“Too many times, families don’t understand the full commitment they are making by bringing a dog into their household,” said Liam Crowe, CEO and Master Dog Behavioral Therapist for Bark Busters USA. “Dogs are completely dependent on their owners for their physical, mental and emotional health, and while dog ownership often brings a lot of joy, providing the care dogs need can be costly and time-consuming.”
To help families who are considering adding a dog to their household, the Bark Busters Dog Owner’s Pledge outlines a variety of needs that potential owners should be able to commit to meeting—before they fall in love with that irresistible “puppy in the window” at a local rescue, shelter or breeder.
“What we hope this pledge will do is encourage families to have these conversations early in the decision-making process,” said Crowe. “Often, dogs are given up to shelters because it was not decided in advance how the new pet’s health care would be paid for, what training and entertainment would be provided, or even who would take the dog out to toilet late at night.”
The pledge consists of four key areas, with sub-points for each, beginning with the statement, “We will be responsible for our dog’s”: 1) health and well-being (veterinary care, food and water, daily exercise); 2) safety (restraint laws, identification, training); 3) quality of life (shelter, entertainment); and 4) actions (reproduction, nuisance behaviors, waste disposal).
“When families are fully prepared for the commitment of dog ownership—and take into account things like age, activity level, and size when choosing a dog—they are much more likely to enjoy a long-lasting relationship and a strong human-canine bond,” said Crowe. “Part of our mission as trainers and advocates for the dogs in our community is to help ensure that families keep dogs in loving homes, and we believe that getting out the message that dog ownership is not a right, but a privilege that comes with many responsibilities, is an important component of our public service.”
To view the full pledge or to access a printable copy, CLICK HERE.
About Bark Busters
Bark Busters, the world’s largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United States in 2000. Since inception, more than 750,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using its dog-friendly, natural methods. With hundreds of franchised offices around the world, including locations in 40 states in the U.S., Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioral therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers guaranteed lifetime support. To fetch a trainer in your area, call 1-877-500-BARK(2275) or visit www.BarkBusters.com, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral Quiz to rate their dogs’ behavior.
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