Is That Dog Right for You?
Did you know that there are several hundred
dog breeds? With that large number of breeds to choose from,
how do people manage to decide which breed is right for them?
Luckily, you can narrow down the choices and find the right
dog breed by following a few simple steps.
First, consider your available space. Do you live in an
apartment? If so, you will want to rule out large dogs. Look
for dogs in the Toy group, such as Yorkshire Terriers, or some
of the smaller dogs in the Terrier group, like the Miniature
Schnauzer.
If you have children, you will want to consider the size of
your dog, as well. Very small dogs, such as Chihuahuas or
Maltese, can be very delicate and are often accidentally
injured by young children. On the other hand, very large dogs,
such as Boxers or Saint Bernards, can be overly boisterous as
puppies and can accidentally turn your child into a human
bowling pin. Consider medium sized breeds, such as Fox
Terriers or Lhasa Apsos, instead.
Next, consider how much exercise you can give your dog. If you
have a home with a fenced yard, your dog will be able to get
some exercise on his own. However, dog breeds in the Sporting,
Hound, and Herding groups are very high energy animals and you
will need to have enough time to provide them with more
intensive exercise. Plan to take a lot of long walks with your
dog or go for a daily romp in the park. After all, these dog
breeds were bred to work hard and don't do well unless they
have a job to do or a way to burn off excess energy.
Finally, don't forget to consider grooming needs. Some dog
breeds only need a half hour or so of grooming a week, while
others need to be groomed for an hour a day. If you are short
on time, don't buy a Standard Poodle or a Maltese, unless, of
course, you plan to take your dog to a groom. Breeds like
Boston Terriers or Whippets are good choices for people who
don't have time to do a lot of grooming.
Once you decide which breed of dog you want, you will need to
consider the age of the dog. Many people opt to buy a cuddly
little puppy instead of an older dog. While puppies have not
developed any bad habits, it will be up to the new owner to be
sure that the puppy becomes housebroken and obedience trained.
Older dogs are frequently already housebroken and usually have
some obedience training. They are also more likely to be less
hyper and less destructive. However, they can have behavioral
problems or health problems that prompted the former owner to
find them a new home.
Do you want to buy a puppy? If so, you will need to find a
reputable dog breeder who has a litter of the breed you are
interested in. Often, a good breeder will have a waiting list
for puppies. If you aren't the patient sort, you may be
tempted to buy a puppy from a pet store. However, many pet
store puppies come from puppy mills and have genetic health
defects, bad temperaments, or other problems. It is usually
safest to buy a puppy directly from the breeder.
If you are interested in an older dog, you may want to visit
your local animal shelter or call a breed rescue. These groups
evaluate the dogs' health and temperament before adopting them
out.
Once you've narrowed down the breed choices and have decided
which dog is right for you, don't get too relaxed. After all,
you still have one more important decision to make, what to
name your new companion!
The following advice is provided for specific
breeds of dogs... before adopting one of these breeds, please
read this and insure you're adequately able to care and
provide for the dog.
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