Puppies and professional hockey – two things that go together nicely. No? Well, it’s true that you don’t typically see these things being talked about in the same sentence, but in this case they actually go together quite nicely. It all started with a bet made between a father and his sons.
Let’s take things back a little farther. Did you know that Bobby Ryan, of the Ottawa Senators, is one the leading goal scorers in the National Hockey League? So you’d probably be cautious when making a bet against his scoring abilities, right?
One father learned that lesson the hard way last weekend. He bet his sons that if Ryan scored a goal he would allow his boys to adopt a puppy. Well the kids took that bet seriously, and they made a giant sign to press against the glass telling Ryan about the bet.
The sign said “Bobby, dad said if you score we get a puppy!”
The kids held the sign up to the glass before the game and continued to hold it through the second period. Ryan caught a glimpse of the sign during pregame warmups and he was able to put it in the net near the end of the second period.
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For anyone that doubted Ryan’s motivation in the goal, the hockey columnist for the Ottawa Citizen, Wayne Scanlan, cleared that up in a post-game tweet. The tweet read:
“Bobby Ryan said he felt more pressure to get the family a puppy than he did for calling out his teammates.”
This is my kind of bet. It may look like the dad lost, but in reality he gets a puppy too! I should make a bet like this with my son! In all reality though, whether you make a bet like this father did or you just promise to get your kids a puppy, be sure you’re ready for the responsibility.
Puppies are cute and they will bring your family a lot of happiness. They’ll also bring a lot of accidents in your home, chewed up possessions and countless headaches before they’ve been properly trained. Speaking of training, that is almost a full time job when you first adopt a puppy. There is behavior training, house training, leash training and so much more!
You should definitely do your research beforehand to make sure you fully understand all the responsibilities that come along with adopting a puppy, or any dog for that matter. It’s definitely not always fun, but it’s worth it in the end.
Being up for the responsibility isn’t the only thing you’ll need to be sure of. You’ll also need to do some research to find the best dog breed for your family. It’s not as simple as you think. Never select a puppy based simply on appearance.
Newfoundland dogs are adorable, but they also weigh upwards of 150 pounds when they are full grown. You’ll want to consider a dogs size, temperament, coat and the breed’s common health conditions. Some breeds, like Labradors, are prone to hip and joint issues. Others more likely to suffer with heart conditions.
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Likewise, doing a little research before selecting a breed will allow you to choose the dog that best fits your family’s lifestyle. If your family wants a dog that will go hiking and swimming, a basset hound probably wouldn’t be the best option. If you’re looking for a snuggle bug that’s going to sleep on the couch with in the afternoon, you may not want a Weimaraner.
Whether you make a bet with your child or you are a child that’s trying to come up with a way to convince your parent’s to get a dog, a little research beforehand is always a good idea. Chances are, a famous NHL player probably won’t help you get a dog, so you’ll want to discuss the idea of a puppy with every member of your family to make sure everyone is on the same page with puppy care and training.
