walking a dog

Question
QUESTION: I am twelve years old, and I'm getting a dog once I get out of school. I'm pretty sure I want a Chorkie/Yorkihuahua, but I'm still looking through the other dog breeds. I read an article about the Chorkie, adn it says the Chorkie does not need an everyday walk, and only needs a bath occasionally. I asked another person how often should I bathe the Chorkie, and if I remember correctly, she said every two weeks. So the dog doesn't need a daily walk, and only needs a walk every two weeks. I talked about it with my mama and daddy, and Daddy said EVERY dog needs a daily walk,not only to get out, but to relive themselves, and Mama said the dog needs a bath more often.(she had a toy poodle growing up)Now, I know it's good to take a dog out everyday, but does it really need it THAT often, specifically a Chorkie. I also read that it's good to have the dog behind you, so they know you're the leader, since leader's in front. How can you walk a dog with them behind you? That seems like it's...kinda hard. He also said so a dog can relieve itself, but I thought they did that at home. I planned on giving it a corner inside the house, or out on the patio. Then, it can go out there, and how do you train a dog to be housebroken?Mama said the dog needs a more frequent bath, does it? If it does, how often does it need to be, and what is the proper way to shampoo a dog? I apologize for so many questions, but I just want to raise my dog right, and get as much information as I can in one...question, I guess.

ANSWER: Hi Autumne,

Besides the small size all of the dog breeds you're considering, you should also consider it's temperament. Small dogs can be more difficult to train than a a dog that's a little larger.

Your dad is correct. All dogs, no matter the breed need to be walked everyday. And not just once a day either, but two or three times a day. Puppies in particular need more exercise than adult dogs. When a dog or puppy does not get enough exercise, it can develop some very unpleasant habits, such as chewing up furniture, barking non-stop, and other destructive outlets for their untapped energy. The more exercise a dog or puppy receives, the better it is for everyone who lives with it.

A dog needs to be bathed only when it's so dirty that a spot cleaning just won't do. Dogs have very sensitive skin, and over bathing can cause dry flaky skin. A dog should not be routinely bathed like a person.

I think you should so a few Internet searches for how to train and care for a dog or puppy. Really read up on the subject, so you'll have a good idea of the care required, before your puppy even comes home. Here are some places to start:

http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/play.html

http://www.petco.com/Content/ArticleList/Article/12/1/2222/Puppy-Exercise.aspx

http://www.dailypuppy.com/videos/puppy-training

Best of luck,
Patti


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is there another way to give a dog as much exercise as a walk would do without giving it a walk. wouldn't just giving it over time in play do just that?

Answer
Hi Autumne,

As Cesar Millan, the "Dog Whisperer" says: "To your dog, your home or back yard is like a large fish bowl in which they are trapped inside. Fish swim, birds fly and dogs walk. Having a dog should not be about only fulfilling our human needs, we owe it to our dogs, to give them what THEY instinctually need."  For a dog to be mentally stable, you as an owner must take your dog for daily walks to release mental and physical energy.
On top of that, a puppy needs to be trained to walk on a leash! It's not something they know how to do. As a puppy grows, it still likes to play, but not nearly as much, or as often. They need to walk to not only get exercise, but to be mentally stimulated. If you don't do this training when it's a puppy, it will be very hard (and time consuming) to train an adult dog to do this.

If the reality of providing the proper care is a problem, then maybe a dog just isn't the right pet for you. Sure, they're cute, but there's a lot more to pet care than just thinking an animal is cute! Perhaps a kitten would be a better choice for a pet. They're really cute, and don't require the training or walking that a puppy or dog requires. If you take the time to choose the right kitten, based on it's temperament and not just it's looks, you can find one that's very social, and really quite loving and  "dog-like".

I hope you consider this carefully. A dog is a long term commitment, it can live 15 years or longer. Everyday thousands of dogs are destroyed because they didn't "work out" in their homes, and were surrendered to animal shelters. If your dog isn't trained, or becomes aggressive, do you think somebody else is going to adopt it? Sadly the answer is probably not. It's quite a responcablity, and you need to be honest with yourself if it's something you're willing to do, or not. A dog or puppy is a living thing, with feelings. Having one is not just about what you want, it's also about what it needs.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't ever own a dog! But for the here and now, a dog might not be the best choice for a pet.

Best of luck,

Patti