The term 'Total Puppy Comfort' came quite by accident.
I guess the first time it surfaced was when they learned
to crawl up on the couch and lay down for a wonderful nap.
We just lQQked at each other and the term
'Total Puppy Comfort' was born.
Oh and do Labs love comfort!!!
And the more you give them the more they want.
I mean how many dogs do you know that have a hide-a-bed pulled
out for them each night so they don't have to sleep on the floor.
Or have their own pool in the summer, as Labs love water.
Or a buffet table for their dining pleasure.
Then there's their big secure backyard to romp in to
run some of that Labrador energy off.
Not to mention all the raw hides, nylabones and
toys they could ever want to carry around with them.
And let's not forget the best food money can buy or the
fresh veggies to keep their weight down and fill up their little tummys.
The list is endless.
Spoiled??? You betcha!
Aware of it??? Haven't got a clue!
I'm sure they think this is what life is all about.
Yes these two have fallen into the lap of Labrador Luxury.
And we wouldn't have it any other way.
What I Have Learned From My Dog.......
Be loyal.
Allow the experience of fresh air and wind to be pure ecstasy.
When loved ones come home always run to greet them.
When it is in your best interest, practice obedience.
Let others know when they are invading your territory.
Take naps and stretch before rising.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Always eat the best stuff first.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Never pretend you are something you are not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you get it.
When someone is having a bad day, sit close and nuzzle them.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
When you are happy dance around and wag your entire body.
No matter how many times you are scolded,
don't buy into the guilt thing and pout.
Run right back and make friends.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Every dog should have a man of his own.
There is nothing like a well behaved person around the house
to spread the dog's blanket for him or bring him his supper
when he comes home man tired at night.
NOTE:
Not everyone has to be as goofy as we are about our dogs.
!!!! BUT !!!!
Before taking on any pet, understand completly,
it is a commitment and a responsibility
to a living breathing creature....
! ! NOT A TOY ! !
Go over each and every moment of your day
and see if an animal would fit into that schedule.
There are far to many animals taken to shelters
or simply let go into the cruel UN-friendly animal world,
simply because they didn't
fit into your lifestyle.
Think FIRST of the animal and then of yourselves.
Ten Commandments For A Responsible Pet Owner
1) My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years.
Any separation from you will be very painful.
2) Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3) Place your trust in me, it is crucial for my well being.
4) Don't be angry with me long and don't lock me up as punishment.
You have your work, your friends, your entertainment.
I only have you.
5) Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words,
I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
6) Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
7) Before you hit me! Remember...........
that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand,
but I choose not to bite you.
8) Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something
might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food,
I've been out in the sun too long or my heart may be getting old and weak.
9) Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old.
10) Go with me on difficult journeys.
Never say, "I can't bear to watch it" or "Let it happen in my absence".
Everything is easier for me if you are there.
Remember....I love you.
What A Puppy Is Not . . .
A puppy is one of the most appealing creatures on earth.
He's the embodiment of exuberance, humor, and affection.
But there are
a great many things that a puppy is not,
and these negative aspects deserve some thought
before you bring a puppy home.
A puppy is not a toy to be enjoyed while he is a novelty,
then set aside in favor of a new diversion.
He is a living thing whose
physical demands
must be met constantly for as long as he lives.
A young puppy needs more sleep than a human infant,
even though your children may be in the mood to play with him.
He needs
to be fed regularly and often,
even though his meals may conflict with family plans.
A young puppy is breakable.
Very young children can inflict unintended tortures on a puppy,
especially one of the small or
fine-boned breeds.
And his broken leg is much harder to fix
than the broken wheel of a toy truck.
A puppy is not a teaching aid guaranteed to instill
a sense of responsibility in children. If a child loves his dog,
he will probably
enjoy brushing him, taking him for walks,
filling his water dish, and other tasks.
A sense of responsibility may well grow out of the
relationship, but it is unfair to the animal
to put his entire well-being into the hands of young children.
Even the most dog-loving youngsters tire of daily chores,
and parents who try to force the regime will be asking for friction.
Unfortunately, it is the puppy who is the loser in this battle.
Responsibility lessons are better left to household tasks
that do not
involve any pet.
The essentials of feeding, house breaking and discipline training
will fall to an adult member of the household.
Children can help with the less essential jobs of grooming and walking.
Dogs and children do give each other something very valuable --
time and attention that adults are often too busy
to offer in
sufficient quantities.
This is the main function of a child-dog partnership.
A puppy is not cheap.
Whether you pay a nominal fee at the city humane shelter
or what seems to be a king's ransom for a
really special pup
from a breeder, the money paid to make the pet yours
is a mere drop in the bucket compared to what it will cost to keep him.
There will be veterinary bills to pay for both emergencies
and regular vaccinations and checkups.
There will be city and county
licenses to buy.
There are legal aspects of dog ownership you may never have considered --
not just personal injury claims,
but replacement of shrubbery
or grass or neighborhood children's clothing torn in play.
And there's the wear and tear on your
furniture and carpet.
A puppy is not a spur-of-the-moment purchase.
The wrong dog can be an unending nuisance to a
household.
It's much easier to acquire a pup than
it is to get rid of a grown dog who didn't work out.
Animal shelters are
bulging with dogs who were acquired for
the wrong reasons, or without sufficient investigation.
If your family has decided to buy a dog,
by all means take the time to learn about the breed you have in mind.
Every breed has
characteristics of temperament,
and some of these traits may not fit in with your lifestyle.
Some breeds are prone to physical
problems such as hip dysplasia,
ear cankers, eye abnormalities and ear infections.
If you are aware of these problems,
you can do a more
intelligent job of selecting your puppy.
Many towns have kennel clubs whose members are reputable,
knowledgeable, and generally helpful.
Most breeders will be glad to
answer your questions and to
help you locate the pup you want. A veterinarian can put you
in touch with the nearest kennel club.
If you take the time to do some investigating before you buy,
you will know what the going prices are for your breed.
Pet shops
are never a bargain,
no matter what the price because they often sell pups of
very low quality for show-dog prices simply because
few buyers
bother to check. Always buy a pup from a reputable breeder.
One who has been recommend by your local kennel
club.
Many puppies are bought impetuously because they looked cute
in the pet shop window. Or because it was a nice day for a drive in
the
country and there was a kennel with a "Visitors Welcome" sign.
Or because another family pet had died.
Pups bought without
being genuinely wanted -- and planned for --
too often end up at the animal shelter.
A puppy is not a gift unless the giver is certain
that this particular pup will be wanted. Not only now,
but a year from now, ten
years from now. And even then the puppy should
be selected by his new owner rather than by someone else.
The pup that
appeals to one might very well not appeal to the other.
It's a matter of chemistry, like love at first sight.
A puppy is not self cleaning.
There will be puddles on rugs, vomiting occasionally,
dog hair on clothing and furniture.
There may
be worms to be dealt with. If these prospects are intolerable
to the housekeeper of the family, then perhaps the pleasures
of
owning a puppy will be overshadowed by the tensions it will cause.
Long-haired breeds need to be groomed.
Not only while the pup is small and new, but also week in and week out,
for years. The
heavy, silky coats of breeds such as cocker spaniels,
Yorkshire terriers, and Lhasa Apsos become matted in a very short time,
especially in the areas of friction, such as legs and flanks.
If the dog's coat isn't combed thoroughly and frequently,
it becomes
unsightly and uncomfortable. The matts pull and irritate,
and they make excellent hiding places for fleas and skin disorders.
A puppy is not an adult dog.
He has neither the physical nor the mental ability to perform
as an adult dog would. He cannot go
for long periods of time
without relieving himself. He cannot tolerate harsh training methods,
not can he differentiate between
what is chewable and what isn't.
Nor will he make any distinction between food and objects that hurt him
if he swallows them. He
will try the patience of the most
devout dog lover in the household, and at times he may drive everyone mad.
If he is very young,
he will cry during his first night or two in his new home.
He will require patience and understanding from everyone in the family.
A puppy is not a puppy for long.
Before you succumb to the charms of a clumsy St. Bernard pup,
or a sad-happy hound, or a
limpid-eyed cocker,
be very sure that you want not only the puppy he is now,
but also the gangly, unattractive adolescent he is
about to become,
and the adult dog who may fall short of what you hoped he would be.
If you've faced all the negative aspects of puppy ownership
and still want him, chances are good that your new dog will be one
of
the lucky ones who finds a permanent happy home.
And you will enjoy the rewards of planned-parenthood dog ownership --
rewards which far overshadow the drawbacks.
Reprinted from Better Homes and Gardens.
February 1973
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