This little snippet is more for those considering adopting or obtaining a pet that have never had one. Five and a half years ago Butch was placed, by my father, in the palm of my left hand. This was the first time I held him. Just a week old, he was  not much bigger than a hot dog in a bun that would fill your hand. Little face, little legs, little ears. I  had no clue what to do except make sure that I didn't drop him and maybe keep my other hand over him to keep him warm. I would have been lucky to know which end to feed at that point! OK, well, I wasn't quite that bad but you get what I'm saying. There is a certain 'helpless' feeling that washes over you when you realize that  you are in a situation where if something happened you would definitely not know what to do. Having bred and raised Boston terriers before I was born, my Dad knows more than your average dog owner. I was lucky in  that I had my father to ask questions about issues that would rise out of our every day living with Butch and how to care for a puppy. I learned a lot during that period of time when Butch was a puppy, not only how to raise a dog but also about myself as a  person. I know at the time that I WANTED a dog, but if I had to be honest I would say that I did not know how  to take care of a dog or what was involved. I knew it was going to be a huge responsibility and I did not take it lightly. My Main point here is that I did not have the confidence in myself to know what to do if there was an emergency or if Butch got sick. I talk a lot on the show about  researching the breed you may be interested in adding to your family either by adoption or from a reputable breeder, but in addition to knowing the requirements of the dog you may want, you had better know your capability of taking care of a new dog (or any pet for that matter). It wasn't until a couple of years of "experience" with  Butch that I had the confidence that I could handle most things that might pop up without a major panic. Many trips to the vet and mistakenly thinking Butch had every ailment that I read about on-line led to one hilarious event after another when I look back.  Want a pet? That's great, just remember there is a learning curve and a life change ahead for you AND your new friend! There are many great resources out there and people are very willing to help you if you have questions. Find a local chapter of a breed club or even your local pet shelters including the ASPCA and Humane Society. They are always willing to help. This is not a sales pitch but if you want to know more about what I went through check out my book "My Buddy Butch - Confessions of a New Dog Dad" to the left in the "Classifieds." This will give you an idea of what to expect as a new dog owner. One other book that is really a fantastic guide (I still use it) is "Speaking For Spot" by Dr. Nancy Kay. She will be joining us on the show in the coming weeks for some feature tips!