Probably, many children living in cities sooner or later begin to ask their parents to get some kind of animal, at least a hamster or a parrot, and the bravest ones decide to talk about a dog, preferably a big one.
Some children, like the Kid from the cartoon about Carlson, have a dream of having a four-legged friend come true, after much persuasion and even tears. In the cartoon, everything ends positively – the Kid got his dog, the parents resigned themselves and everyone is happy. But real life is somewhat different from cartoons.
Little puppies – they are so cute…
Pedigree puppies, they are so beautiful, so cheerful, so perky, they bring so much positivity and joy to the house! And they train willpower and reaction speed in their new owners so well. And how wonderfully they discipline all family members, forcing them to clean up several times a day and carefully examine the space before taking a step, so as not to end up in the very center of a puddle or pile.
A small puppy in the house is a great reason to take a vacation for several months to be able to feed and clean up after the pet on time. In addition, puppies should not be left alone at home for a long time, this can traumatize their delicate psyche and lead to the fact that they will have to express all the negativity by gnawing on interior items, as well as shoes and clothes of household members.
Teenage puppy…
And now the beloved pet is already six months old, all the necessary vaccinations have been done, and the apartment no longer looks like a minefield, the dog has already learned to walk and do everything outside. Well, almost everything, if you take it out 4 times a day.
At this stage, the question arises – where to walk and with whom to walk. It is no secret that modern domestic cities are not very well equipped for walking not only dogs, but also people. Walking a dog in a flower bed, a playground, or just in the yard, leaving behind heaps of valuable environmentally friendly fertilizer, to put it mildly, is not nice. But this problem can be solved with the help of bags in which you will have to carefully put your own dog poop. They say that your own does not smell…
Believe me, they smell, and very strongly. If the prospect of messing around with stinky piles in front of neighbors and passersby does not seem too attractive, this may be a weighty argument for not getting a dog.
The question of who to walk with is also interesting. If, having yielded to the child's persuasion, you had to choose a large breed dog, then the child will not be able to walk with it alone, so you will have to walk together. Every day. In any weather.
Overgrown puppy and teenage child
The puppy grew up and turned into a beautiful, smart, obedient, well-mannered dog. He no longer breaks furniture, chews shoes and cell phones, or ruins carpets. And the child for whom the dog was acquired has also grown up and can easily walk his pet and take care of it himself.
It would seem that everything is fine. But, as we know, a person at the age of seven and the same person three or four years later are completely different personalities. It is not a fact that the one who previously swore an oath to comb, feed and walk his dog, having grown up, will not decide that he was hasty. And then there are new friends, new hobbies, the first manicure, the first love, lessons with tutors. And there is no time left for the dog, so the honor of caring for the animal again goes to the parents.
Old age has crept up…
Dogs don't live long, and large breeds like Newfoundland and St. Bernard are already old at six years old. And they develop old-age quirks and illnesses. Digestive problems, deteriorating vision and hearing, old-age grumpiness and flatulence. No one praises a dog on the street for its beauty and grace, but rather sympathizes. Poor thing, already very old, and its legs are lame, and its fur does not shine…
It is unknown whether an adult child will want to take care of such a pet. He needs to prepare for final exams. Perhaps he will want to enter a university in another city. And the parents are already used to walking the dog every day. In any weather.
The Age of Dogs
The most painful thing is when, walking your dear old dog, you wonder whether he will live until next spring (New Year, the first snowfall, autumn leaf fall). And at some point you have to make a decision whether to continue the dog's treatment, or…
Memories will remain, confusion will remain, why no one at home runs to greet you, throwing small furniture around, and licking with a stinky wet tongue. The reflex to jump up every morning to go for a walk in any weather will remain. There will be no regret for a minute about deciding to get a dog, giving in to the child's requests.
But to the question “Would you like to have another large breed dog?” the answer will be unequivocal – no, never.
Maybe a French bulldog…
