Hunter's Heart Brittanys - Do I Really Want A Dog?

Which breed is a good fit for my family & our lifestyle?
Why do I want a dog? (e.g. for a family pet vs. a show dog, vs. a guard dog, etc.)
Have I thought of how big that cute puppy will grow?
Would it be better to get a puppy or an adult dog?
How much work is a puppy? a dog?
Do I know anybody that has a dog who could tell me what it's really like?
How much time can I spend with a dog?
How much does a dog really cost? (for food, dishes, treats, a dog license, a crate/kennel, training books or classes, routine veterinary check-ups & extras when sick or injured, toys, collar, leash, grooming supplies, stain & odor remover, pooper scooper...)
What if the puppy/dog gets sick? needs an operation when I'm short on cash?
Where will the dog stay during the day? During the night?
What if my puppy/dog eats the sofa?
How much exercise does a dog need? What about when I am
tired and it's a cold winter night?
How will I train a puppy/dog?
What if my neighbors don't like dogs? What if someone
complains about the dog barking?
What if my dog gets lost?
What do you do with your dog when you go away on vacation?

photo: Our van and our dog required cleaning after this encounter with slime. (He had fun though.)

In 1998, the Calgary Humane Society took 12565 animals into their shelter. We don't know the statistics for shelters & rescue organizations worldwide; and we don't like to imagine either. It is a very sad situation when any animal must be killed because nobody wants it. The truth is that even lovable, well-tempered purebred dogs sometimes end up being abandoned and put down. If more people thought about these sad facts before they bought a cute puppy for a friend as a Christmas gift, maybe the facts wouldn't be so terrible.

photo: Our puppy Chief has a knack of finding puddles

Puppies are a lot like children who are growing up. They change your life. They aren't born with any manners. You have to teach them how to behave properly around the house, & with other animals, children, and adults. Even the most talented, eager to please puppy will make mistakes. (And that includes accidents in the house during potty training!) In fact, even the best behaved adult dogs make mistakes, and occasionally require a healthy dose of patience to deal with.

All puppies & dogs have needs. Food & water, shelter, exercise & health care are just the beginning. They also need love & companionship. You can expect a Brittany Spaniel to reach 10 to 15 years of age, and he or she will never stop needing your care. Not even for a day. Not even when you have a bad day.

Even considering all of these serious responsibilities, we love our Brittany puppies & dogs. We can't imagine our lives without them. The rewards of having a puppy or a dog are numerous. A letter to the Monks of New Skete explains this better than we ever could:

photo: Spirit heeling beside Gary on a hunting trip

"His devotion was an example, and his restraint. He conversed continuously in silence and displayed a sense of humor & playfulness without which man would be unbearable. His imagination was a joy; his defense of 'his' children was so ferocious that he turned robins and paper bags into dragons. Bees were monsters to be attacked & he consumed more than were good for him. And never in his short life did he have any understanding of his size. His intelligence & selflessness & sensitivity were a challenge. He expected us to be wiser than he was & where reasoning was superior, we could be, but in all else he led us & made us better. His acceptance of our failures & weaknesses made us humble."

LINKS to GENERAL DOG INFORMATION

www.canismajor.com/dog/chbreed.html
- For more information on things to think about before you get a puppy/dog.

www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/animalservices
-in the "responsible pet ownership" section, there is an estimate of the costs of owning a puppy/dog.

- A variety of websites present specific information about different dog breeds, including the Brittany. (Many other sites do not present as many different breeds as these do.)

www.dogs-in-canada.com
-Dogs In Canada magazine

www.ckc.ca
-The Canadian Kennel Club

www.akc.org
-The American Kennel Club