I would point you to George Orwell's 6 rules in "Politics and the English Language" especially the last one. The original sentence is fine in light of it. I would always follow "keep" with "a dog" in all of these constructs.
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
