WHAT KIND OF DOG OWNER ARE YOU?

WHAT KIND OF DOG OWNER ARE YOU?
By
Barbara J. Galasso

1) When you get up in the morning, you…..
a) Take care of the dogs first and you and the family last.
b) Take care of the family and yourself first and the dog last.
c) Neither. You stay in bed till 10:00 o’clock, get up and drink 3 cups of coffee and
then with one eye open and the other still shut, you let them out of their crates.

2) When you buy dog food for your dog…..
a) You don’t buy dog food. You cook for him.
b) You read labels and make sure it’s premium grade or all natural.
c) You feel the cheapest brand will do.

3) When you buy supplements for your dog….
a) You make sure it’s holistic and human grade.
b) You make sure it’s a good value for your money and will still do the job.
c) What supplements? His no-brand dog food is good enough!

4) When you buy toys for your dog….
a) You make sure he has one to chew on, one to tug with, one to catch with, etc.
b) You make sure he’s entertained with one or two toys.
c) His “toy” is trying to bite the tail from the dog that’s in the next run.

5) When you exercise your dog…..
a) You road work him with a car or bike a few times a week.
b) You take him for a walk down the street or in the woods.
c) Exercise? Hell, let him fence run the kennels. You’re too busy watching the
“soaps!”

6) When you groom your dog….
a) You’ve bought a special tub, a special table, hair blower, clippers, shampoos, etc.
b) He goes in to the bath tub, using the same shampoo & conditioner that you do.
c) Grooming? (Scratch, scratch *&%)….What’s that?

7) When you show your dog….
a) You hire the best handler, pay him top prices & bonus’s…nothing is too good for
your dog!
b) You hire a good handler and even a young up and coming one.
c) You ask the kid down the street who mows your lawn if he’s free this week-end.

8) The kind of car you drive to a dog show in is….
a) The top of the line van or motor home. You believe in traveling in style.
b) A nice SUV or mini-van that’s comfortable for you and your dog.
c) What ever happens to be running at the time and has gas in it that’s sitting in your
driveway.

9) When you breed your bitch….
a) You choose the top stud dog that money can buy. You do expensive testing, pay
airfare to get her to him & back and set up a custom made whelping box.
b) You choose a stud that you can afford hopefully in your area.
c) You breed her to her brother in the next run.

10) When you sell your puppies you….
a) Advertise them in a top publication and tell all your breeder friends about them.
b) You advertise them in the local paper as well as on your website.
c) You hang a sign out on the front tree…”Puppies for sale, highest bidder takes them
all!”

SCORE:
Mostly (a’s) – You live, breathe, talk, walk, and dream dogs. You’re a true dog person. You can’t believe there’s any other kind of person. Perhaps that’s why you don’t have too much in common with most people unless they’re show dog people. You adore your dogs and your dogs adore you. They come first and they are very spoiled and you wouldn’t have it any other way. Your home, your life and your social circle centers around your dogs. Guess one could say, “You’ve gone to the dogs.”

Mostly (b’s) – You truly love your dogs and realize they have a place in your life, but they aren’t the only thing that matters. They are included in your life, but they are not your whole life. (See example in the mostly a’s section above). You enjoy them and want the best for them, and you make sure you give them an excellent quality of life, but they do not come before yours and your families needs. (Again see the mostly a’s section above). You take your wins graciously, and accept your losses as it being part of the game. Life is good for you and your dogs because you have struck a harmonious balance.

Mostly (c’s) – Not one of your dogs is more important to you than your own needs. Nothing will prevent you from watching your soap opera’s, and no dog is going to use your “Evening in Paris" cologne to smell better than you do. Your dogs live around your schedule even if that means he went to bed at 8:00 the previous evening and will have to wait until 10:00 the next morning to be let out. You don’t exercise him because you’re talking on the telephone all day when your soaps are not on. You wonder why he’s not doing more winning in the show ring than he does. You’re pis--- off at the judge for not putting him up, you’re cranky with the kid who mows your lawn for not winning with him and you’re jealous of the ones who are winning. Your1988 Dodge pick-up breaks down on the way home from the show and you vow never to go to another one again……..and you curse to yourself wondering why Mostly a’s and Mostly b’s avoid having anything to do with you.


My rating: Mostly a’s or b’s: (4), mostly c’s: (1)


NO PART OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE USED OR REPRINTED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR!


From the book: DOG OWNER'S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK...Open the front cover and the first two pages you see contain the Index of Signs and Symptoms, from Abdomen (painful, swollen, distended, and tucked up) to Weight loss, Wheezing, and Whining (continual). There's a comprehensive index in back, of course, running the gamut from Abortion to Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis, which is all very useful, but when your pooch is in pain, it's great to be able to turn, with the minimum of folderol, to the page that says to relax, it's nothing a bit of extra grooming won't fix, or alternatively to hightail it over to the vet hospital. It's a wonderful reference for any dog owner, with chapters on emergencies (such as burns, dehydration, and poisoning), as well as worms, infectious diseases, skin care, and canine eyes, ears, and nose. There are chapters on the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems, the nervous, musculoskeletal, and urinary systems, plus dog sex, whelping, puppy pediatrics, geriatrics, and chapters on cancers and medications. In short, it covers every health dimension a dog owner might want to know more about, identifies the possible causes, helps you determine the severity of the condition, and indicates what treatments or actions to take to best insure your dog's good health.