Author: Emma Snow
There is a right and a wrong way to pick a pooch. The
process is a little like dating. The few who find
fulfillment in love are those who use their hearts and
their heads. There is a special kind of nirvana when a
person connects with their canine soul mate. They weren't
fooling when they called dog "man's best friend." But such
unions don't happen by mistake. A little careful
preparation will go a long way. And to simplify your
search, we have five suggestions. we've borrowed a little
Hollywood lingo to make the tips more memorable.
TAKE ONE! That is, take stock: This is the time to look
around you, before you even start thinking of bringing home
Buddy. Let's consider your life from a dog's eye view. Who
lives in your house? Are there members of the household
under twelve or over seventy? What about other pets?
Analyze the chemistry of your household for a moment. What
words describe your family? Are you fast-paced and active,
or low-key and friendly? In case you didn't know, getting a
dog is a little like adopting a child. They have their own
personalities. Think about what personality would jibe best
with your bunch.
Next evaluate your living space. Dog owners exist as
apartment dwellers or cattle ranchers. While the size of
your pad shouldn't ultimately determine whether you're
canine-compatible, it should at least be a consideration.
Take Phoebe for example, a spoiled golden retriever who
lives comfortably in a tiny Brooklyn brownstone. The
arrangement works because her owner is an active walker and
doesn't mind taking three or four spins around the dog park
every day. And don't think that just you have a huge
backyard means you're best fitted for a border collie. Even
hyper-active dogs will mope around waiting for someone to
play with. Whatever your accommodations, if you rent or
belong to an HOA, you may need to check the pet policy
before entertaining the notion of getting a dog. (Many
renters allow dogs, but limit size or breed.) While looking
at your house, consider your neighborhood. What is the
noise level on your street, and how close are your
neighbors? Your dog won't be living in a bubble. Social by
nature, dogs react to the environment all about them.
Now that you've inspected your digs, how much time do you
spend there? Is there someone home all the time? In this
day and age that's highly unlikely. Look at work and school
schedules, and don't forget holidays! How often do you
vacate the property? Do you plan on taking the dog with
you, or do you need to check out the local kennels?
Before you move on to take two, it would be prudent to
anticipate future lifestyle changes. How likely are you to
move? To get married? To break up? To have children? Dogs
don't disappear when your life takes a turn. You don't want
to end up leaving Poopsie at the pound just because you
didn't think that far in advance. Dogs live ten to fifteen
years or more. While it's impossible to know for sure, it's
wise to consider where you think you might be.
TAKE TWO! Take advantage: There has never been a better
time to learn about dogs! The world is at your fingertips.
A thousand on-line quizzes can quickly narrow the field and
recommend breeds that would fit your particular lifestyle
and limitations. Your search just got a thousand times
easier. Jot down the top ten, and do some research. First,
look at pictures. What do you think? Is that a face you can
love? Physical attraction, after all, does factor into
finding a soul mate. Read as much as you can about the
breeds you feel drawn to. Don't stop at the internet. The
library and the pet store have an endless variety of books,
magazines, and videos to assist you in your search. Even
better, talk to other dog owners. Ask them what they like
(and don't like) about their dogs. Go to a dog show, sit in
on an obedience class, or call a local breeder. Take
advantage of every resource you can to learn more about the
breed.
TAKE THREE! Take interest: Get involved in the dog
community. Make it a family affair. Volunteer at a local
shelter. This gives the kids a chance to experience the
responsibility of a dog. You may even consider fostering a
dog looking for a home. Attend adoption days; ask the
neighbor if you can play Frisbee with her whippet. All this
interaction with dogs will allow you to see quirks that may
not have been so apparent in your reading. Hidden expenses
should also begin to be evident. What kind of equipment is
needed to keep this kind of dog happy? Make sure to ask
about health and grooming-related costs. Different breeds
have different needs.
TAKE FOUR! Take your time: Now is not the time to rush into
a relationship, but you are getting closer to a commitment.
Start putting out feelers. If you plan to get a pup from a
breeder, find out when the next litter is due. If you have
your heart set on a particular breed, but want a mature
dog, you may want to look into breed rescue groups. They
have some great animals that already have some training,
and are a fraction of the price. And don't forget that
sometimes those mixed mutts lead the pack! Spend some
quality time in the kennels. Many shelters allow a few days
or a week adjustment period before tying the knot.
TAKE FIVE! Take cover: You think you've found the one?
Hurray! Just remember that every relationship takes time
and effort. Sign up for obedience classes and arm yourself
with a little more patience than normal. Take it easy on
yourself, knowing that if you've taken our advice, you'll
be just fine!
----------------------------------------------------
Emma Snow, an animal lover, works in marketing for Dog
Pound http://www.dog-pound.net and Horse Stall
http://www.horse-stall.net leading portals for pet
management.
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