Daily Dog Question #32 11/28/07?

Question

For many of us who are regulars on YA, we are in a constant battle with people who do not properly train there dog and others who fail to seek out vet care when it is needed most.

With this issue in mind, would you be supportive of an organization that offers a discount (or free) vet care in exchange for your dog earning a Canine Good Citizen title? Do you think this will lower the number of dogs in shelters? How many people do you believe would actually take the time to work for this?

*The company offers a CGC class and tests your dog before offering you a "vet" certificate to be sure that your dog IS trained.

Once again, this is an a opinion question. No thumbs down, bashing or name-calling.

And ignore my use of "there" in place of "their".

Answer 1

That depends on how difficult it would be to access the training for the CGC. I don't know too much about that, but is it possible to train your dog and go for a quick test, rather then just going to lessons? Being in Northern Ontario, there are very limited resources for training up here, and wanting to clicker train, I have decided to forgo them and do it on my own (knowing there is a possibility I will fail miserably and have to contact a trainer anyways).

As for the CGC title giving a discount.. I don't know how well that would work. Think of it this way... many people may do the training for the first year until the dog has it, and once he/she does, ignore the dog completely again... after all... they aren't cute puppies anymore! *rolls eyes*.

As for lowering the number of dogs in shelters, as much as I DESPISE the "humane" society for what they have done up here (there are more horror stories of dogs vomiting blood and being refused medical care, cat and kittens kept in a small cage until they were unable to move around as they grew, etc), they have tried to expand the "adoptability" of their dogs by getting volunteers to take them, 3 times a week, to intense training classes. I think it works well too! If you want a dog that you can guarentee has the knowledge and skills to heel, sit, stay, come, lay down, etc, then it makes them just that much more interesting. Also, our local tv station before the news at 6:00 every day features a dog from either the humane society, animal shelter, northern dog lady, local dog rescue or new hope rescue. A lot of the time these dogs are adopted simply after being seen on tv.

So now that I have gone off on a tangent here... I don't know if it would really work.

Answer 2

There is an organisation in the UK that provides cheaper Vet care for people on low incomes and no animal is turned away because owners can't afford treatment. It's called the PDSA (Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals). There are Vets who offer discounts for people on benefits and pre-payment schemes with costs already lower than 'normal vets'.
Does it help? No! People still come on here and ask 'What should I do - My dog is sick?' and there is a Good Citizen Scheme too, yet still dogs are not trained!
If it costs anything at all, the people the scheme is aiming at would still resent paying!
They want the dog but they don't want the expenses or the responsibility.
With all the free training advice available from, TV shows, books and the Internet, there is no reason anyone should not be able to at least try to train yet how many do?
Half the time I think you could offer 'free' treatment and people would still not go, it would mean taking time away from their oh so valuable normal pursuits, and the bus-fare would be too expensive! There is always an excuse for not doing it!
I'll still give advice but it's always for the sake of the animal, never the owner!

Answer 3

Sadly, tho this would be wonderful if it did happen, I don't think that it would.

Here is my reasoning... The target people for a program like this are most likely people who have never done any formal dog training and have no idea what they are doing, or where to begin.

Some people can get what they need from a well written book, but some are like me and just do better in an environment, where you actually have an instructor... someone who can answer questions as they arise and help you problem solve better than a book. I find books useful, but over all, it's the live class that I learn the most from.

So now you have people who need to invest in going to some obedience classes or a class specifically set up to work towards a CGC. When you figure the cost of the classes compared to what they might save in vet care, most are going to not bother and figure it's not really saving them anything in the end.

Now, if you are also offering free, or very low cost classes to help people learn to train their dogs for this, that might be a different story. But like many have said, most are too lazy to bother with proper training, regardless of any benefits.

Answer 4

I dont think it would make a huge difference.

However it would be a great idea. Even if it got only 5 or 6 dogs it would be helpful. Also since it would most likely not be very popular it wouldnt cost anyone much money.

I think a neutering/vaccination discount would go well with initial puppy training. Maybe just a rebate once the dog is done with the class (successfully) reimburse a portion of it, but only if theyre altered as well as vaccinated (legit breeders would lose the discount, but it would help discourage idiots breeding by making it cost more money).
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I dont think most people avoid the vet because they dont have the money, but because they have 'better' uses for it. Any cost cutting would bring at least a few of those people in. The biggest benefit would be that these fools probably have similar friends who would then see this person's well behaved dog and consider training.

Answer 5

I think it's a great idea.

Unfortunately, there will be many people who won't take advantage of this. Too lazy to take the class and train their dog. And too many people don't seem to care when their dog is in pain and needs the vet.

But I do think a certain number of people would take advantage of this. I think a good portion of people who are clueless about dogs, do want to do the right thing, and if educated, they would try to take care of their dog in the right way. Also, sometimes I see kids on this website, frustrated that their dog is sick and their parents won't take the dog to the vet. For a kid who can't pay the vet, this would be a great program. The kid could train the dog, get the CGC, and then take the dog to the vet himself. It would really be a great solution to many people's problems.

Answer 6

See, if I was offered something like this, I would jump at the chance to take it. My dog could easily pass the CGC test, in fact I'm probably going to get signed up for the classes and stuff early next year when they start up again here. It'd be a great thing if I could have discounted vet bills by doing this, and I'm sure many other people think so too.

However, for the type of people who seem to never want to properly care for their dog, I'm not so sure it would help.On one hand, I think it would be a great thing for people who cannot afford to take their pets to the vet, but still care for and love their dog. These people would probably take time out to go to the classes and get certified if it meant reduced or no vet bills.
On the other hand, some of the people on here seem to flat out not care what happens to their animal and would probably be too lazy to bother getting certified. I have noticed that some people claim to be too "busy" (or what have you) to even place a free phone call in to the vet to ask if they can make payments or if he can advise them on what to do over the phone. I don't really think a program like the one you mention would help these people's dogs at all.

It would help a lot of people though, and it'd be a cool thing to start offering!

Answer 7

Better yet, I think an organization that offers a test for the owner of the dog. The (owner) of the dog would take a test on basic dog care and training, including questions like, when should your dog get his first shots and how often do you vaccinate your dog, what are your city ordinances regarding leash law, dog tags, noise control etc., and how many dogs do you currently own.
If the owner of the dog doesn't have a clue about basic dog care they should be given free classes about dog care until they pass the test, and if they pass this test and appear to be responsible give them all the discounts available.

Answer 8

That would be a good idea, i like it!!!! I would like to have my dog get a CGC, just to say that he can do it!! I think it would help some with shelters, only because of the discount or free vet service, then people could take there dogs and get them snipped, before they produce more litters that end up in pounds.

EDIT: you got me thinking so i looked into the CGC, im and going to take my dog to a few obedience classes and have him tested for the CGC. I have found a local lady that is about 30mins from me to do it!!! Thanks for the inspiration

Answer 9

I sure do think this would be a great thing. All dogs need to learn proper manners, but mainly the humans! What a great thing to have all dogs in this country be controlled and being able to go for walks on city streets and behave. The vet thing is also an awesome offering...Less puppies in the shelters, and dogs for that matter. I would hope it would lower the statistics oh dogs being in shelters. If all vets or vet teaching hospitals would offer lower or free spaying or neuter, I think it would be a great tool for all of the dog population. Your question is a good one to answer. I am so for this. I am not sure on how many people would work toward this, but it is up to us people that can spread the word to others, lower income people that cannot afford to spay or neuter, or vet care..I think it would be a great offering to them. I cannot judge others on their pet care. Alot of people love them so much and just cannot afford the care. So your theory of this delima is a good one, but kinda a hard one to answer. I would work towards that and I would love to offer my help to others to achieve their goals on having a well trained dog.
Thank you for your question.

Answer 10

I think that the CGC classes are a great idea but would be used by those who already understand the commitment and responsibility owed their pet. These people should be rewarded with the discounted vet care for participating. In all my years working in vet medicine I came to realize that it was the owners who did not recognize pets as creatures who think and feel that created the most problems for the pets and the rest of the community. I wish people would understand that pet ownership is a privilege not a right. It is a privilege that comes with a lot of responsibility and it is not for everyone.