|
Back in the February 1973 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine was an
excellent one-page article entitled, "What a Puppy is Not" by
Douglas M. Lidster. editor of the" Pets" column the magazine used to carry.
Since the publication of this article I have included a copy of same in my
follow-up response to every inquiry regarding our Shelties and a copy in
my "puppy packet" I send home with puppy buyers.
The preface of the article says, " A puppy is one of the most appealing
creatures on earth. He's the embodiment of exuberance, humor, and affection. But
there are a great many things that a puppy is not, and these negative aspects
deserves some thought before you bring a puppy home".
Highlights of the article include: A puppy is not a toy to be enjoyed
while he is a novelty, then set aside in favor of a new distraction; A puppy
is not a teaching aide guaranteed to instill a sense of
responsibility in children; A puppy is not cheap. Whether you pay a
nominal fee at the city humane shelter or what seems to be a king's ransom for a
really special pup, the money paid to make the pet yours is a mere drop in the
bucket compared to what it will cost you to keep him; A puppy is not a
spur-of-the moment purchase, or at least he shouldn't be; A puppy is not
a gift unless the purchaser is certain that this particular pup will be
wanted; A puppy is not self-cleaning. There will be puddles on rugs,
vomiting occasionally, dog hair on clothing and furniture. There may be worms to
be dealt with. If these prospects are intolerable to the housekeeper of the
family, then perhaps the pleasures of owning a puppy will be overshadowed by the
tensions it will cause. A puppy is not an adult dog. He has neither the
physical nor the mental ability to perform as an adult dog would; A puppy is
not a puppy for long. Before you succumb to the charms of a clumsy ST.
Bernard pup, or a sad-happy hound, or a limpid-eyed cocker, be very sure you
want not only the puppy he is now, but also the gangly, unattractive adolescent
he is about to become, and the adult dog who may fall short of what you hoped he
would be.
The article concludes: "If you've faced all the negative aspects of puppy
ownership and still want him, chances are good that you and your new dog will be
one of the lucky ones who
finds a permanent happy home. And you will enjoy the rewards of
planned-parenthood dog ownership - rewards which will far over shadow the
drawbacks.
|
