Making Responsible Choices

Making A Responsible Choice

Part I: Is a Dog the Right Pet for You?

Please, before you decide to purchase a dog, any dog, take some time to ask yourself some serious questions to determine if you are really ready to become a dog owner. Answer honestly to ensure yourself, and your dog, the future you both deserve.

Does everyone in the family really want a dog right now?

Everyone in the family should be interested in getting the dog. This is particularly true of the main care giver(s).

If the dog is primarily "for the children", this still does not relinquish your responsibilities to the dog. Never get a dog on the condition that a child will be its sole care giver. While many children are capable of doing some dog chores, it is the adult's responsibility to supervise the child(ren) to ensure the dog does not suffer from neglect and clearly there are some aspects of dog care that should always be handled by an adult.

Do you have the time to care properly for a dog? Will a dog fit into your lifestyle?

Puppies/dogs are a big responsibility. They have many needs: daily exercise and feeding, grooming, medical care, proper housing, training and socialization, and they need companionship.

If you will be the sole owner of the dog, you must ask yourself if you have the time to give all this attention to a dog. This question is especially important if you work full-time and have to put in a lot of extra hours or if you do a lot of shift work.

If you and / or your family are constantly on the go, involved in activities that your dog will not be included in, you must ask yourself if it is fair to get a dog at this time?

Are you physically capable of caring for a dog? Does anyone in the family have allergies (particularly a child)?

If your physical health will prevent you from keeping up with an active dog or very strong dog, then do not get a breed that falls into this category. If someone in the family has allergies, particularly a child, please think long and hard before getting a dog. If you have allergies, you may decide that you can handle the problem. But if it is a child who has the allergies, than this is a different matter. If you get a dog at al, you should stick to the breeds that are non-allergenic.

Do you have the patience to own a dog?

Puppies do not come pre-trained and even after training they can still get into mischief. The first two or three years in particular can require a lot of patience on your part. If you are not prepared to clean up a few "accidents" (maybe on your favourite rug!), and accept that at least one item that you really value may be chewed, etc., then a dog is not the right pet for you.

Can you afford a dog?

The purchase price is just a small part of the cost of owning a dog. If you are looking for a "bargain" in the purchase price, then you should really ask yourself if you can afford a dog at all. Even the daily care and feeding of your dog can be expensive. There is the quality food that certainly a puppy requires to reach its full growth potential. Your new puppy / dog will need grooming and exercise equipment (brush, comb, nail clippers, leash, collar), as well most breeders highly recommend new owners get a crate for their puppy. This greatly aids in house training. You may also require a dog pen for your dog, especially if you do not have a fenced in yard. Unless you have had many years experience training dogs, obedience classes are a normal part of responsible dog ownership. And then there is the ever increasing cost of veterinary care. So think beyond that initial purchase price when deciding if a dog is the right pet for you.

Are you willing to take on the commitment of owning a dog for the life span of that dog, through the rough times, as well as the good times?

We seem to be living in a "throw-away" society now-a-days. If something doesn't work out just right then we throw it away. Unfortunately, this attitude has crept into our way of thinking of dogs. It is one reason why we are seeing so many dogs in animal shelters or in need of rescue. However, dogs are not, or at least should not, be treated as easily disposable items. No, a dog is not human, but it is a living, breathing, creature capable of strong emotional bonds to us humans. In return, it certainly deserves to receive better treatment from us then what we would give to an old toaster or a piece of garbage.

A dog's normal life span is normally 12-18 years depending on the breed. Before purchasing a dog think long and hard of the possible changes that could occur in your life during that time period. Do you intend to marry and have kids? Might you have to move during that time period? If you know now that you would not want to have a dog around young children or if you are not prepared to take your dog with you if you had to move, please do not get a dog in the first place. Dogs are willing to give you a lifetime of commitment, you should be willing to give them the same!

Part II: Is a Siberian the RIGHT Breed for You?*

So you have decided that you are ready to take on the responsibility of owning a dog. Your next very important choice is what breed. You like the look of the Siberian Husky - they are of course the most beautiful of all breeds! :-) However, is the Siberian's temperament / personality, breed characteristics, grooming and exercise requirements appropriate for you and your lifestyle?

Hopefully, if you are seriously interested in the breed you have taken the time to learn as much about the breed as you can before purchasing one. If you have done your research you have discovered that Siberians:

should be friendly and outgoing dogs who are NOT guard or even watch dogs.

While a Siberian can be a deterrent by its size and look, it is said that they will hold the flashlight for the burglar. If what you want is a serious guard dog - don't buy a Siberian!

are a gregarious lot and need the company of other dogs and / or of people.

Beware! Siberians are contagious. Owners often find that their Siberian does best when it has another dog to keep it company while they are at work. And two (or more) Siberian can pull a sled better than one. This does not mean that you have to own more than one Siberian. However, it does mean that they are an active breed who require a lot of attention. If you work long hours and do not have a lot of spare time to commit to your dog - don't buy a Siberian!

have a thick, double coat that blows (sheds) once or twice a year.

When not shedding, a weekly brushing is usually enough to keep a Siberian's coat looking good. However, during the shedding season their grooming requirements increase ten fold. Their undercoat comes out in huge clumps and you will feel like you are drowning in fur. Keeping up with the coat loss requires frequent grooming and vacuuming. If you can't stand vacuuming or grooming - don't buy a Siberian.

love to dig holes and if given the chance will re-landscape your yard.

You can help prevent your yard from looking like a war zone by supervising their play, providing a pen for them when they cannot be supervised, and putting a fence around the garden area. However, this costs money and nothing is fool proof, so if you take great pride in your landscaping - don't buy a Siberian!

like many northern breed, tend to have a very high prey drive.

There are many Siberians living in perfect harmony with their feline companions. Unfortunately, however, some Siberians are just not safe around small animals (e.g. chickens, rabbits, and cats). This is particularly true if you own more than one Siberian. If you already own a cat(s) and are not prepared to deal with this potential problem - don't buy a Siberian!

were originally bred to pull sleds over very long distances. They were bred for endurance and have a tremendous desire to RUN!

Of all the Siberian's characteristics, the most dangerous for the pet owner is the Siberian's tremendous desire to RUN. Some Siberians are also notorious escape artists and keeping them safely confined can be a really challenge for the pet owner. They seem to be willing to go to any extreme to have the opportunity to run free. But the very first dash that a puppy makes across the road could also be its last run, anywhere. Therefore it is extremely important that the Siberian, for its own protection, should be kept confined or under control at all times.

The two biggest complaints I have heard about the breed from pet owners is that their dog pulls their arm off when walking and that it takes off and will not come back when called. While some Siberians can be trained to be reasonably "safe" or reliable off lead, this is the exception and not the rule. Walks on a leash, runs in well-secured fenced-in areas or, best of all, running your dog in harness are the safest ways to exercise a Siberian.

If you are one of those people who think it is cruel to kennel a dog, or keep it on a lead; or having a dog that always comes when called or a dog that will stay around a non-fenced property is a priority to you - please, please, don't buy a Siberian!

The contents of this website are copyright 2008 by Brenda Potter -- All rights reserved. No portion of this website may be reproduced without permission. All drawings are copyright 2008 by S. Jamieson -- All rights reserved. Drawings may not be reproduced without permission.

Page last updated Oct. 7th, 2008

Information

Before Obtaining A Siberian

Chimini Siberians
Brenda Potter
Halifax, NS, Canada
(902) 443-8114
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