The ability to be a good dog owner is not inherent in all animal lovers, because keeping such a pet requires many responsibilities from a person. And it’s not just about feeding it and walking it in the yard, in general, caring for a dog is a serious commitment. The pet usually requires a significant portion of the owner’s time, his patience, the ability to meet all the needs of the animal and the ability to put them above his own interests and desires.
Let’s talk about 5 types of people who should absolutely not get a dog, even if they sincerely consider themselves pet advocates and have only positive intentions. The dog owners in question definitely cannot provide them with proper care, proper upbringing and understanding of all the intricacies of dog life.
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The first of these types of people is the one who will consider their dog as their own child. Such people usually shift their personal exaggerated need for attention and receiving emotional support onto their Pet. To them, the dog is an indulged child who is not trained or taught the accepted rules of behavior. These owners often consider and refer to themselves as “mommies” or “daddies ” of dogs.
This approach always leads to problems with the character and lifestyle of the animal, because it must get used to the established rules, must consider its owner a significant figure and know its place in his house. Without clear management, it is difficult for dogs to adhere to rules they do not understand, learn commands and overcome problems with undesirable behavior.
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The second type of such person is what might be called a “lazy owner.“ This particular owner is usually unmotivated at all to take care of the dog, train it and provide all its basic needs. This kind of person always chooses some other thing to do, just not daily walks with their pet, cleaning their place or even feeding them. Such people do not enjoy keeping, training and walking a dog at all.
The behavior of such an owner leads to terrible living conditions for the pet. To prevent this from happening, these helpless owners are advised to refrain from the idea of getting a dog or to prepare for this event for a long time. It is advisable to undergo specialized training and invite a qualified trainer who would work with the owner and the dog for some time, support the desired motivation and teach responsibility.
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The third category of people who should not get a dog, let’s call “frivolous owners”. Such owners do not monitor their pet’s health, skip its scheduled vaccinations, allow it to walk unsupervised and do not control possible aggressive behavior. They do not forbid others to provoke their pet to attack and do not protect it from harm from others.
Such negligence can be dangerous for the dog itself and those around it. By the way, in our country, violation of the rules of keeping an animal can entail administrative responsibility, namely fines. In particular, Article 89 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Violations provides for liability for cruel treatment of an animal, which includes violation of the rules of its maintenance. This is punishable not only by fines, but also by confiscation of the animal if its keeping poses a threat to its life or health.
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The next, fourth category of people who should never get a dog can be called a “greedy owner”. Such people usually have the financial ability, but fundamentally do not spend money on good maintenance of the dog, from food to grooming and veterinary services. Such misers are always looking for excuses as to why they don’t pay for the best food, grooming products and services for their animal.
In fact, such false beliefs of people greatly reduce the quality of life of the dog. After all, he is not getting the decent living conditions and the right care that he deserves.
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The last, fifth type of people who are better off not keeping a dog, let’s call it the “status owner”. The fact is that sometimes people decide to get a dog just because it is fashionable and prestigious among their neighborhood. Such people are attracted only by the appearance of the pet or its popularity among their acquaintances, but are not interested in its character and needs. Such owners can easily give up a dog as soon as they lose interest in it, or they may not mind replacing it with another pet.
Such collectors forget that an animal is not a toy, not a compensation for thrills, not an accessory of its owner. It is a living creature that needs care and feelings from a person, which needs the owner’s time, proper care and familiar space. People who only seek attention are incapable of putting the dog’s needs above their own, and therefore have no moral right to be its master.
Consequently, the decision to keep a dog should only be made if a person really needs an animal friend and is willing to take responsibility for the Pet. Equally important is whether a person has enough resources and time to raise a pet, as well as whether he is ready for changes in his usual way of life. In addition, one must consider the increased financial costs, the time commitment to train and socialize the dog, and the willingness to face possible challenges.
