Fun & Famous

6 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING A DOG

Yes, I admit it. I have a sickly adoration for my dog. Not that I named him Diamond Baby (like Paris Hilton's latest chihuahua) and he has a crocodile leather collar. No way, Paris is an amateur compared to me. My dog is named Royal Desire Flaming Star and he thinks he is of noble descent. Roy (for close friends only) has a terrible dislike for other dogs, especially puppies, which is really a bit embarrassing sometimes. Furthermore, he has one Norwegian dog sweater that he doesn't really like to wear and I always wash him with Aveda shampoo. And recently he also has his own Facebook page. Just because it's fun to be a little hysterical.

I wouldn't dare claim that I know a lot about dogs, but a little bit naturally. And that's why I've put together a few handy tips for anyone considering getting a dog. Or for anyone who might already have one.

1. Only get a dog if you can be with him a lot

Of course, you can hire a dog walking service and all that. But what does a dog get out of waiting alone all day until you finally come home? A dog is a pack animal. He doesn't understand a thing if he can't come along. In that regard, I'm lucky that I mostly work from home. And on the day a week that I sit at Amayzine in the editorial office, my cleaner comes and she also takes Roy out for a bit. In itself, a dog can be fine alone for a few hours, but if you've worked all day, you almost don't dare to leave again in the evening, do you? In that regard, a dog can be quite a handful. Don't underestimate that.

2. If you travel a lot, it might not be such a good idea to have a dog

I often run into this myself. Because I'm not tied to vacation days and can work from anywhere in the world, I travel as much as I can (and want, because being at home is also lovely). And then I always have to come up with something for Mr. Bosmans (one of his nicknames, derived from rooibos, which is again derived from Roy). Yes, you can take your dog on the plane, but mine is just too heavy to be allowed in the cabin and I find it a drama every time when the poor thing has to go in the hold. So if you get a dog and travel a lot, get a dog that weighs less than 6 kilos and can go in such a bag.

3. Every time your dog doesn't do what you say, you teach him not to listen

Then raising such a dog is also quite a hassle. Some dogs have a huge ‘will to please’. They want nothing more than to make you happy and will do anything for it. My own froufrou has more of a cat's character. He only does something if he sees the benefit of it himself. What also doesn't help: he's not very interested in food, so try getting him to give a paw. Moreover, I'm not really the dominant type myself. That's why I only have a few rules, so it's manageable for me: that he has to walk on the sidewalk when I say so, and that he has to stand still when I say so. And when I say it, he really has to do it. Because every time you let him get away with disobedience, you teach him that it's not a problem if he doesn't listen.

4. Buy good food

Supermarket food is cheap, but downright rubbish. And for your dog, it's just as important to eat healthily as it is for yourself. I've really seen a difference in Roy's liveliness and coat quality when I switched to another brand. And those are the things you can SEE, who knows what happens on the inside. You want your dog to grow old healthily, so invest in quality food. Go to a good pet store and get advice.

5. A puppy is just like a baby

You shouldn't underestimate that. It takes a lot of time and energy to house train and raise such a little creature. Moreover, you don't know what the character is like. Because even if you're the best Martin Gaus, some character traits are just in there. My Bosmans is very active when I take him outside. He runs around and sniffs everywhere, even now that he has reached middle age. Undoubtedly, you could train that out with a lot of discipline, but I personally think he can stay as he is (as long as he walks on the sidewalk and stands still when I say so, of course). So if you're not that great at training or you want a dog that is naturally calm or watchful or whatever, then get a dog that is a bit older.

6. Do NOT get a purebred dog

Do I really need to say that with my King Charles Spaniel? But I regret it. If I had known eight years ago what I know now, I would have happily gone to the shelter or gotten a rescue dog from Marktplaats. Most dog breeds are extremely inbred. That flat snout of my Rooibos is very cute, but essentially it's a bone disease that has been bred into the breed. Many purebred dogs have medical problems due to inbreeding. Problems with knees and hips are very common. Some dog breeds even have a skull that is too small for their brains, because it looks so cute. Also, the females of popular dog breeds are often used just a bit too intensively. And that's sad.