Dog Owner Responsibilities - What You Should Know Before Adopting a Pup (II)
In the previous article, I quickly recounted my own experiences with adopting Lucky, who's a beautiful four-and-a-half year old Golden Retriever now.
As you can tell from my experience, it can easily turn out into a catastrophe if you haven't mentally prepared for it.
In fact, it's very similar to sprinting a hundred meter race.
You know how there's usually an announcer who yells out, 'ready, set, go?' You've probably participated in one of those races yourself during high school.
Most people don't properly use those three seconds, and end up losing on the critical moment - the start.
When you're against competitors around the same caliber as you, when you lose the edge, you lose it.
As a result, you probably didn't get the results that you could have, if you just mentally prepare in that split second.
The same can be said with adopting a puppy.
You're going to be sailing under rough weather, that's for certain.
But there are many ways you can mitigate that, the primary one being organization.
And, I hope to be the one to deliver a few useful tips to accomplish that.
Unfortunately, to provide a complete list of responsibilities will be impossible in one article.
As such, I had to split this into a few articles to cover the range in a comprehensive manner, so I do apologize for this.
So, in this article, we're going to discuss the whole notion of establishing a routine.
Without further ado, here it is.
Everything we're going to discuss hereafter falls under this category.
When you don't have a routine, things are going to spiral out of control.
You might be thinking, 'how can I create a routine when I don't know what I'm going to do?' That's exactly the purpose of this article.
So, don't stress! We're going to discuss some general principles to stick to, before exploring the more specific responsibilities and tasks as a dog owner, then wrapping it up in a conclusion.
Sounds fair? There are a few things I want to mention before we move on to the specifics in the next article: 1.
Defining your time frame The Oxford English dictionary defines a 'routine' as 'a sequence of actions regularly followed'.
We're going to take that one step further.
We're going to design a routine.
First of all, designing a routine involves allocating designated time intervals to accomplish set tasks.
A fancy way of saying 'taking the time to do stuff'.
So, the first question to ask yourself is, 'how many free hours do I have each week?' When you have an answer to that, the second question to ask is, 'how much free time am I willing to spend on taking care of my puppy?' This is significant because you'll need time to spend with your family and friends, maybe by yourself as well, to recuperate from daily work.
If you know that the work involved in raising a puppy might get in the way of your life, you might want to reconsider your time management, perhaps splitting the work between you, your spouse and your kids if you have them, or even the adoption decision, because this isn't a choice you should take lightly.
That being said, after completing that quick exercise, you'll get a rough idea of the timeframes you'll have to spend time with your dog.
2.
It's busier in the start.
In the beginning, expect to be busier looking after your pups.
You'll have to get injections, do checkups, get used to the routines.
It's going to be real hectic in the beginning whether you have a routine or not.
But, as time passes, you can scale back on the 'operations' that you're used to in the beginning, and truly enjoy a rewarding experience as a dog owner.
3.
Deviation is perfectly fine.
Don't stress.
There will be times where you deviate from the set routine for reasons such as work, partying or going to the movies with friends or your spouse.
No stress! Just get back to it as soon as you can.
Personally, I'd recommend that you look ahead of schedule and 'preview' your busy days.
It's not always going to be possible, for instance, when you work OT, or when you get an unexpected familial issue.
Just try the best you can.
It's perfectly fine.
It's not the end of the world if you didn't walk your dog in the Ontario dog park in mid-July under a full moon between 11:28 to 1:31.
It's okay.
Just take a deep breath and relax.
After seeing which are your busy days, you can cut down on your tasks for that day.
So, for example, if today's the day where you'll have to walk your dog, then, either take him out for a shorter period of time, or leave it till weekend.
4.
When traveling If you're a frequent traveler, if you're comfortable with your neighbors or friends taking care of your dog, then do so.
But remember, just because you like your neighbors, friends and family, it doesn't mean that they'll consent to take care of your dog, even if you reduce the to-do list.
Always make your expectations clear up front to avoid confrontations.
If you can find a fellow dog owner in the neighborhood or a pet sitter who'll help, that's the best solution.
Alternatively, you can leave your pet with the local vet, and you can be sure he's well taken care of.
5.
Three categories of tasks To top that off, tasks can be split in three broad categories: daily, monthly and yearly tasks.
Why isn't 'weekly' here? There isn't much you need to do on a weekly basis, except maybe visiting the dog park, something that you might not have time for during week days.
What's the significance of this? Again, in preparation.
When you learn more about what to expect, when you actually come to adopt a puppy, things will fall better in place.
In a sense, it's like a crash mat, a shock absorber.
If you go indoors rock climbing without a harness, and you fall, you'll fall, literally, because there's nothing to catch you.
If you did have a harness, or, better yet, a crash mat, you'll still fall, but you'll know it's safe to fall because of the safety precautions.
It's the same with raising a puppy.
When you know what to expect, things will be more in control.
And when raising a puppy, that's your ultimate objective - to have a great relationship with your pup, without letting the cleaning chores and such impose on your lifestyle.
Knowing what to expect helps offer you the peace of mind.
Wrap up To wrap up, when you do eventually get to establishing your own routine, do NOT over complicate it, and do not spend your life on it.
There will be folks out there who are obsessed with getting things absolutely 100% integral the first time.
It doesn't work that way, sorry! Haven't you ever planned for a picnic, or a trip to an amusement park, where something just failed in the end, for instance, the person who's supposed to be bringing sandwiches didn't bring them, or the ride you're looking forward to hopping on was on maintenance that day? It's the same with looking after your puppy! There are no absolutes, that much is certain.
That being said, do make a commitment to complete a task that you've set to do to the best of your ability, but not at the expense of your own personal time.
If you get stressed, it's no good to you and the puppy.
As I said, it's going to be real busy in the beginning, but it'll be smooth sailing afterwords when your puppy's health stabilizes.
So, that's it for this article, thanks for reading, and I look forward to your readership in the next articles!
As you can tell from my experience, it can easily turn out into a catastrophe if you haven't mentally prepared for it.
In fact, it's very similar to sprinting a hundred meter race.
You know how there's usually an announcer who yells out, 'ready, set, go?' You've probably participated in one of those races yourself during high school.
Most people don't properly use those three seconds, and end up losing on the critical moment - the start.
When you're against competitors around the same caliber as you, when you lose the edge, you lose it.
As a result, you probably didn't get the results that you could have, if you just mentally prepare in that split second.
The same can be said with adopting a puppy.
You're going to be sailing under rough weather, that's for certain.
But there are many ways you can mitigate that, the primary one being organization.
And, I hope to be the one to deliver a few useful tips to accomplish that.
Unfortunately, to provide a complete list of responsibilities will be impossible in one article.
As such, I had to split this into a few articles to cover the range in a comprehensive manner, so I do apologize for this.
So, in this article, we're going to discuss the whole notion of establishing a routine.
Without further ado, here it is.
Everything we're going to discuss hereafter falls under this category.
When you don't have a routine, things are going to spiral out of control.
You might be thinking, 'how can I create a routine when I don't know what I'm going to do?' That's exactly the purpose of this article.
So, don't stress! We're going to discuss some general principles to stick to, before exploring the more specific responsibilities and tasks as a dog owner, then wrapping it up in a conclusion.
Sounds fair? There are a few things I want to mention before we move on to the specifics in the next article: 1.
Defining your time frame The Oxford English dictionary defines a 'routine' as 'a sequence of actions regularly followed'.
We're going to take that one step further.
We're going to design a routine.
First of all, designing a routine involves allocating designated time intervals to accomplish set tasks.
A fancy way of saying 'taking the time to do stuff'.
So, the first question to ask yourself is, 'how many free hours do I have each week?' When you have an answer to that, the second question to ask is, 'how much free time am I willing to spend on taking care of my puppy?' This is significant because you'll need time to spend with your family and friends, maybe by yourself as well, to recuperate from daily work.
If you know that the work involved in raising a puppy might get in the way of your life, you might want to reconsider your time management, perhaps splitting the work between you, your spouse and your kids if you have them, or even the adoption decision, because this isn't a choice you should take lightly.
That being said, after completing that quick exercise, you'll get a rough idea of the timeframes you'll have to spend time with your dog.
2.
It's busier in the start.
In the beginning, expect to be busier looking after your pups.
You'll have to get injections, do checkups, get used to the routines.
It's going to be real hectic in the beginning whether you have a routine or not.
But, as time passes, you can scale back on the 'operations' that you're used to in the beginning, and truly enjoy a rewarding experience as a dog owner.
3.
Deviation is perfectly fine.
Don't stress.
There will be times where you deviate from the set routine for reasons such as work, partying or going to the movies with friends or your spouse.
No stress! Just get back to it as soon as you can.
Personally, I'd recommend that you look ahead of schedule and 'preview' your busy days.
It's not always going to be possible, for instance, when you work OT, or when you get an unexpected familial issue.
Just try the best you can.
It's perfectly fine.
It's not the end of the world if you didn't walk your dog in the Ontario dog park in mid-July under a full moon between 11:28 to 1:31.
It's okay.
Just take a deep breath and relax.
After seeing which are your busy days, you can cut down on your tasks for that day.
So, for example, if today's the day where you'll have to walk your dog, then, either take him out for a shorter period of time, or leave it till weekend.
4.
When traveling If you're a frequent traveler, if you're comfortable with your neighbors or friends taking care of your dog, then do so.
But remember, just because you like your neighbors, friends and family, it doesn't mean that they'll consent to take care of your dog, even if you reduce the to-do list.
Always make your expectations clear up front to avoid confrontations.
If you can find a fellow dog owner in the neighborhood or a pet sitter who'll help, that's the best solution.
Alternatively, you can leave your pet with the local vet, and you can be sure he's well taken care of.
5.
Three categories of tasks To top that off, tasks can be split in three broad categories: daily, monthly and yearly tasks.
Why isn't 'weekly' here? There isn't much you need to do on a weekly basis, except maybe visiting the dog park, something that you might not have time for during week days.
What's the significance of this? Again, in preparation.
When you learn more about what to expect, when you actually come to adopt a puppy, things will fall better in place.
In a sense, it's like a crash mat, a shock absorber.
If you go indoors rock climbing without a harness, and you fall, you'll fall, literally, because there's nothing to catch you.
If you did have a harness, or, better yet, a crash mat, you'll still fall, but you'll know it's safe to fall because of the safety precautions.
It's the same with raising a puppy.
When you know what to expect, things will be more in control.
And when raising a puppy, that's your ultimate objective - to have a great relationship with your pup, without letting the cleaning chores and such impose on your lifestyle.
Knowing what to expect helps offer you the peace of mind.
Wrap up To wrap up, when you do eventually get to establishing your own routine, do NOT over complicate it, and do not spend your life on it.
There will be folks out there who are obsessed with getting things absolutely 100% integral the first time.
It doesn't work that way, sorry! Haven't you ever planned for a picnic, or a trip to an amusement park, where something just failed in the end, for instance, the person who's supposed to be bringing sandwiches didn't bring them, or the ride you're looking forward to hopping on was on maintenance that day? It's the same with looking after your puppy! There are no absolutes, that much is certain.
That being said, do make a commitment to complete a task that you've set to do to the best of your ability, but not at the expense of your own personal time.
If you get stressed, it's no good to you and the puppy.
As I said, it's going to be real busy in the beginning, but it'll be smooth sailing afterwords when your puppy's health stabilizes.
So, that's it for this article, thanks for reading, and I look forward to your readership in the next articles!
