Title: How to Choose the Right Dog Breed for Years of Quality Companionship
Author: Moses Wright
How to Choose the Right Dog Breed for Years of Quality Companionship
To bring a dog into the family is a big decision. The right
dog can bring your family years of enjoyment and
companionship, whereas the "wrong" dog can add misery and
annoyance to your life. There are many factors to consider
in order to make sure you choose the best dog for your
situation.
Your lifestyle, financial ability, type and size of your
family are among many of the factors that you need to
consider before you decide on a specific dog breed.
While some breeds may required more attention, some require
more exercises than the others, some are more suitable for
families with young children, some are more prone to
genetic health issues and some may simply required more
money to own than others.
There are so many dog breeds out there to choose from and
it is the dog owner's responsibility to find out which one
is exactly suitable for his lifestyles and way of living.
The number one reason for dogs to be surrendered to animal
shelters is that they don't match the needs or the
lifestyle of their owners. The purpose of this article is
to assist you in selecting the right dog breed and try to
minimize the potential problems that might surface when the
wrong breed is chosen.
Here are some important factors to consider before you
proceed to bring your puppy home:
1. Accommodation - All dogs need some form of exercise in
one way or another, but there are significant disparities
among breeds. Small breeds tend to adapt better than large
breeds to the smaller space available in an apartment.
Nevertheless, some larger breeds who are not as active as
others can still adapt well.
Consider how much room do you have for a dog, apartment and
a house with or without fenced-in yard makes a different in
the type of dog you should get. Having a fenced-in yard
will cut down on the time required to walk your dog for
bathroom breaks and exercising. All breed will adapt well
in this type of setting, but the more active breeds will
require more exercises. Giving a dog sufficient exercise is
vital to having a good relationship with your dog. Many
undesirable behaviors, such as hyperactivity, nuisance
barking and destructive behaviors are results of
insufficient exercise.
Regulations in your area regarding dog ownership also need
to be considered. Some landlords do not allow dogs in their
rental units at all, while some neighborhoods have strict
guidelines regarding the size and the breed of dog that can
be owned in that neighborhood.
2. Lifestyle - Dogs are social animals and require time
from their owners, some more, some less. If you work long
hours, a dog is really not the best pet choice, especially
if you live alone. A pet like a cat or fish that require
less upkeep may be a better fit for your lifestyle.
While there are some breeds that do not mind being left
alone for longer period (Shetland sheepdog, golden
retriever and bloodhound), many can suffer from separation
anxiety and went on to develop undesirable behavior
problems. Don't commit the crime of condemning an
essentially social dog to lead a life of anxiety, and
boredom. If you really cannot live without a dog, engage a
dog sitter or put him at a dog daycare centre.
3. Family - Make sure that everyone in the family is
supportive of a dog. There are breeds with tendency to show
aggressive behavior and biting problems, which in most
cases are unsuitable for families with younger children.
Young children may play with the dog roughly without
understanding what they are doing, or what the potential
consequences may be. Dogs joining a household with small
children must be very tolerant of the children's play. Dogs
from the herding group may not be the best choice as they
have a natural instinct to herd livestock and may try to do
so with your family. This natural instinct may cause
nipping incidents to happen.
Existing pets in the household must be considered when
getting a new dog. The temperament of the new dog needs to
be compatible with those of the existing pets to make sure
no problems will arise with the new addition. Territorial
problems should be expected. They usually clear up within a
week or so. It is recommended to feed the dogs in separate
locations during the introduction period, as food is a
common cause of conflict among dogs.
4. Financial Obligations - Dog ownership is a long
commitment with on going expenses. The initial cost will
vary depending on the breed and type of dog you select. On
the whole, purebreds cost more than mixed breed dogs,
especially if they are purchased from a breeder or a pet
store. However, purebreds from breed rescues and animal
shelter are less expensive. It is best to be able to see
and meet your potential dog's parents.
Apart from the initial purchase price, you might want to go
to a local pet warehouse to check out the prices of dog
supplies. Dog food, collars, leashes, toys, food bowls,
crates, and any other supplies you think you need for your
dog, and not forgetting your veterinary bills, grooming
expenses and even an insurance policy.
It is always advisable to ask your dog owner friends or
family members to have a rough idea of how much they spend
annually on their dogs.
5. Purpose of dog ownership - You should determine your
purpose of dog ownership. Do you plan to breed, show, or
hunt with the dog? Is the dog needed for service, therapy
or for companionship only? For breeding or showing, you
need a dog that meets or exceeds the standards for the
breed and has all the appropriate documentation of its
lineage. For hunting, you will require a good scent or
sight-hunting dog. While many dogs are good for service or
therapy, they need to have good temperaments, low ability
to be distracted, and a willingness to learn. Knowing the
purpose would inevitably help to select the right breed.
6. Size - Dogs can be largely divided into three size
categories based on their weight at maturity. Small breeds
are generally up to 20 pounds, medium breeds are from 20-50
pounds, and large dogs are greater than 50 pounds.
As a rule of thumb, bigger breeds are unsuitable if you
live in a small apartment, or a home with a small or
unfenced yard. Nevertheless, this is not the case for all
dogs. Some breeds such as the golden retriever are still
better suit living in smaller spaces than an active
schnauzer. Temperament and activity level are equally
important when selecting the right breed.
While smaller dogs generally do not require as much space
as larger dogs, caution should be taken with small breeds
due to their small and fragile bodies. Small dogs can be
easily injured by rough play, either with people, or with
larger dogs. On the other hand, large breeds can
unintentionally cause harm to small children when playing.
It is also found that large breeds have a shorter life span
of 8-12 years while small breeds can live up to 15 or 16
years.
7. Temperament - Purebreds generally display
well-understood mental temperaments and characteristics
while mutts are more difficult to gauge. It is recommended
to seek advices and consultation to choose a dog's
temperament to complement your existing lifestyle. If you
have children, look for dogs with a low tendency to bite
and a high tolerance for handling. If it is a guard dog,
you want it to be obedient but still able to effectively
guard the territory. Dogs that are overtly aggressive
should be avoided always.
In a nutshell, adding a dog to your family is a life
changing and long commitment. Consider carefully before you
decide to bring the puppy back. Take the time to choose the
best dog breed. By doing so, I'm sure you will get to enjoy
and be rewarded many times over by the love, affection and
good company that he or she will bring into your life.
About the Author:
Moses Wright has been a dog lover since young and now he
loves to help fellow dog owners solve their dog problems
whenever he can. You can get a free copy of his book filled
with useful and practical tips here:
http://www.dogsobediencetraining.com/dogger_enews.htm
