Give a Dog a Home A dog is for life, not just for Christmas Photos by Sui and Imagine Photography Studio, layout by Susu Lou
“D
’yer like dogs?” they asked in Snatch. That’s what we want to know. While caravan sites are no place to find a dog in Beijing, there are many alternatives if you’re looking to settle here and want some company for the ride. While pet shops seem an obvious choice, especially if you want a thoroughbred, there are lots of dogs that need a new home after some tough breaks. If you’re considering adopting a dog, take a look at these checklists. You’ll also hear from Beijingers who have taken in street dogs, as well as some tips from Dennis Schenk, a local dog behavior expert (see p53 for more).
People need to understand that dogs are not play toys, not their best friend and not a little baby. A dog is 1) an animal, 2) a member of a species, and 3) a particular breed. All three of these contribute to its psychology and needs. With their pack orientation, they need a leader; the more powerful breeds of dog need even more of a strong leader. You have to be firm but fair. – Dennis Schenk
Beijing’s brand-new when it comes to pet dog ownership, so unfortunately most Chinese people here have no idea about dogs. They’re still feeding their dogs jiaozi, baozi, rice and noodles. They’re not feeding them proper dog food, let alone having their dog on a leash all of the time. – Dennis Schenk
Are you ready to look after a dog? To answer that question, you need to ask yourself: Are you home for at least nine hours a day? Can you afford the financial costs, such as registration, inoculations, food and other expenses? Are you going to be able to train that dog from day one? Can you provide it with the structured love and discipline that it needs to thrive? Can you communicate these things to the dog? Are your Chinese-language skills (or a friend’s) up to the task of filling out forms? Have you seriously thought about whether you’re ready to handle the responsibility and change to your lifestyle that pet ownership entails?
What do you need to know before you adopt?
Before you bring your new dog home
You wouldn’t adopt a child on a no-strings-attached, no-questions-asked basis, so why would you consider doing so with a dog? Ask the shelter these questions:
Create a quarantine space from other pets in the house. Do not let pets share the same feeding or water bowls, toys or sleeping quarters.
Can you spend a trial period (i.e. at least a week) with the dog to see if it’s going to be a good fit? Does the dog have paperwork documenting all inoculations since the shelter took it under their care? Has the dog exhibited any anti-social or aggressive behavior to people or other dogs since its arrival at the shelter?
When you get your new dog home Clean the dog thoroughly using disinfectant shampoo. Continue to do this yourself until vaccinations take effect, at which point it will be safe to bring the dog to the pet groomers. Keep the dog away from your good furniture and carpets, as it is unlikely to already be house-trained. Start training your dog right away. As soon as you can
“At first she was very scared, and would just chomp down her food in fear that it might be her last or someone would take it away.” – Skott (owner of Rocket)
Take the dog to your vet for a general check-up, overdue vaccinations, deworming and flea drops. Ask the vet to scan the dog to see if it was microchipped by its previous owners. (If so, you know what to do.) If the dog doesn’t already have a microchip, have the vet implant one – it will increase the chances of being reunited with your pet should anything separate you. Develop a daily routine of meals, walks and playtime. Let the dog know what to expect.
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December 2012