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A pet is your best friend
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A pet entails big responsibility combined with lots of fun
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PUPS APLENTY It takes little effort to shower love and care on your pets Photo: N. Sridharan
Adopting a pet can be a very exciting time for the whole family. However, it is crucial for you to keep in mind a number of factors before you make a decision. Whatever you choose, it is always better to make a wise and informed choice. Here are a few useful tips:
The native Indian dog is our personal favourite and a pet owner's delight. The Indian street dog, a result of many mixes of breeds, naturally evolved, is hardy, disease-resistant, easy to care for, easy to please and has a coat of least maintenance. Due to the unknown strains, they have unpredictable traits both physically and mentally, and can be full of surprises. These can be detected through interaction with the puppy. A fantastic pet if you have the heart. Imagine if one in 50 Indians adopted a dog off the street, there would be no stray dogs.
The pedigree dog has the advantage of predictably good looks when it grows up, but has an unpredictable temperament depending on the parents, genetic strain, etc. To ensure you get a pet with a balanced temperament, it is always better to meet the parents or at least one parent. Buy only from a registered and reputed breeder. Be prepared to pay a steep price for a good pedigree.
A pet is for life. Pedigree or mongrel, it will grow old and frail. It is the responsibility of the owner to care for it until death. If you can't do this, please don't adopt a pet. To ensure a pet keeps good physical and emotional health, balanced nutrition and plenty of space to play and exercise is vital. Always take your vet or a trusted friend who understands dogs with you when you go to choose the puppy. Visit the kennel and check the conditions and health of the parents. Since pure breeds are known to have certain disadvantages and are prone to diseases, they need careful consideration.
It is also highly recommended both for the pet's emotional and physical well being that you neuter (sterilise) it, even if it is of pedigree. Breeding is only recommended for registered and professionally informed breeders. When left un-neutered, your pet can get irritable. Don't equate your pet's sexual needs with human needs. It is only an appetite for animals: a propagation of the species.
An untrained, badly behaved pet is an embarrassment. A lonely pet is an unhappy pet. If you have time and space for one, you benefit more from two. If the first is a pedigree, then you could consider adopting a companion from your local animal shelter and give a grateful homeless stray a home.
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