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East Gippsland 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PET FOR YOU

Your decision to bring a pet into your home should never be a ‘spur of the moment’ choice. Careful consideration must be given to the many responsibilities involved in pet ownership. The "pros & cons" need to be researched and explored. Remember, a pet is for life, not just for Christmas or a Birthday.

You need to ask yourself questions like:

• ·        What type of pet best suits our family situation?

• ·        How much time do I have to spend with the pet?

• ·        How big is the adult dog going to be?

• ·        How much exercise will the dog require?

• ·        How much will it cost to feed the pet?

• ·        Can I afford the long term financial commitment?

Will it be a DOG or a CAT?

CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOG BREED:

Making the wrong decision here can spell disaster for both you and your pet. When considering what breed of dog to get, try to be as realistic as possible.

For example:

Don’t buy a Border collie because you need to exercise more. If you don’t exercise now, the truth is, you are not likely to in the long term. On the other hand, if you are an active or sporty person, or have a keen interest in agility or fly ball, a working dog may suit.

Don’t choose a long haired breed if you don’t want to have to groom your dog more than once a week - so a Maltese or a Bichon Frise is not the dog for you.

But, if you like nothing more than having your dog on your lap while watching TV in the evening brush in hand - perfect match!

Don’t buy a breed of dog that is known for their dominant nature if you have never owned a dog before, or are of a submissive nature yourself.

Breeds such as the Alaskan Malamute and the Rottweiler are only two examples of breeds which have a reputation for being dominant and headstrong. They need owners who are very much the pack leader; the owner needs to be firm, fair and consistent. Otherwise there is the potential that they will walk all over you.

Taking individual breed requirements into account cannot be stressed enough. In this article it is not possible to list all the characteristics of every breed; however there are many reference books available to purchase, read at your local library, or on the Internet.

Buying a dog because you like the way it looks is not a good enough reason. You need to be able to cater to their specific needs, the key is information. The best decision is an educated one. Think of the breed or breeds that you are interested in and research their history. What jobs were they bred to do?  Research everything from size, exercise and coat requirements, all the way through to their potential health problems. Talk to people who own them. Then cross reference the dog’s requirements to your family situation.

There is never a 100% guarantee, but at least when you do make your choice you can say that you did everything in your power to make the correct one.

Animal Aid provides training as much for you, the owner, as for your dog after all you wouldn't drive a car without taking lessons!

DO I CHOOSE A PUPPY OR ADULT ?

The dilemma of choosing a puppy or adult dog has been the topic of many family discussions, and the solution is as individual as your family. A common opinion is that when you start with a puppy you avoid any unwanted emotional baggage that an adult dog may have, and you can mould them to suit you lifestyle. For the most part this is true, however, there are several things you need to take into account with a puppy; one very important consideration is the amount of YOUR time that they will need.

For example, if you work from 9am to 5pm five days a week, you are not really in an ideal position to take on a puppy. There are many natural puppy behaviours like digging, chewing and general all-round mayhem that you can usually overcome just by being there.

Can you imagine how confusing it must be for the puppy when, you come home after being at work all day, to find your pot plants have been strategically relocated and are in a less than healthy state, scolding the puppy for a catastrophe that the pup has completely forgotten was his handy work is quite useless; consider the time frame - this piece of landscaping was carried out at 8:45am (15 minutes after you left), and you arrive home at 6pm and reprimand a puppy that is purely overjoyed to see you as it has been a very long day without you; in the puppies mind you are scolding him for greeting you when you came home:

Keep in mind that an adult dog’s attention span can be as short as 8 seconds, and a puppy's only 3 seconds. Had you been there when this play behaviour was started, a short gruff “NO” (Never a 'smack') would have been enough to make puppy think twice before doing it again.

Telling your puppy that he is bad for greeting you when you get home is a very negative message to give your dog and WILL result in the dog not coming to you at all.

Teething can be a very uncomfortable time for your puppy and nothing relieves that discomfort like chewing. Make sure your puppy has plenty of toys on hand that he is allowed to chew. Offer them as an alternative when pup makes the wrong choice of teething ring.  A toy basket is an excellent idea. Not as a chew toy mind you, but most puppies find it very satisfying to have a plethora of toys to choose from. They spend a lot of time and seem to delight in the selection process. Having all their toys in the one place also makes it clear to puppy exactly which toys are his.

If you work full time then you would be well advised to consider adopting an adult dog. More often than not, they have worked through their destructive behaviour phase. The biggest advantage with adopting an adult is that you get to see the finished 'product' before you buy; there will be no surprises as to the size of the dog. All too often people get caught out, and the breed they thought they purchased from the pet shop does not always turn out to be what the dog grows into. Sadly this is a very common reason for surrendering a dog to a shelter.

Adopting an adult is not always without its pitfalls either. There can sometimes be the odd bit of baggage that they retain from their previous residence. But help is available. Our training centre, K9 Kompany, have an excellent record of helping both dog and human cope with the various problems that can arise; our Post Adoptive Training is recommended to new owners, after all we've put quite a bit of work into training the dog and a little training for you, your family and your new pet will help all of you enjoy a happy life together.

ADVANTAGES OF ADOPTING AN ADULT:

So you have decided to adopt an adult dog? Whether you adopt from a shelter, breed rescue service or "free to a good home", there are certain steps you can take to ease the upheaval that relocating an adult dog can cause.

First and foremost you need to be sure that you have a secure yard to safely contain the dog before you even select one. The choice of breed should be given careful consideration; smaller is not always safer.

Always introduce your children to the prospective dog before you take it home. Watch how the dog interacts with your family - look at its body language. Who does the dog gravitate to? If the dog tends to prefer the adults and avoid the children, then it is probably not the dog for you. Alternatively, if they gravitate towards the children, in a relaxed and confident manner, you can be pretty sure that it will be a safer choice.

It is also a good idea if you have an existing dog to introduce them on neutral territory. Take them to a local park (or similar) and get them to interact before you place them in the backyard together. Avoid forcing the dogs into a 'face-off' as their first point of contact. Try to get them to walk either side by side, or if they are too distracted by each other, in single file until the novelty has worn off, then you can slowly bring them alongside each other. There are a number of things that you can do to ease your new dogs anxieties and uncertainties when you bring them home.

At Animal Aid we insist on a family, especially children and other dogs, “meet and greet” before the adoption can be completed.

One of the biggest mistakes that a lot of people make is not taking the time to introduce the dog to their new environment. Take the dog on a guided tour, showing them around the house and the back yard. All too often, when the dog is first brought home, they are put in the back yard and left by themselves while the family goes about their normal daily routine. Often, this leaves the dog feeling quite bewildered and confused by the chain of events that have just occurred.

Be patient with your new arrival. Understand that even though you may be struggling with the behaviours that they are presenting, consider that it may be because of something you are doing (or perhaps not doing) to cause the problem in the first place.

Dogs have a naturally strong tendency to bond to their owners. Their gregarious nature dictates their need to feel they are a part of a group. It is not a new concept that your family is purely a surrogate pack for a dog. So, when they get removed from one situation and transplanted into another, they cannot always fit straight into the new family situation. It can take time for them to get their bearings, to learn where they fit in the hierarchy and find the confidence to be themselves.

If you are unsure about anything to do with dogs, please email us at enquiries@animalaid.com.au with your questions - we are more than happy to help.

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CATS:

Whether you choose a cat or a kitten may appear to be simply a preference, but as with dogs, your family situation must be taken into consideration.

A couple of examples would be:

Just like a puppy a kitten is not an appropriate choice for some one who works full time. The essential interaction and socialization period can be severely hampered by lack of human contact. It is not advisable to acquire a kitten that is less than eight weeks of age. They may have missed out on a vital part of feline socialization. Kittens learn so much from their mother and siblings, something we just can’t give them.

If you have toddlers:

(i.e. 18 months - 4 years) the best choice for you would be a young adult or adolescent cat. They have usually gained the necessary social skills to handle most compromising situations. Let’s face it; small children aren’t always the most sensitive when putting kitties’ needs first. In turn, kittens are not yet equipped to handle these situations.

Depending on the decision you make, cat or kitten, introduction methods are fairly similar with a few exceptions. Cats are by nature quite territorial creatures, this can be enhanced with maturity, and relocation can be a stressful and disorientating experience for them.

It is important not to overwhelm your new addition with the whole house all at once. Set aside a room just for them. Wait until they feel comfortable with that space and then slowly introduce them to the rest of the house. When you think that they are ready, choose a time when the house is fairly quiet and open the door to their room. Giving them the opportunity to come out and explore the house when they feel that it is safe to do so. Encourage them to come out and spend time with them and their confidence will steadily grow.

Please don’t force them or it could be two steps forward and three steps back.

Unfortunately a very common mistake that people make is to let their new cat outside too soon. Please don’t be tempted to let them out, as much as they may implore you, until you are sure that they are feeling very much a part of the family. Your home should be a refuge for them not something that they want escape from.

If you are unsure about anything to do with cats, please email us at cattery@animalaid.com.au with your questions - we are more than happy to help.

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