The Responsibility of Being a Fur Parent
We had an exhausting few days as fur parents last week. It’s one of those emergency situations and responsibility of being a fur parent.
Our beloved Shih-poo dog Buddy spent three days on an IV drip under outpatient care for severe dehydration. He was diagnosed with hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HEG), a nasty bug causing sudden vomiting, loss of appetite, and bloody diarrhoea. Buddy must have eaten something very dodgy in the park on our Friday afternoon walk. Suffice to say that last week was exhausting with broken sleep and daily visits to the veterinarian. Of the six years since we rescued Buddy, this was by far the worst illness to date. He received great care as always at The Neighborhood Vet. Don’t worry friends, Buddy is on the mends and back to his loveable self. He is so excited to see his furry friends at the park.
Speaking of little furry friends. Recently, we have met so many lovely newbie dog owners with puppies under six months old. Yes, there is a new crew of “lockdown” puppies since the pandemic, mostly small breeds. Welcome to the new fur parent club!
There’s no greater companionship than a dog. The saying is true: “A dog is a (wo)man’s best friend.” Always there to listen and never the one to judge, your dog is fiercely loyal and gives unconditional love and cuddles. Buddy has seen us through some highs and lows in life. And we can always count on him to greet us at the door with joy when we come home. He absolutely adores his baby sister, Lady Yeya. We’re certain that he is counting down the days when we let him sleep in her room. But for now, Buddy is happy to join her for some bedtime snuggles and storytime.
I recently had a conversation with a couple friend who is desperate to adopt a dog. Being a dog owner is absolutely wonderful, but it comes with immense responsibilities. I told them to be sure your lifestyle and living arrangements can accommodate having a dog.
Time and Commitment
Being a dog owner is a huge responsibility, and one you should not take lightly as the average lifespan of dogs is around 12-15 years. You have to be ready to take on the role as the pack leader, providing the love, care, attention and daily exercise in order for them to thrive. Puppyhood requires considerable time and patience as you teach your new puppy house rules, potty training, and socialisation skills. It is essential that your lifestyle is suited for responsible dog ownership from your work schedule to your home environment. Otherwise, it isn’t fair for the dog’s well being and you could end up with a very misbehaved dog.
Personally, I think it is easier to be a fur parent as a couple. This way you can share the responsibility and alternate dog-walking responsibilities. When Buddy joined us in London, I always took Buddy for his morning walks even throughout my pregnancy with Lady Yeya. For evening walks, we would alternate the post-work walks depending on our work schedule. We didn’t have a dog walker as Buddy was fine being home alone as long as he got a good morning walk.
But that said, it isn’t impossible to be a good dog owner if you are a single lady or lad. It just means you’ll have to think carefully about how to manage long workdays and travels. I know some singletons who drop off their pooch at doggie daycare or employ the services of a dog walker. I also know some people who take their dogs to work (lucky them!). The bottom line is getting a puppy is a long-term commitment of your time, energy, and love.
Financial Implications
Pets come with financial responsibilities as well. In addition to the price of your dog from a reputable breeder, there are other costs associated with being a fur parent. This includes pet insurance (£500-£600), annual veterinarian appointments plus flea treatments (£100-£200), professional grooming (£100-£200), and speciality dog food and treats (£100+). If you add this all up, this can run upwards of £800 – £1,200 per annum, if not more.
I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting good pet insurance as you do not want to be stung with a big vet bill for emergencies. We heard stories from new dog owners that they had to go for an emergency trip to the vet because their new puppy ate a scrunchie, ball or even paracetamol. They failed to get pet insurance and had to pay out of pocket. Ouch. In addition to the recent HEG diagnosis and treatment, Buddy had minor surgery for an anal gland abscess two years ago. Both times, the vet bill was around £800-£1,200 which our pet insurance (Pet Plan) covered. Again, please consider the cost factors, including dog-walking and doggie daycare services, before jumping into the doggie parenthood. It is a big financial commitment.
Breed, Demeanour and Personality
Yes, puppies are so darn cute. I urge people to do some diligent research before deciding on a specific breed. You should pick a breed suited best for your lifestyle. You may love to have a blue-eyed chocolate labrador, but the reality is you live in a small urban flat without any outdoor space. If you don’t have time for long walks, then perhaps a Border Collie or Golden Retriever are not the right breeds for your lifestyle. Both breeds require longer daily exercise. Likewise, a Pug or Chihuahua would not do well with rigorous outdoor exercise and long hikes if that is something you envisage doing with your future dog.
Furthermore, if you don’t like the idea of vacuuming daily or dog hair on your newly dry-cleaned wool suit, consider getting a non-shedding dog like a West Highland Terrier or Bichon Frise. Also, consider the demeanour and personality of the dog — a mellow dog like a Bulldog or an energetic dog such as a Jack Russell? There are some good quizzes to help you pick the right breed based on your personality.
Buddy miraculously came into our lives on that fateful winter’s day during a visit home to California. He is the perfect breed for us in every way. Buddy inherited the best traits from both the Shih Tzu and Poodle: intelligence, calm, sweet, and adaptable. He is small weighing 7 kilos, but yet robust, requiring only brisk walk or energetic indoor play to keep fit.
The bottom line is: do your research and pick a breed that suits your lifestyle and personality.
Doggie Community
You’ll be amazed at how quickly you make friends with fellow dog owners. It’s great to have local dog-walking dates with friends, followed by lunch and pint at the pub. Like having a mom tribe, it’s also important to have your dog community, if not for the company but also for tips and dog sitting when you travel. In my local neighborhood park, there’s a lovely dog community. There’s the early dog crew who are out for the morning walks around 6:30 am (or earlier in the summer!), the retiree’s group, who without fail, meet at 9:30 am and 2:30 pm for their daily doggie social hour, and numerous dog walkers who know us by first names.
We are lucky to have met some amazing friends through our doggies. One of my favourite “how we met” story is how Buddy met his best friend Hamish, the Norfolk Terrier. So here it goes.
The Story of Buddy and Hamish
About three months before we rescued Buddy, it was during an evening run in September 2014 when I stopped Hamish’s mom to tell her how cute her “Yorkshire Terrier” was. She politely corrected me to say that Hamish is, in fact, a Norfolk Terrier, a related cousin.
We struck up a conversation that I desperately wanted to get a dog, but wasn’t sure if we could commit due to our work and travel schedules. Hamish’s Mom replied without any hesitation, “yes, you should get a dog, but pick a breed that fits your personality.” See my earlier point. I told Kenz about my encounter with Hamish’s Mom and secretly wished we could be friends with Hamish’s parents just so we could dogsit for them. Why? Because Hamish is so darn cute.
Fast forward six months later, I spotted Hamish’s Mom at our local cafe and bravely went up to her to say hi, although I knew she may not remember me. I excitedly told her we rescued a dog in California and he will be joining us in a few months. Caught completely off-guard, Hamish’s Mom had no clue who I was! She simply nodded and smiled politely. And I walked away slightly embarrassed.
When Buddy finally arrived in London, we took him for his usual weekend walk when we bumped into Hamish, this time with his Dad whom we’ve not met. Hamish immediately took a liking to the “new dog on the block,” aka Buddy. The two doggies quickly became friends and even had a few rounds of doggie play fights. We would continue to bump into Hamish with one or both parents, for some time but each time we failed to ask for the parent’s name.
Then one evening on my commute home from London Cannon Street, I got stuck on the train due to a signal failure. Nothing like a signal failure after a long day in the office. On the corner of my eye, I spotted Hamish’s Dad and he also spotted me. Because we didn’t know each other’s names, we just referred to each other as “Hamish’s Dad” or “Buddy’s Mom.” And that was the beginning of a new friendship.
Our furbabies – Hamish and Buddy started a bromance. The two of them are truly best friends despite being so different in dog personalities. Over the years, Buddy and Hamish have had countless walks together, dinner dates at home or at local pubs, and numerous sleepovers when the parents go on holiday. Buddy has even been to Edinburgh with Hamish and his parents, not once but twice whilst we were in California. In some ways, we have become defacto doggie godparents for our respective furbabies. We are grateful for the friendship forge through our bond as fur parents and dare I say it, Arsenal fans.
Your Dog, Your Best Friend
So yes, dog ownership does keep you fit, social, and svelte! For those thinking about getting a puppy, please carefully consider all factors from time, commitment, costs and lifestyle. And be sure to get a dog from a reputable breeder. Like I said earlier, there’s no better companion than a dog.
