June 30th, 2009
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This week we’re exploring ways to have a dog in your life if you don’t have or can’t have a dog of your own. I bet you have family and friends with dogs. (And if you don’t, perhaps step one is to expand your circle of friends!)
Pet sitting or checking on a friend’s dog when they are away would be a nice thing to do and give you some quality time with a dog. Your friend would probably even let you walk their dog now and then or take their pup to the local dog park for a play date. To make sure everything goes well, be sure you stay in line with your friend’s disciplinary philosophy so you don’t confuse Fido or upset your friend. |
It is also a good way to socialize your dogs and have them be used to having more dogs around than just the immediate pack
Yes, and there is a Boy Scout Merit Badge that requires two months of dog care. This would help a family out if their son was interested in this badge AND wanted a dog, but needed to understand the responsibility required in actually HAVING a dog.
Sometimes the responsibilities of a dog are more than a person bargained for. This is why so many dogs end up in the shelters. My next door neighbor and I are working on a creative dog-sharing arrangement. She has her hands full with two young dogs. I have one mature dog. I will be having one of her dogs over three nights a week for sleep overs. We will start next week when her male goes in for neutering and enable him to get some rest and recuperate. Our hope is that this will help her to get some peace (the dogs are CONSTANTLY playing) and give us some time with a second dog since we have been thinking of adopting again for some time now.
Maltese dogs LuLu and LoLLy think this is a great idea! We wish our humans would lend us out more often! Your paLs, LuLu and LoLLy