An Obama puppy: when is the best time NOT to get a new dog?

By now everyone knows that President-Elect Barack Obama and his family are planning to get a puppy—and it could be a rescued puppy, if they can find one that won’t make their daughter sneeze. Whether they get a rescue or not, I was delighted they would consider one. What an important message that would send to Americans; one that might raise awareness about the staggering number of homeless dogs put to death in shelters every year.      

But wait. Is this really the best time to get a dog? The best time to bring a new dog into the household is when the home life is relatively calm and stable. I say this because all dogs need leadership and consistency in the rules. Changing jobs and moving are pretty high on the list of life’s most stressful times. For anyone. Now imagine that you’re starting a new job—and not just any job; you’re about to become the President of the United States. And you’re not just moving—you’re taking up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Who’s going to be potty training the puppy?

Of course, it’s not just the new First Dog. I meet people every day who have gotten the right dog at the wrong time. “My husband just died, and I thought a dog would help me through my grief.” Or “I just went through a terrible divorce and my kids gave me a puppy to cheer me up.” Are these the best times to bring a new dog into the family? No, they’re actually the perfect times NOT to. Why? Because when the “leader of the pack” becomes ill or grief-stricken or severely stressed, his or her dog feels this as weak energy and an absence of leadership. Often in these situations an adult dog feels he must become the leader, and this is when behavioral issues arise. A puppy can sense from his first day home whether there is leadership. If there is, chances are good he will grow up to be a calm, stable dog. If there isn’t, he may begin to develop unwanted behaviors, like jumping on people, fearfulness, marking in the house, and even aggression.

So, I’m just a little concerned about the timing for the Obama puppy. No matter how smoothly the transition goes, the entire White House is going to be a little chaotic for a while. Will there ever be a stress free time at the White House? Probably not, but I hope the Obama family will hold off on getting a puppy until things settle down a bit.