The Ten Commandments of Owning a Pet

Training

• A pet is like a child --- teach it the rules early and the rest will fall into line. An owner is both master, commander and parent to his animal companion. Obedience training for puppies, teaching tricks to a parrot, guaranteeing the cat knows the location of the litter box are all vital parts of parenting an animal. An owner should train his animal to know his voice and respond to him.

Interaction

• Pets need attention and affection from their parent. Birds should experience freedom outside the confines of a cage. Dogs respond when an owner gets down on the floor to play with them. An owner's interaction with her pet will ensure it is calmer and more responsive to her.

Cleanliness

• Like children, pets make a mess. Cleaning up after a pet is not the most appealing responsibility of ownership, but it assures the health and happiness of the animal, and the owner's happiness as well. Bird cages must be cleaned out, litter boxes emptied, trash picked up when the dog tears something up. A designated area for a pet to dirty will corral the mess and eliminate cleanup for the owner.

Provision

• A pet is trusting its parent to take care of it. Puppies should eat twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Water should be readily available. Toys are essential for distraction and recreation. Like any living creature, a pet enjoys playing. Providing designated toys also reduces the chance an animal will destroy its owner's possessions. A pet needs its own space, not only to eliminate mess, but to provide a sense of routine for sleeping.

Grooming

• An owner must groom and care for her pet like a young child. Whether the pet is a bird or a dog, it must be groomed to maintain its health. Grooming kits, brushes, and shampoos and conditioners keep fur and feathers clean and looking nice, eliminate insect infestation, and allow the owner to be proud of her pet.

Exercise

• Pets, especially young ones, have lots of energy that needs to be channeled. Exercise benefits both the owner and the pet. Regular exercise improves the strength and longevity of its life. Dogs enjoy running, playing catch, and jumping to catch a Frisbee. Cats are often fascinated with lights from a laser and will dart around the room to catch it. Birds enjoy the opportunity to stretch their wings and fly to a perch stationed in another portion of the room. When a pet is allowed to release energy, it is often much calmer for the owner.

Medical Attention

• Pets, like young children, require medical attention. Puppies need shots, heart worm pills and vitamins. Birds need spray to protect them from lice and other bugs. Once an owner assesses the needs of his pet, veterinary visits can be scheduled at the owner's discretion. Every pet is different and every breed has different medical tendencies. Ownership means knowing the pet's medical tendencies, especially as it ages.

Budgeting

• Pets, again like children, can be costly. Ownership includes an awareness and a decision about how much to budget and spend for the pet. Pet ownership can be simple and inexpensive if managed wisely.

Education

• Every pet and breed, like every child, has different tendencies, needs and behaviors. Attention to her pet will help an owner know the personality and preferences. Pets have likes and dislikes. Retrievers are friendly, affectionate, and desperate to be around people. German shepherds are protective and eager to learn. Pets need to be studied and understood, both as a breed and individually.

Supervision

• Again like children, pets need structure and supervision. Pets can often be an inconvenience to owners during vacation or when job responsibilities arise. Typically, the older it gets, the less supervision is required because the animal knows its territory and has formed habits. Ownership involves knowing the pet well enough to give instruction for a pet-sitter or kennel or to eliminate problems if the owner must leave the house suddenly. Ownership of pets is a responsibility.