[gemy]

This made for very interesting reading. I think it would be wonderful, if there were more programs a potential dog owner could get involved in that would give them a real "trial" run at dog ownership.

There is one program here in Ontario, I believe for service dogs, where a family fosters a pup for a few months. That fostering is supervised by the organization, but the family is responsible for socializing the pup to people, places, other dogs, basic obedience, children and so on.

And then I think that while there are from a lot of organizations questionnaires designed to help a future owner "select" the right dog for you, there is a need for maybe a more "visual" and basic video, portraying the joys of and the challenges of dog ownership.

You all know, you've come home for work tired and cranky, to find that your pup has been sick in his crate, had diarrehea all over, and well you just got to clean up him, and his area.
There is the housetraining challenges, barking, nipping, and other behaviours that pups and sometimes older dogs have.

Where to do on vacation? What to do with the pup? How about just a wkend away? Having dinner out.

Much like children. dogs and cats change your life forever.