Maryanne convinced her husband that a dog would help fill the empty house now that the children were off on their
own. She saw the adorable face of a Coton du Tulear puppy on the Internet. It was so easy to enter her credit card number and buy happiness!
Tiffany asked her parents to give her a dog for her 16th birthday. She promised to take care of it herself. When they agreed, she found a Beagle mix puppy on Craigslist right away.
One of Derek’s friends moved away. The friend said he couldn’t take his dog with him, so Derek adopted the year old Pitbull mix, much to his girlfriend’s surprise.
Tom and his wife Sherry are expecting their first child in June. While Sherry like the idea of the baby and a puppy growing up together, she thought they should wait until at least a year after the baby was born to get a dog. But Tom’s co-worker’s German Shepherd had one pup left from a recent litter, and Tom couldn’t resist.
Any guess as to how successful these dog families are going to be??
And who will be blamed when the door frame gets chewed, the carpet is soiled, or the whimpering and whining begins at 2:00 am?
Like any major long-term commitment – marriage, parenting, business partnership – there ought be a contract (and a test, for that matter!) given to each of the potential participants BEFORE they are allowed to enter into such significant relationships.
Make no mistake, having a dog affects everyone living in the same space – roommates, Grandma in the in-law apartment, Dad working the late shift, the daughter going to college while living at home.
So here’s an agreement, a pledge created by the American Kennel Club, for your entire household to sign if any single one of you wants to get a dog.
AKC CGC™ RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNER’S PLEDGE® CANINE GOOD CITIZEN® OWNER’S COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP
I understand that to truly be a Canine Good Citizen, my dog needs a responsible owner. I agree to maintain my dog’s health, safety, and quality of life. By participating in the Canine Good Citizen test, I agree:
I will be responsible for my dog’s health needs. These include:
routine veterinary care including check-ups and vaccines
adequate nutrition through proper diet; clean water at all times
daily exercise and regular bathing and grooming
I will be responsible for my dog’s safety.
I will properly control my dog by providing fencing where appropriate, not letting my dog run loose, and using a leash in public.
I will ensure that my dog has some form of identification (which may include collar tags, tattoos, or microchip ID).
I will not allow my dog to infringe on the rights of others.
I will not allow my dog to run loose in the neighborhood.
I will not allow my dog to be a nuisance to others by barking while in the yard, in a hotel room, etc.
I will pick up and properly dispose of my dog’s waste in all public areas such as on the grounds of hotels, on sidewalks, parks, etc.
I will pick up and properly dispose of my dog’s waste in wilderness areas, on hiking trails, campgrounds and in off-leash parks.
I will be responsible for my dog’s quality of life.
I understand that basic training is beneficial to all dogs.
I will give my dog attention and playtime.
I understand that owning a dog is a commitment in time and caring.
Owner’s Signature_____________________________________ Date_______________
A copy of this agreement can be found by clicking HERE.
For more information about training your dog to become a Canine Good Citizen, go to the AKC website, or contact an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.
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