We are all familiar with this well-known slogan which is attributed to Clarissa Baldwin, who was a chief executive of the Dogs Trust, a charity which was formerly known as the National Canine Defence League. The phrase was coined and ran as an awareness campaign on TV in the lead up to Christmas to try to reduce the number of dogs which were abandoned or handed back to animal re-homing centres.
It can be very appealing to buy an adorable looking puppy for the family as a Christmas present but puppies are hard work and need a lot of attention. A puppy or dog should never be an impulse buy or something which is bought on the spur of the moment. It has been noticed that the sale of a particular breed of dog can rise with celebrity “endorsement” or, for instance, after the release of popular films starring cute dogs, like “101 Dalmatians”.
There are many things to consider before introducing a puppy into your household. Depending on the breed, it will most likely live from 8 – 16 years approximately. A puppy will need attention and training. It may be destructive, especially if left for long periods of time on its own. It will obviously require feeding, regular grooming, (some breeds more than others) and regular routine visits to the vets for vaccinations. You will also need to walk your dog at least once every day and be responsible for its behaviour around other animals and other people. These are just minimum requirements. If you are still interested in having a dog as a family pet, then make sure you research about the breed that you would like, ensure you know how much food and vets’ bills will cost and consider carefully whether you and all the members of your household have the time to devote to looking after a dog.
