In addition to the financial burden, lots of time and patience are necessary to turn a rowdy puppy (or poorly trained older dog) into a well-socialized and friendly dog who brings joy to the family instead of chaos, heartache and possible liability. Dogs need firm but gentle leadership to keep their natural instincts under control. Too many dogs end up in animal shelters with “behavior problems” because they weren’t trained to behave according to human standards. The owners often give up because they are using ineffective training methods or get tired of dealing with the problem. You must be capable of acting as your dog’s “pack leader” to give him guidance and direction.

Most of all, know that you have a true desire to care for a dog. Build a strong emotional bond with your dog, devote yourself to his socialization and proper training, and you’ll be rewarded with a loyal, loving friend who is well-behaved, self-confident, and welcome wherever he goes with you.

Too bad we can’t say that about some of our human companions!