| Sometimes people give dogs as gifts. Even though giving dogs as
gifts has worked for some, it seldom meets with success. The ideal way, if you
want to give a pet as a "gift", is of course to let the recipient choose it. But
this doesn't always happen. Sometimes the person doesn't want a dog at all, other
times the dog is the wrong breed, or the wrong match for the person or family.
If you are the recipient of a "gift dog" and don't want it, no matter how adorable,
the very best thing to do would probably be to be very honest and tell the gift
giver that right away. However, you are already involved, whether you like it
or not. The gift giver has done this to you. It would be perfect if that person
could understand and take the dog and love it instead, but is it a perfect world?
Will they? Can they? Where did they get the animal? They already did the wrong
thing by giving the dog to you. Will they make the right choice for the dog when
you hand it back to them. This is an important question to ask the breeder: will
they take it back, and if yes or no, what then for the dog? What if the breeder
doesn't take it back. Good breeders should take puppies back, and generally don't
sell gift dogs, but some "breeders" sell dogs as gifts and don't take them back.
Some "breeders" disappear without a trace after Christmas. Do you want your "gift
dog" to leave your arms, and end up in a terrible situation: back to the store,
back to the breeder, back to the pound. Yes, like it or not, you're involved.
Maybe you are the dog's gift. Think about it. You have to ask yourself,
can I keep this dog, can I deal with this dog? If the best person right now is
you, whether you keep the dog forever, or find a home at some point yourself,
basic training will help your relationship with the dog, and if you place it,
the next person's relationship with the dog. The dog's eventual success in life
and how it interacts with other people and animals can be shaped by you starting
now. If the dog is under 12 weeks, the first lessons will be crate & potty
training. This is very important and must be emphasized. In conjunction with these
early lessons you will need to do some reading, especially if you have never owned
a dog before. At this point, find a trainer/puppy kindergarten class that you
can start at the appropriate time. Basic good manners and walking on lead will
take up most of these early lessons. Keep at it. You can do it. Watch for
next week's obedience article (The Gift Dog Part II) where I will discuss crate
training. -------------------------------------------------
// ------------------------------------------------ Reprinted with permission
by Bonnie Tetlock |
