Winter, in all of its dark, frigid, snowy, road-salty glory (or lack thereof), is coming. Quarantine, much to the chagrin of citizens of cold-weather locations around the globe, is about to get even worse.

Despite the impending descent of seasonal affective disorder on the populace of the northern hemisphere, though, resist the urge to adopt a quarantine puppy, regardless of how appealing it may seem to hunker down for the season with a furry little creature, especially if you’ve never owned a dog before.

Dogs are notoriously social creatures. Any dog owner over the past few months has undoubtedly noticed the marked increase of contentedness in their canine companions as a result of the recent, pandemic-induced death of their social calendars.

Pooches previously accustomed to their owner’s absence for eight-plus hours a day while at work now rejoice in the constant companionship of their beloved mommies and daddies. One wonders, consequently, how these dogs will fare when life finally normalizes — when workplaces open and travel is possible.

I grew up with a little 20-pound Bichon-Frise; he was of the white, fluffy and lazy variety and named Buddy. When he was a puppy, my brother and I were little and my mom stayed home with us most of the time. He was rarely alone for more than a few hours.

Buddy was a sweet little thing, but we conditioned him to expect our constant presence. When we grew up and had to spend more time outside of the house, we discovered just how anxious he was when left alone (marked with spiteful excrement strewn about the house).

We also conditioned my dog to be used to staying at my Grandma’s house when we went on vacation. When my grandparents grew too old to take care of him and his spoiled habits of hourly potty breaks, we discovered he was far too anxious to be left at a stranger’s house we found through a dog sitting website.

Dogs know what you teach them. They know what they are exposed to. So, if you adopt a puppy during quarantine, you are telling them through your perpetual presence, “This is normal. I will always be here, I will never leave you.”

Dogs live, on average, from 10-15 years. This pandemic, God willing, will not last as long. Life will likely return to normal in less than a year. A year for a puppy is long enough to establish some stubbornly bad habits.

If you’ve never owned a dog before, pandemic or not, do your research. If you don’t like to run, don’t adopt a collie. If you don’t like to vacuum multiple times a week, don’t adopt a dog that sheds. If you don’t want to put much effort into training, don’t choose a large dog.

My family is not sporty. We consequently adopted a breed whose natural habitat was our living room couch, not a dirty field where he could herd sheep. Buddy favored snuggles over sports.

Also, before you take the plunge and commit to the enormous effort of owning a dog, ask yourself, “What will my life look like in 10 years?” If you have no idea, it is unlikely you can be a responsible dog owner.

Also ask yourself, “Who will watch my dog when I travel?” If you don’t have a reliable answer, don’t adopt a dog. Winging it on this one might cause you to regret your commitment when, in January 2025, you seek respite in the Florida sun.

Dog ownership is one of the most rewarding experiences out there. The 14 years my childhood dog traversed this world was wonderful, but not without sacrifice (of which my mother bore the brunt.) Remember, a dog is a living creature with wants, needs and emotions, not a toy, gadget or item you can abandon when inconvenience or boredom sets in.

Do your research and consider the effects your current environment will have on a dog’s development.

Ellen is the Asst. Opinions Editor and a senior in LAS

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