By Dr. Bruce Carstens
Willow Rock Pet Hospital
Puppies and Kittens are hard to resist. The worst thing you can do is take one home on impulse. A new pet will be with you for the next 10-15 years, and there is a lot to consider. Make sure you think about your home environment.
If you want a new kitten, consider whether your kids are old enough to handle it gently. A 1-lb kitten can't handle a squeeze or a throw. By age 4, children can learn to gently pet a cat and talk nicely to it. Young kids can help keep the water and food dishes full. Don't try to assign young children litter box duty until at least 10-12 years old.
If you are getting a new puppy, the biggest mistake is picking the wrong breed. A perfect example is the "flavor-of-the-month breeds", i.e. getting a Dalmation because of 101 Dalmations. A Dalmation is a beautiful dog, but they are extremely high energy. If you don't wear them out, they will become bored and destructive. Other energetic breeds are Siberian Huskies and Pointers. These are wonderful dogs in the right situation, lots of walks or runs, lots of playing, daily active playtime. Without this attention, these dogs are destructive, noisy, and hard to love.
Another behavioral trait to consider is aggression level. Some popular breeds have a tendency to be more "outgoing" than others. Rottweilers, Shar'Peis, ChowChows, and Akitas are examples of dogs who can be wonderful if properly handled, socialized, and trained. They have a dominant personality, so you must be more dominant than them. Be prepared to be the leader of the pack. If abused or ignored, they can be distrustful or unfriendly, and their size and strength gives them the potential to be dangerous.
Consider the size and type of coat of your potential dog. Do you want a small, medium, big, or enormous dog. A big dog needs a big yard to run in. Consider the amount of food he will eat and the amount of care a long coat may require. Any type of coat may shed, but longer coats generally require more grooming and bathing. Remember that your pet will need food, housing, maybe a litter box or bed, brushes, and veterinary care.
Puppies and Kittens generally need a series of vaccinations between 2 and 4 months of age as well as flea and/or heartworm control (Now available for cats too). They should be spayed or neutered at six months of age to reduce overpopulation, and make them a happier pet. For more information, check out my web page at www.willorockpet.com. I have a link to the AVMA's "Care for Pets" page, which has tons of good info.
You can also check out our Photo Gallery to see some of the breeds I've mentioned. Next month I will address a topic I see elsewhere in this newspaper: Dental Care - Keep your pet's teeth in their head longer.