To Dog or Not to Dog: That is the Question
by: Cari Haus
Should I get a dog, or should I not?
This is a question that so many people are asking themselves.
Do I really want to get a dog?
The pleasures of dog ownership are numerous, but along with the pleasures, there are also responsibilities.
Gone are the days when a dog just "hangs around", and you occasionally throw him a bone.
Gone are the days of just feeding the dog each day and forgetting about it.
Many people are now opting to share their homes with their dogs, inviting them to be part of their family.
Some people are opting for dog ownership in lieu of a family or in lieu of having children.
Obviously the role of dog ownership has certainly changed......and what about the role of the dog?
This role has also changed.
There are mixed breeds and purebreds just like there always has been, and now there are "designer" dogs.
This is an intentional breeding of two different kinds of purebred dogs hoping to pull the better traits from each breed.
The cost of a "designer" dog often exceeds the cost of a purebred dog, and their popularity is on the rise.
As people become more health conscious, they are interested in healthy options for their dogs as well.
There are nearly as many health choices for dogs as there are for people.
Although there are still good ole' milk bone biscuits available, many owners only serve their canine companions gourmet treats that are made from all natural ingredients.
There are the standard beef, chicken, and lamb flavors as well as the more gourmet flavors.
How about sweet potato biscotti or pumpkin muffins?
There's even doggie ice cream now.
An abundance of clothing and accessories is also available.
From trendy "Yorkie" carriers, a small carrier to enable your companion to travel with you, to orthopedic beds for easing joint discomfort for your dogs, to doggie boots for keeping paws dry, and hats and coats and p.j.'s, and the list goes on and on.
Doggie spas are here to supply canine massages and pedicures complete with nail polish.
For the working moms and dads, there are doggie day cares or dog walkers who actually come to your house to walk your dog.
Yes, the role of "the dog" has certainly changed, as well as the role of the owner.
Most dogs are now very pampered family members, and yes, there is responsibility in dog ownership.
To dog or not to dog is something that only you can answer, however; all I can say is that the rewards from such a venture are enormous.
Copyright 2006 Cari Haus
About The Author
By Connie Tersigni and Cari Haus.
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Unique Gifts Show You Really Care
Unique Gifts Show You Really Care
by: Jim Jin
In these rushed times filled with blackberries, multi-tasking, and the never-ending rush to meet one deadline or another, it is a necessity to search for ways to save time.
Oversized ?Super Centers? the size of some small malls have emerged as the one-stop-shop solutions to serve our shopping needs.
Combining the typical grocery store, pharmacy, shoe store, clothing outlet, and department store, these behemoths now provide people with a convenient place to shop and buy gifts.
But when considering gifts for friends and family this holiday season, don?t be tempted to buy from a place that makes purchasing decisions via committee and tries to find things that will sell to the largest number of people possible.
A gift needs to be personalized in order to really mean something.
This does not necessarily mean that it needs to be hand crafted by a town of Amish...
Boots > Unique Gifts Show You Really Care
Tandem Skydiving; Your First Parachute Jump Part Two: Preparation for Your Tandem Skydive
Tandem Skydiving; Your First Parachute Jump Part Two:
Preparation for Your Tandem Skydive
by: Jeff Wark
A Four Part Series:
* 1 Arrival & Sign-up
* 2 Preparation
* 3 The Plane
* 4 Freefall & Landing
Part Two:
Preparation for Your Tandem Skydive
Now what are you going to wear for your tandem skydive?
Wear tennis shoes if you have them.
If you have boots and they have hooks for the laces, the drop zone will put duct tape on the hooks.
The clothes you wear really do not matter as long as they are comfortable.
I always tell students to wear comfortable jeans and a tee shirt and bring along a sweatshirt because sometimes it is a little cool at altitude when it is time to jump from that airplane.
Some drop zones have suits you can wear but not all of them do.
If jumping when the weather is cool, wear layers that still allow you movement.
Boots > Tandem Skydiving; Your First Parachute Jump Part Two: Preparation for Your Tandem Skydive