Choosing the Right Dog

1. Choosing the Right Dog Lesson : Obj. 4 Grade: 6.10 (H) draw inferences such as conclusions or generalizations and support them with text evidence [and experience] Grade : 6

2. Introduction • Today’s lesson is a hilarious poem about a tiger and a zebra and it teaches you how to choose a dog. • The lesson will help you draw inferences such as conclusions or generalizations and support them with text evidence [and experience]. 2

3. Choosing the Right Dog • So you are thinking of getting a dog? Choosing to bring a new dog into your life is a major decision. Be sure you are ready for a dog before you start the process. It is also essential that you understand the cost of dog ownership. There are several factors to consider before choosing a dog. Most importantly, examine your current lifestyle and consider what adjustments you are willing to make for a dog. Look at the needs of your family – especially if you have children or other pets. Think about the ideal size, energy level and age of your new dog. Then, determine where to get your new dog. Just remember that getting a dog requires a firm commitment to responsible dog ownership. • It is a common misconception that if you live in an apartment, you cannot have a dog. However, there are many dogs that are well-suited to apartment life, no matter what your tastes. Reading a copy of Secrets to Dog Training will teach you everything you need to know about training your dog to behave well in any situation. A few precautions are necessary before going out and getting a dog. 3

4. Choosing the Right Dog • Check with your Landlord: Some apartments do not allow dogs at all, no matter what the location or size. This is often because of destruction of property issues. Other apartments do allow dogs. Some will charge what is called a "pet rent," and may require a deposit for your pet as well. Be sure to check on all of these things before bringing a new dog into your life. • Breed Restrictions: After you have checked with your landlord and they do allow pets, make sure to check for breed restrictions. Some apartments, especially in cities, will have restrictions on what breeds you can have. These are often breeds that can be considered aggressive or protective. These often include, Rottweillers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, and Boxers. Most establishments will have a detailed list of the dog breeds they do not allow on the premises. • Choosing the right dog generally means identifying the type of animal who matches your lifestyle. If you live alone in a small apartment, keeping a large, active retriever is not the best idea. 4

5. Choosing the Right Dog • Conversely, if you have a family of four and are looking for a companion to match your active lifestyle, such an animal may be perfect. A dog's size, exercise requirements, friendliness, assertiveness, and compatibility with children should all figure into your decision. • How do you find out which dogs have the qualities you're looking for? Information is the key. Dogs fall into one of two categories: purebreds or mixed breeds. If you adopt a purebred puppy, you have a good chance of knowing about how big he'll get and what general physical and behavioral characteristics he'll have. • The size, appearance, and temperament of most mixed breed dogs can be predicted as well. Mixed breeds offer several advantages over purebreds. When you adopt a mixed breed, you benefit from the combined traits of two or more breeds. You can't go wrong with a mutt. Crossbreeds actually tend to have fewer of the health problems that may pop up in some of their purebred counterparts. 5

6. Choosing the Right Dog • Most people think starting off with a puppy is the best choice, but that isn't necessarily so. Raising a puppy is a labor-intensive undertaking, and it may take as long as three years for him to fully mature. If you have young children or a full-time job, or lack the time or patience to housetrain your pup or to correct problems like chewing and jumping, an adult dog may be a better choice. Most short haired, smooth-coated dogs are major shedders, so be prepared to do some extra cleaning up. Be aware that dogs with long, floppy ears are more prone to ear infections and require frequent thorough ear cleanings. In addition, certain types of dogs can do a lot of drooling. • 10. While buying a pup, check these points: • The puppy's coat should be clear and shiny • The eyes and nose should be clear and clean, not red or runny • Check the puppy's belly. All pups tend to be a little potbellied when they have a full tummy, but a puppy with a noticeably swollen belly has a good chance of harboring worms 6

7. Choosing the Right Dog • 11. While keeping a pup or a dog, check out this list of must-haves. • You must have time to spend exercising / training / playing with a dog • You must have a yard or access to a nearby park where your dog can play • You must have time and effort to devote to grooming your dog • You must be able to afford to budget for a good brand of dog food, • dog supplies and medical treatments • 12. Always buy from a conscientious and reputable dog breeder if possible. Be careful about getting your dog through newspaper ads and signs with statements like “free to a good home.” Unfortunately, these dogs might come from poor conditions and irresponsible dog owners and you end up with an unhealthy dog. Be sure to bring your new dog to a vet for a general examination right away. Keep good records of your pet including proof of vaccinations. Organizations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) run a registry of purebred dogs. 7

8. Choosing the Right Dog 13. Remember that small dogs tend to be delicate and vulnerable. Being stepped on or mishandled can cause serious injury. Also, little dogs can be much more sensitive to colder temperatures, so be ready to help keep them warm. Similarly, very large dogs need a bit more space to move around. Think of a German Shepherd or Collie. Big, happy dogs with long, whip-like tails need "wagging space" to avoid tail injury or damage to household objects. 14. Sometimes you don’t adopt a dog. A dog adopts you. A stray just might be waiting on your doorstep or you find an abandoned dog. You have to take into account the risks of a dog with an unknown background. Approach a stray dog cautiously until you can be sure it is friendly and healthy. Check to see if it is wearing a collar or a tag. Then think. Is your family ready for a dog? Is the dog right for you and your household? Do you have the time and resources to care for the dog? Is the dog healthy? If yes, go ahead. Or the kindest thing to do is to take it to your local animal shelter, where it’ll be fed and cared for until it can find a new home. 8

9. Check Your Understanding • Choosing a dog is simple enough. All you need is: • a. space in your heart to love the dog • b. space in your backyard for the dog to play / exercise • c. space in your apartment so that the dog can have his own little • place for a snooze • d. all of the above / none of the above 9

10. Check Your Understanding • Keeping a dog in an apartment is not a problem if: • a. we just keep a small dog • b. we check with the landlord at first about local apartment • laws that are applicable • c. we agree to pay the “pet rent” or deposit as is applicable • d. we check the rules at first regarding the breed of the dog 10

11. Check Your Understanding • 3. We can conclude that a pure bred puppy: • a. is always healthier than a cross breed • b. is always better looking than a cross breed • c. will be easier to train than a cross breed • d. will have very predictable general physical attributes and • behavioral characteristics as compared to a cross breed 11

12. Check Your Understanding 4. Which of these statements are misleading for the healthy growth of a dog? a. keep feeding the dog till it becomes roly poly b. do not shampoo the dog, or it will shed hair c. little dogs can be much more sensitive to colder temperatures d. raising a puppy is labor-intensive 12

13. Check Your Understanding • We can conclude that newspaper ads with statements like “free to a good home” can mean quite a few things. Check the relevant ones. • It can mean: • a. the dog is unhealthy • b. the dog owner is a very generous large-hearted person • c. the dog owner is irresponsible • d. the dog owner is rich and does not care for money 13

14. Check Your Understanding • We can conclude that a dog that is pot bellied: • a. could be infested with worms • b. is well fed and healthy • c. could be a part of its physical attributes • d. could be a sign of an oncoming stomach ache 14

15. Check Your Understanding • Whenever we see a stray dog we can conclude we must: • a. register it with the American Kennel Club • b. approach it cautiously until you can be sure it is friendly and • healthy • c. take it into our home and adopt it • d. throw it out because it can be dangerous 15

16. Check Your Understanding 8. We can conclude there are a few must-haves that are necessary for keeping a dog. Check the necessary ones. a. adequate / lots of time to spend with the dog b. adequate / fairly large number of children in the family c. adequate / large number of other pets all living together d. adequate budget to spend on a good brand of dog food, general maintenance, medical treatments 16

17. Check Your Understanding • Dogs with long floppy ears …………………………………………….. • (could become hearing impaired / are prone to ear infections / are • at risk of getting wax deposits). • 10. Puppies with ………………………………………………………….. • (short hair and smooth coats / clear and shining coats / long and • shaggy hair) are the major hair shedders. 17

18. The Tiger and the Zebra 1. The tiger phoned the zebra and invited him to dine. He said "If you could join me that would simply be divine." The zebra said "I thank you, but respectfully decline. I heard you ate the antelope; he was a friend of mine." 2. On hearing this the tiger cried "I must admit it's true! I also ate the buffalo, the llama and the gnu. And yes I ate the warthog, the gazelle and kangaroo, but I could never eat a creature beautiful as you. 18

19. The Tiger and the Zebra 3. "You see I have a secret I'm embarrassed to confide: I look on you with envy and a modicum of pride. Of all the creatures ever known," the tiger gently sighed, "It seems we are the only two with such a stripy hide. 4. "Now seeing how we share this strong resemblance of the skin, I only can conclude that we are just as close as kin. This means you are my brother and, though fearsome I have been, I could not eat my brother, that would surely be a sin." 19

20. The Tiger and the Zebra 5. The zebra thought, and then replied "I'm certain you are right. The stripy coats we both possess are such a handsome sight! My brother, will you let me reconsider if I might? My calendar is empty so please let us dine tonight." 6. The tiger met the zebra in his brand-new fancy car and drove him to a restaurant which wasn't very far. And when they both were seated at a table near the bar, the zebra asked "What's on the grill?" The tiger said "You are." 20

21. The Tiger and the Zebra • 7. "But please, you cannot dine on me!" • the outraged zebra cried. • "To cook me up and eat me • is a thing I can't abide. • You asked me for your trust • and I unwarily complied. • You said you could not eat me • now you plan to have me fried?" • 8. "And what about the envy • and the modicum of pride? • And what of us as brothers • since we share a stripy hide?" • "I'm sorry," said the tiger • and he smiled as he replied, • "but I love the taste of zebra • so, in other words, I lied." – Kenn Nesbitt 21

22. Check Your Understanding 11. In the poem there is a mention of “..…strong resemblance of the skin….”. Both the animals: a. have tawny hides b. have dark hairy patches on their skins c. have striped skins d. are similar in height and body shape, upright ears with long tails 22

23. Check Your Understanding 12. From the tiger’s chatter we can conclude that he ………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………. (likes variety for dinner / likes only zebras / was eating a zebra for the first time). 13. From the poem we can conclude the tiger took the zebra for dinner ……………………………………………………………………………….. (to a lonely spot in the dense jungle / to his house in an isolated spot / to a restaurant). 23

24. Check Your Understanding 14. What conclusion do you reach about the tiger’s nature? (Give atleast 2 descriptions). The tiger………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………….. 24

25. Check Your Understanding 15. The zebra agreed to go for dinner with the tiger because he concluded that: a. the tiger was a perfect gentleman b. their similar looks made them related as brothers c. the tiger admired him for his beauty d. the tiger could be trusted after his sincere and flattering speech 25

26. Summary • Today’s lesson teaches you to draw inferences such as conclusions or generalizations and support them with text evidence [and experience]. 26

27. Great job today!