Points to be kept in mind before keeping a pup

     Keeping a dog is not mere fun .It involves great responsibility. A well kept dog adds to happiness and emotional wellbeing of a family where as an ill kept dog lives a dejected life and soon becomes burden to the family. Following points will help you whether you should keep a pet or not.

     1) Purpose: Purpose for which a dog is to be kept should be very clear in mind as pets are living being as we are.  They have mind, heart and body as we have. They feel as we feel. They just do not have as highly developed brains as we have. Keeping a pet is just like increasing family members. People keep dogs mainly for these reasons

    a) Guarding

    b) Companionship of children, elderly people and personal.

    c) Craze for pets

    d) Status symbol

    e) On advice of a Pundit or astrologer

     f) There can be many reasons for keeping pets other than mentioned here.

    2) Availability of time: Medium and large breed of dogs and to large extent even small breeds except very small breed of dogs require daily walks. One should be able to spare at least 30 minutes to 45 minutes for walk. In addition to this time has to be spared for patting, talking and playing with dogs.

    3) Acceptability of family members for keeping a pet is very important .If duty of maintaining a pet is done by whole family it becomes a joy. A single person may feel too burdened. If one has to depend on servants for keeping a pet the idea of keeping a pet should be rejected ought rightly as it is cruelty to the animal.

    4) Love for pets: If one loves pets it becomes easy to spare time for them. If one does not loves pets a pet should not be kept for any reason whatsoever.

    5) Financial status: Keeping pets needs some expenditure on feedings, vaccinations, treatments, accessories etc. If one has no money to spare he should forget keeping pets.

    6) Long planning for keeping a pet: One should keep dog only if one can spend his 10-12 years (average life span) with a pet. If someone has to leave home for studies or after marriage after some years a pet should not be kept as it will become burden on other family members.

    7) Rented accommodation: People who live in rented accommodation should think twice before keeping a pet.   

    8) Compulsion: A pet should not be kept just for the reason that children are pressing for it unless parents are prepared to take the responsibility

                Commonly available breeds of dogs in India classified on basis of size

   1) Toy breeds: Pug, Pomeranian, Smaller Spitz, Tibetan spaniel, and Pekingese etc.

   2) Small Breeds: Cocker spaniel, Basset hound, Daschund, Beagle, Spitz, French bulldog, English bulldog, Sharpie, Lhasa apso etc.

   3) Large breeds: Germanshepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman, Dalmatian, Labrador, Boxer, Golden Retriever etc.

   4) Giant Breeds: Saint Bernard, Dogue de Bordeaux, Neapolitan mastiff, Bullmastiff, English mastiff etc.