Every time a friendly dog walks up to us, wagging his tail and asking for attention, the first impulse is to stroke it back in return, offer it a biscuit, or, take one home for yourself. Mostly, it is the children in a family who clamour for a house pet. As a dog owner myself, I know that life becomes miserable without glimpsing my pet first thing in the morning, and being welcomed home after a day's work, in a way that no human being is capable of. As time goes by, a dog's presence in the home becomes so strong, that it is impossible to imagine your family picture complete without this warm and wonderful four-legged creature.

Bringing home a house-pet, especially a dog, is an act that is both impulsive and responsible. It is impulsive, because unless you truly love animals, you would not be thinking on the lines of owning a pet at all. It is a responsible act, because, once having given way to your impulses, you are taking on a lifetime of commitment towards your pet. Like your own family member, you are expected never to neglect, desert, starve or abandon it. You are responsible for its nutrition, cleanliness and hygiene, health and emotional health from Day One. Never think a dog does not have highly developed senses like human beings. The fact is, a dog is a highly sensitive animal, and the slightest tension in the air will have him on the defensive. They are extremely attached to the family and treat is like its own herd (dogs were originally roaming wild in packs, before man decided to domesticate them). Hence, if a family member is being abused by another, either physically or verbally, a dog will instantly pick up the vibrations of the house, and will either attack the person who is doing a violent act,or he will retreat silently into a corner, and may not even take his meals if severely depressed. For a healthy dog, it is essential that family members share a certain degree of harmony amongst themselves.

In the puppy stage, a young dog is as helpless as a young human toddler. They are untrained in all respects, and may urinate all over the house. In its teething stage, they are naughty and are given to chewing up most of your valued footwear, curtains, furniture (legs of tables and chair are a favourite) and even important letters and documents, if they so target their attention in that direction. One has to have a great deal of patience in such cases, and refrain from getting worked up. Dogs need training. Train him or her to be an ideal house pet. Take him out repeatedly for his toilet activities, to make him understand that he should not use the house as a place to freely relieve himself. When your dog throws up on your favourite carpet or urinates and passes stools in unexpected places, you will have to be pro-active when it comes to cleaning up the mess. House training a pet is not a one-day affair, and certainly has to be participated in by the family at large.

Exercise is essential to the well being of your pet. Walk your pet at least 2-3 times a day, for at least half an hour each, in case you cannot afford more than that. Without exercise and play, a dog's health will deteriorate rapidly. In fact, without a daily dose of long walks, a dog cannot have a healthy excretory system, and will grow ill and aged before his time if deprived. Veterinary trips on a regular basis have to be fixed, for a dog will need his shots from time to time, besides being checked for fleas, ticks, fungal growths, or any other health issue. Be prepared to put aside a budget for a monthly or bi-monthly visit to the Vet's clinic.

Dogs are very sensitive to time. They require meals as regularly as they require exercise. A dog follows a eat-play-sleep routine for the whole day, and can sleep for up to 12-18 hours a day. If you are feeding him well, but not exercising him, he will put on weight and suffer in his old age due to this condition. Keep a watch on his feeding habits. In case he is not taking his meal enthusiastically over a period of time, check him out with the help of your Vet. There could be some underlying infection or discomfort that is taking away his appetite.

Like children, dogs get naughty at times (especially in the teething time, when they chew up anything in sight) and may chew up valuable items: a prized flower, an important paper document, wires, shoes and slippers, and even suitcases! Do not punish the dog by getting physical with him: you will land up with a nasty tempered, and undisciplined dog. Instead, punish him by raising your voice, or threatening him with a rolled up newspaper, making a loud "thwacking" sound on the floor or wall. This act should send out ample signal to your dog that his actions are not being liked. Discipline your dog well in time before he gets spoilt and pampered beyond repair.

Dogs cannot bear isolation for long periods. So, before you pack off to your dream vacation, do have some reliable person to look after your pet as well as you can. Before keeping a pet and giving in to your impulses, think hard, and best of luck!