KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A Santa Clarita veterinarian has some advice for anyone who is thinking about adding a canine companion to their family.
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Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto of Cinema Veterinary Centre noted that one of the most important things is to think about whether getting a dog is the right decision for your lifestyle and household right now, and what kind of dog is best suited for you.
“Impulse purchases are never a good thing,” Ronchetto said, advising first thinking about where you live and the size of your yard, if any.
Related: Fun Facts About Dogs With Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto Of Cinema Veterinary Centre
“If you don’t have a yard, you don’t want a really large, high-energy dog,” she said. “You want a little dog that will be fine being inside that you can just take out on a leash to go potty and come back in.”
Next, Ronchetto advised considering how much time you spend away from home, working or simply being out.
“If you’re gone all the time, especially if you get a puppy that’s not potty trained, that’s not going to go well,” Ronchetto said. “Someone needs to be home with that puppy to help potty train it until it really gets the idea of what it’s supposed to do and that it can hold its bladder for many hours throughout the day when you’re away.”
If you have kids, Ronchetto recommends determining if anyone has allergies to pet dander before bringing in a new dog, and choosing a breed that tends to be more hypoallergenic — like a maltese or a poodle — if necessary.
Feeling confident you can teach your kids how to appropriately interact with the dog is another important component, according to Ronchetto.
“A lot of the problems that I see are children that aren’t being shown how to appropriately interact with a puppy or a dog,” she said. “So it’s just important to teach them from the get-go, not every dog is going to want them in their face all the time. Give them a little bit of space. If they are a smaller dog, they can get hurt, so you have to be careful with how you handle them and gentle petting.”
Ronchetto also advised considering whether you want to put the time and training into a high-energy puppy rather than a more mellow adult dog.
“Getting an older dog is very rewarding,” she said. “A lot of the initial training has already been done, the dog already knows what it’s supposed to do, what it’s not supposed to do, and it can make it a lot easier that way. I think there’s a big misconception that adopting an older dog, especially if you adopt or go to a shelter, that they’re going to come with all of these problems, and that’s not the case.”
Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Feature story based on a recent radio interview with Cinema Veterinary Centre.Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto, DVM, is a Santa Clarita veterinarian who opened her own veterinary hospital in Valencia after spending several years in private practice as an associate veterinarian at other SCV hospitals. Ronchetto and the staff at Cinema Veterinary Centre strive to give every dog, cat and pocket pet outstanding quality care in the areas of medicine and surgery. A Hart High School graduate, Ronchetto earned her BS degree from UC Davis and graduated with Honors from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.
23460 Cinema Drive
Valencia, CA 91355
(661) 253-9300
Cinema Veterinary Centre – Valencia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncdb8xE35P0
Santa Clarita Veterinarian / Veterinarian in Santa Clarita / Cinema Vet / Cinema Veterinary Centre / Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto
