Owning a Dog
Posted in Dog News, Dog Stories, Dog Tips, Dog Training on November 22nd, 2006Owning a Dog - the Pros and Cons of Dog Ownership
However odd it may seem, dogs affect the lifestyle of everyone in society, and therefore dog ownership should be a very responsible state. Surprisingly to those owning a dog, some peoples’ reaction to dogs is a negative one. They may fear going out for a walk in the park in case they encounter an aggressive dog, or they may be disgusted by dog’s mess. If you are in the proud position of owning a dog, you want that dog to be an ambassador for the benefits of dog ownership: it’s care may well consume a lot of your spare time, and you reap the benefits of that in the affection and company of your pet dog. Hopefully your dog will be so good in public that he/she might even convert those dog-haters.
So, yes it’s true, there are a minority of people who are disgusted or afraid of dogs, whether for religious reasons, phobias or simple inexperience around animals. Owning a dog is an enormous responsibility but can also bring such huge rewards, sometimes surprising ones. It’s true that if you had or knew a lovely pooch as a child, you will likely be keen on owning a dog in adulthood. Sometimes even if your own family doesn’t own a dog when you’re small, you can still have a positive introduction to dogs through a friend or neighbour’s dog.
Owning a dog can bring immeasurable benefits to the human lifestyle. You may have heard of hearing dogs for the deaf, who help deaf people to live a normal life. They alert their owners to the sounds around them, like the doorbell or the telephone, or to any alarm or emergency that might be happening. With a dog like that a deaf owner can feel much more secure in the home and outside it.
Guide Dogs for the Blind, or seeing-eye dogs are another case in point. They are highly life-enhancing for the unsighted person. One ambassadress for such dogs was David Blunkett’s labrador Lucy. David, and Lucy the Labrador were a familiar sight in the House of Commons. David was a Cabinet Member in the UK’s parliament. It was sweet to see the lovely Lucy lying peacefully at her Master’s feet. It was amusing when she would look up scornfully, or even yawn during the most heated and passionate parliamentary debates. I believe Lucy has now retired and Mr Blunkett has a new companion shepherding him around.
If you encounter a Guide Dog with a blind person, you should be careful not to distract the dog too much. Remember it is a working dog and its job is to lead the blind person around obstacles, not to be distracted by biscuits and whatever you’re offering! This is particularly the case if you see a Guide Dog which is still in training. Experienced blind people who have long-established relationships with their dogs might however enjoy the social interaction with other people which owning a dog brings to them. Do ask before you start petting the dog, it’s only polite.
Some dogs can tell if their owners are about to have an epileptic fit. It is unknown exactly how they do it. They obviously have heightened and different senses, and pick up on chemical, olfactory or electrical warnings long before their human goes into “grand mal”. Other dogs manage somehow to “sniff out” cancers. This is a very specialized skill which is not taught but seems to be instinctive in these particular animals.
For those of us who are fortunate enough not to suffer such disabilities, owning a dog still conveys huge benefits: stroking a dog has been proven to reduce stress and lower high blood pressure. If the dog requires half an hours exercise every day and we have to take it for a walk, then the human gets much-needed exercise too. Yes, dog ownership is a massive responsibility but also a huge pleasure. Our canine friends surprise us in many delightful and marvelous ways.