortunately, pet stores and puppy mills are not the only sources of the companion animal overpopulation problem--so too are pet owners who do not spay or neuter their animals. According to SPAY/USA, 70,000 puppies and kittens are born daily in the United States. There are simply not enough homes for these creatures, so the result is that shelters kill over five million of them each year, as reported by FoA. Unless you are a professional breeder raising purebred dogs, there is NO reason why your pet should not be spayed or neutered.
paw print Spaying and Neutering - a brief account of why to spay or neuter
Call SPAY/USA or FoA for referrals to low-cost spaying and neutering services in your area.

paw print SPAY/USA - 1-800-248-SPAY paw print
paw print Friends of Animals (FoA) - 1-800-321-PETS paw print
 Note: FoA certificates are not valid for cats that are to be declawed. Learn more about how to Stop Pet Overpopulation on my next page. next

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paw print Providing Medical and Other Care for Your Dog

Neither my master nor I are qualified to give veterinary advice; however, we do know something about fleas--learned the hard way. Shortly after bringing me home, my master suspected that I had fleas but, not knowing any better, she did nothing. When I became infested, she tried the whole range of over-the-counter products: shampoo, drops, and sprays. They failed to take care of the fleas but did bother me. When my master finally took me to the vet's, we got drops that rid me of the fleas immediately. I now take a monthly pill that keeps me impervious; in fact, it is a combination pill for heart worms and fleas, so nothing could be easier. The moral of this story is: Do not waste time and money on flea products from a store; see your vet. Similarly, even though we list some veterinary sites below, they cannot substitute for individualized veterinary care and advice. Please choose a good local veterinarian and cultivate a relationship with him or her.
paw print Healthypet - find an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) member hospital near you, or learn more about a particular topic in their pet care library
paw print Care for Pets - content areas within this American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) site include pet health, safety, and loss
paw print Veterinary Information for Dog Owners - articles in question-and-answer or encyclopedia format
paw print National Animal Poison Control Center - tips to prevent or respond to your pet's being poisoned

Of course, providing veterinary care for your dog is only one part of dog ownership; these sites offer information on that and other issues:

paw print Responsible Dog Ownership - a quick overview of the various aspects of caring for your dog
paw print Keeping Your Pet Safe - how to protect your dog from being lost or stolen
paw print Don't Worry, They Won't Bite - a brochure by State Farm and the AVMA that focuses on how to prevent dog bites and what to do if bitten
paw print ASPCA's Ani-Med Line - formerly, a toll-free line with pre-recorded informational messages, the content of these messages is now available on-line

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paw print Training Your Dog

Please train your dog; an untrained dog is like a spoiled child: frustrating to its owner and annoying to others. The most basic thing that you will want to teach your dog is not to go to the bathroom indiscriminately (read: inside). For help, see this article:
paw print Housetraining without Tears - housetraining dos and don'ts, and some reasons why your trained dog may backslide [6/20/99 - this page is no longer at the URL that we had for it; for now, we continue to list it in the hopes that it was simply moved to another server and that we'll find it again soon]
Overall, good training methods will help you and your dog understand each other better, along with fostering socially acceptable behavior on the part of your dog. As said, dogs are pack animals, so they view the others in the household as their pack. They will look to the pack leader for guidance or, if they do not sense that anyone is filling that role, they will assume it themselves, which is how trouble often begins. For tips on creating the proper hierarchy in your home, read How to Become a Pack Leader (and then, for a humorous counterpoint, read The Evolution of Dog Rules). For more guidance on dog training, visit these pages:
paw print Dog Training - Fast and Simple - Don't let the title fool you...
paw print Behavior, Socialization, and Training - what training should teach you, as well as your dog, plus lots of annotated training links

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paw print Dealing with Your Dog's Death

Because I am my master's first dog, she has not yet had to face the death of a cherished pet. Indeed, I don't think that either of my masters will handle my eventual death without much grief, as they have instructed me, "Don't die, o.k.?" Although I relish every moment that I spend with them, the sad fact is that I will die, sooner or later. If you have lost your pet, my master and I hope that the following sites will provide you with some measure of comfort in this difficult time:
paw print Dealing with a Difficult Decision - advice from the AVMA on whether to have your dog put to sleep
paw print Harmony Animal Hospital's Pet Loss Page - information on the grieving process and helping children to grieve
paw print Pet Loss Support Page - suggestions to help you cope with the loss of your pet

Each of these three sites offer support and comfort, plus a place where you may memorialize your pet:

paw print In Memory Of
paw print Lightning Strike Pet Loss Support Page
paw print The Rainbow Bridge

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paw print Animal Advocacy

Animal Welfare Organizations
paw print The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
paw print The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

Animal Welfare Campaigns
Upcoming Events:
none at present
For VA Residents:
paw print VA DMV's "Animal Friendly" License Plate - A portion of the proceeds from these license plates goes to local animal shelters. (PaLC discusses how localities receive this money.)
Easy Things YOU Can Do
Help Stamp Out Pet Overpopulation
(For an explanation of this campaign,
click on the graphic above or
read about it on my next page.)

In addition, the HSUS suggests ways that you can support your local animal shelter.

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This page was last updated on 7/25/00.

© 1999, 2000 by Elizabeth Drain Harden
[do not copy any material from this page without first obtaining my master's permission]

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