“You can get a dog when you are an adult”, they said.

Adulthood finally arrived after some years of testing patience. Although it included a full time career, bills, grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, etc., being a grown up indulges in the joys of, no more asking permission to visit a friend, no more supervision on eating or watching a movies living in your own house and hence, most importantly, no more begging to get a dog! I had finally earned the freedom to have my very own shaggy, fuzzy, happy canine kid.

Dog-parenthood avails us with many benefits such as a healthier lifestyle, enhanced sociability and sense of community, as well as companionship Plunging into being a dog-parent, as much as it sounds exhilarating, is also an extremely responsible decision to make. A dog is a life-long and big commitment of time and resources. Dogs come in so many shapes and sizes, with widely diverse temperaments and personalities. Hence, I began researching on the exhaustive list of breeds to identify the attributes and characteristics that will fit best with my lifestyle.

With a self-owned, big apartment, I could settle for a large dog. The place is very essential when selecting the breed as dogs need space according to their sizes. Large and giant breeds cannot and should not be ideally living in shoe boxed apartments. Grooming is a major part of keeping the dog looking and feeling hygienic and refreshing. Different hair types require different care, so, to provide the best care possible for the dog. I needed to first determine the type of coat. Short-haired breeds can shed as much as long-haired dogs, although they typically require much less grooming. Dogs with thick, long coats tend to develop mats, if not combed frequently and may require regular trips to a dog groomer. Some breeds shed several times a year, leaving piles of fur everywhere. In addition, dogs with certain physical features as skin folds, floppy ears etc. need special attention, so the dog’s features have to be taken note of, as well. The climate of the region should also be conducive to the dog. Ideally, other than our Indian breed, most others are unsuitable to our tropical climate. I had to ensure to provide adequately to the temperature needs for the particular breed I would choose.

In spite of being a grown-up, the people you live with, need to be in consensus with your decision and it cannot be a unilateral one. Never gift a dog to a spouse or your kid or a friend. You need to warrant that they are happy to have a dog, and are willing to contribute to the required care. Dog training requires really orderly routines and rules, and it will only work if everyone in your house is on board.

Children should always be taken into consideration before getting a dog. Some dogs by nature are not well-suited to being the typical family dog Smaller dogs can be unintentionally injured by children, and larger dogs can accidentally cause injury to children during play. Talk with the children about the dog’s arrival. They will need to know to watch for the dog as well as few to interact with him. Young children should not be left unsupervised with any dog, as they are likely to prick, yank or otherwise agonise dogs either accidentally or knowingly.

You need to also consider the allergies you or any family member may have, towards animals. There are different aspects of dogs like saliva, dander, and pollen that gets trapped in fur, that could cause allergies, don’t assume that a low-shedding dog will not trigger allergies. The best solution is to spend some time with dogs of the breed you are considering. If you and your partner are planning a baby, you should consider making the decision of getting a dog until after the baby arrives.

If you live in a leased house, you need to take permission from your landlord to allow taking in a dog. Immigration and relocation due to work or otherwise is on the rise currently. This is an essential factor to consider when getting a dog. Would you be able to take the dog with you or would you be willing to sacrifice and stay back.

Never decide to take a dog when you are going through chaos in your life, you need to have the physical, emotional and financial capability to have one. You need to give them abundant time, adequate exercise, an apt diet and optimal medical care.

Being a tomboy at heart, I wanted a male dog. I had decided to get a Labrador Retriever after all the determinants. I scrutinised the breeder, met the canine parents, and finally decided to take a pup of their litter.

Ethical breeders with their quality breeding proficiency, preserve the exemplary health, behaviour and temperament standards of their breed and ensure optimal health in their breeding line and ensure that the puppy goes to the new parents, when at 10 weeks of age and also that the dog-parents are well educated on the breed and will care enough for the dog. Their dogs overall do not have problems, unlike dogs coming from pet-stores or unethical breeders who churn dividends from an abominable trade of puppy mills, where noxious and abusive conditions and inhumane operations of endless breeding cycles prevail.

Such dogs are unruly and of unpleasant temperament and begin their lives with major genetic handicaps thus making them more difficult to train, and most times are unhealthy, and/or develop genetically caused medical disorders. Also they are given to owners who cannot and will not take care of them. Hence, they become too much work and a big expense and often are abandoned, abused and neglected.

I visited the litter, a month after they were born. There were a dozen of them! It was a difficult task to select one. Puppies are so cute and tempting, they should be declared illegal! I watched them play with each other and could ascertain their temperaments and personalities. They were playful, secure, and tolerant of each other, not fearful or shy and did not show any dominant behaviour. I was perplexed, until one of them perched himself on my lap and refused to budge! There and then, that tiny black puppy chose me. I took him home when he was 10 weeks of age. They should be with the mother and the litter until 10 weeks of age, as the mother pup and pup pup socialization helps behaviours of bite inhibition and of social and secure temperaments.

I named him Lui. Once at home, Lui was abruptly in a new surrounding, without his canine mother or siblings. I placed next to him, a teddy bear, which was used by him and his siblings, to ensure that the scent of his siblings helped him during the transition phase. Expect a lot of whining and barking for the first couple days when a puppy arrives. Later that day I visited the vet, with Lui, for a regular check-up and to consult on the food, annual vaccinations, tick/flea and worming treatments. I had already shopped the food and water bowls, toys, identification tag, collar & leash, child gates and a crate. The house was puppy-proofed too, no wires or glass or chemicals, etc. within his reach.

Lui did not have access to the complete house all the time, and was placed in his den, a sizable corner in the living room, secured with child-gates, as puppies want to explore, taste, experience, and test everything around them, but eventually he chewed my house-slippers, when placed out. So be prepared for such petty damages. Also no carpet or bed for him; as pee and poop accidents were bound to occur multiple times until he would be completely house-broken. He slept in a crate at night The den and crate aid in house-breaking and other training of a puppy. To help your new dog sleep at night, give him plenty of exercise during the day and night before bedtime. For a dog barking at night, the best is to ignore rather than to keep giving him attention. Whether the attention is positive or negative, the dog will soon realise that persistent barking will result in attention.

In order to grow up into a happy, healthy adult dog, I knew I had to invest in plenty of time and attention, for Lui. Principally, I work from home, and thus I could attend, emotionally and physically, to him. I travelled mainly for pleasure and he accompanied me on most of my holidays. When I could not take him along, I had him boarded with a quality dog boarding. I hired a good dog-walker, whenever I was unable to cope with his walk schedule. I began with the most important house-breaking training. Lui was a quick learner and adapted within a few days. Though he quickly learned basic obedience, I hired a professional trainer for more activities and new lessons. For socialisation with other dogs and humans, walks and play-dates with other dogs were incorporated and many times a couple of days’ stay at the dog-boarding too.

You could opt to adopt a dog too – a puppy or an adult dog. Adult dogs typically are house-broken and many know basic commands. While adult dogs still require daily attention, they do not require the constant supervision and mental stimulation that puppies demand. There are many homeless and abandoned, dogs waiting for a second chance at life and love.

When I rescued Figo, my second canine kid, I had to again consider all the aspects before deciding to adopt him. Also I observed if Lui and Figo would accept each other. Figo came with emotional and behavioural baggage, as he was abandoned. I had to be patient and work with him with a consistently gentle hand. He was often fearful as well as aggressive in unfamiliar situations. He required a calm, secure living environment and time to develop trust in me. Eventually, he fit flawlessly into our lives and home.

At BARK-INN, I live with dogs and dogs and only dogs. Fortunately, my lifestyle and personality is apt for dogs and yet again, I just could not resist adopting one of the puppies sent for fostering to me, as she had already charmed a way into Figo’s and my hearts. We named her Bourbon.

Adopt or shop, if you have considered all these aspects, you are ready to get a dog.

“Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.”

**As originally posted in May, 2016 issue of Creature Companion Magazine.