Dear Tiffani,
We've been thinking of adding anew pet to our family. This is a significant step and I'm wondering what would be best for my family and for the animal. We like to hike and camp, and lead a pretty active lifestyle. Do you have any advice on how to proceed?
Dear Prospective Family,
The anticipation and planning of adding a new member to your family is an exciting time! You're right, too, that it's a big step, a commitment, and likely to bean extremely rewarding experience.
Not surprisingly, I recommend you adopt from a shelter rather than buying from a pet store or breeder–you can save the life of one of our many waiting animals. Shelter pets also are more likely to have documented histories and observed personalities than just being one of a cute litter. Plus, a good percentage ofshelter pets are purebreds available at a fraction of the price you�d payelsewhere. Additionally, Stafford Animal Shelter has an established support system to help your family and your new pet adjust to each another.
I encourage you to research variousbreeds and their tendencies to help narrow down a pet who'll match your lifestyle. For instance, it's unlikely a Coon Hound would be a good match for you since their wandering and hunting inclinations will prevent them from being good off-leash hiking companions. However, especially with mixed breeds, there are always exceptions to breed proclivities.
Another question is how much time you spend at home on an average day, and how much of that time will be spent with the animal. It sounds as if you have children; the number of children andtheir ages should also be a determining factor. It's common for parents to want their children to grow up with a pet, but less common to strike the rightcombination of parent/child/pet dynamics to create a successful relationship. If a child is under six years old, the pet should be older than four monthsold. Puppies and kittens play roughly, and without careful supervision andtraining, both your child and your pet could have a bad experience.
You mentioned enjoying hiking and camping. If you want a dog to join you on these activities or play ball and catch Frisbees, consider a teenage or young adult dog. Not all dogs are inclined to catch and fetch, so if that's what you want, assess a potential dog for this interest and breed tendencies.
You can avoid the extra work puppies require (the potty training, chewing, mouthing and other normal but demanding development stages) by adopting an adult or teenage dog. You will still need to teach your new pet which behaviors areacceptable and unacceptable to your family, since each family has their owncriteria. This training may take weeks or months, and we can help you with handouts about redirecting behaviors, and refer you to training books orclasses.
For major outdoor activities a dogshould be at least mid-sized and naturally hardy. Depending on the size of yourhome and any pet restrictions if you rent, larger dogs may not be appropriate. Assess, too, how big a breed will be when it grows up be if you decide to adopta puppy or kitten. Thousands of young animals are given up each year becausethey turn out to be larger and more work than was assumed when they were cutelittle things.
When you've decided on the right pet and are ready to take them camping, here aresome hints. Bring dishes for their food and water. Bring a bed, or somethingthey are familiar with to lay on; the extra reassurance is good for them in astrange place, especially when they are fairly new to your family. Always havea leash to keep them from chasing wildlife or bothering other campers. Don't leave your animal tied unattended; they may become tangled, unable to findshade, and get teased or scared and bite other campers. Never leave youranimals outdoors at night to prevent them from barking, becoming prey, or getting hurt while chasing something.
Good luck with your new "friend for life" and have a great time. Don't hesitate to call the shelter with any questions about your new playmate, regardless of where you found them.
Have a great summer, Tiffani
Tiffani Zimmerman is theBehavior Specialist at the Stafford Animal Shelter.Email questions to her at