Dorsetdog - Thinking of getting a dog

Your dog

I died today. You got tired of me and took me to the pound. They were overcrowded and I drew an unlucky number. I am in a black plastic bag in a landfill now. Some other puppy will get the barely used leash you left. My collar was dirty and too small, but the lady took it off before she sent me to the Rainbow Bridge .

Would I still be at home if I hadn’t chewed your shoe? I didn’t know what it was, but it was leather, and it was on the floor. I was just playing. You forgot to get puppy toys.

Would I still be at home if I had been housebroken? Rubbing my nose in what I did only made me ashamed that I had to go at all. There are books and obedience teachers that would have taught you how to teach me to go to the door.

Would I still be at home if I hadn’t brought fleas into the house? Without anti-flea medicine, I couldn’t get them off of me after you left me in the yard for days.

Would I still be at home if I hadn’t barked? I was only saying, “I’m scared, I’m lonely, I’m here, I’m here! I want to be your best friend.”

Would I still be at home if I had made you happy? Hitting me didn’t make me learn how.

Would I still be at home if you had taken the time to care for me and to teach manners to me? You didn’t pay attention to me after the first week or so, but I spent all my time waiting for you to love me.

I died today. Love, Your Puppy

Author unknown

A puppy dog will

• • • Mess on your carpets and floors

    • Need walking a couple of times every day

    • Require you to pick up its waste every time that it goes toilet

    • Require you to feed it a couple of times per day

    • Chew your favourite shoes, mobile, chair, etc

    • Require that you give it boundaries of what it can and cannot do

    • Expect you to provide toys so that it does not chew your possessions

    • Require trips to the vets

    • Require you to take it to training classes – so that you both learn together how to look after the dog

Please, train your dog and learn how to look after them. Do not shout at it like it is a child, but spare it some time and teach it through praise.