I want to own a dog… No illusions

Before you think of introducing a dog into your life know the following…

Puppies are baby animals just as babies are baby people. Although very cute to look at they have a very predictable repertoire of behaviors and developmental stages which include:

-Uncontrolled toileting all over your house and garden until they reach an age where they can exert bladder and bowel control.

-Uncontrolled chewing. Including your valuables, dangerous items and your furniture.

-Whining and crying very loudly often at night when you want to sleep

-Uncontrolled biting on you your friends and family member

-Uncontrolled digging often through your prize plants in the garden

-Most female dogs become sexually active, bleed mate and become pregnant by the time that they are 7 months of age.

-They continue to bleed, mate become pregnant and produce puppies from then on every six months usually for the rest of their lives

-Some female dogs produce litters of puppies up to 12 at a time

-Puppies need to be vaccinated, wormed and have flea treatments on a regular basis from approximately one month old and throughout their entire adult life.

-Fluffy puppies usually require daily grooming or/and hair clipping at the vet or pet shop throughout their whole life on a regular basis

-It I the Law in Greece that you Microchip your puppy or any dog you own or adopt

Before you say yes to owning a dog have you done your homework so you know how to handle these issues?

-Do you have the time and energy to supervise ,guide and train your puppy so that he knows where to toilet, what he is allowed to chew ,when he needs to stop barking  and whining , how hard and when he can bite and where he can dig?

-Do you know how to control your female dog’s reproduction so she does not constantly produce puppies?

-Do you have the economic means to microchip, vaccinate, feed and properly care for a dog?

If you don’t the chances are that you will not like the behavioral repertoire of the dog that puppy becomes which means he is likely to be destined for a hopeless, confusing, sad and short life in abandonment or a sad lonely, hopeless, confusing and worthless life in constant confinement. Abandoned dogs in Greece are frequently hit by traffic, poisoned and shot. Often they die a slow and agonizing death in isolation. Unfortunately there are far more dogs alive than homes available both in Greece and Internationally so do not fantasize that there is a wonderful new home available for  your unwanted dog should you choose not to keep it.

Know your limits! No ownership is better than bad ownership and abandonment. To learn more contact your Local Animal Welfare Charity -SAWA or the Environmental Department of the Municipality of Santorini 0030-22860-25847.