There are some important things to consider before deciding to bring a puppy home. My personal observation of those seeking advice on how to overcome an unknown situation with their new dog is because they failed to learn more about the specific characteristics of the breed in preparation for a proper dog selection process. You may have heard that owning a dog is like having a kid. In many ways this may be true, a pregnancy announces a baby is on its way with several months notice to allow the parents to prepare for the new arrival. So why treat the arrival of a puppy any different? Unfortunately the choice of wanting a dog often times is done in the heat of the moment without any preparation and that only means heading in to troubled waters. Lack of preparation is unfair for the puppy and contradicts a healthy relationship with those who will share the living space and time with the new household member.
Dogs that end up neglected and/or in shelters are often victims of their owner’s poor knowledge of the type of dog and lack of proper dog handling training. The recommendation of this lesson is to treat the idea of “having a dog” as a “Nesting Process” and to help potential dog owners acknowledge the need to allow the necessary preparation time towards a successful experience to bring their puppy home.
The choice of owning a dog has to be understood as a longer than expected process since it also implies a relationship for many years to come and this decision should not be taken lightly. Acknowledgment of the preparation process significantly increases the chance of a bonding relationship like no other!
