Should I Get a Dog?
Before getting a new dog, you should be aware of the many responsibilities that come with it. You should ask yourself the following questions:
Do I have enough time for a dog?
Dogs need plenty of love and attention. You should be able to commit several hours a day to your dog. If you have limited time for a dog, you may want to consider getting a smaller, less active dog, which can receive enough exercise in your home or on short walks. Keep in mind, however, that not all large breeds are more active and not all small breeds are less active. Check out individual breed information for activity levels and exercise requirements.
Can your home handle a dog?
Is there room in and around your house for a dog to live and exercise?
Who will care for the dog?
This needs to be determined before you bring your dog home. Someone will need to be responsible for feeding, walking, grooming and training your dog.
Can you afford a dog?
Do you have the financial resources for food, veterinary checkups, vaccinations, routine care and any medical emergencies over the course of a dog's lifetime?
Will you groom your dog at home or have it professionally done?
Check to see how much grooming is involved with the breed you select and what it entails. If you or a member of your family suffer from allergies, you may want to have your dog professionally groomed.
Do you have the time and inclination to train your dog?
Most dogs need at least minimal training to make the transition to family life more enjoyable for both you and your dog. You may hire a trainer, attend training classes, or go it along with the help of dog-training manuals.
Choosing a Breed
Do you want a large or a small dog?
Small Dogs
-best choice for apartment dwellers
-can be trained to eliminate on newspapers or even in a litter box
-don't require much exercise (they receive enough from running around inside)
-eat less, reducing food costs and cleanup time
-can be less tolerant of roughhousing
-tend to bark more frequently and at a higher pitch
Large Dogs
-require more space both inside and out
-must have outdoor exercise
-provide a measure of personal security
-are more expensive to care for and feed
Do you want a purebred or a mixed breed?
Purebreds - This is the best choice if you're interested in entering your dog in show competitions or seek specific features or characteristics. Purebreds feature a pedigree detailing your dog's ancestry for three or more generations. The better the ancestry, the greater the dog's value.
Mixed Breeds - There are many misconceptions about mixed breeds. Contrary to popular belief, they are neither smarter nor dumber than a purebred. They do not make better or worse pets. Many mixed breed owners will tell you, however, that mutts make the best companions.
Which breed is best for you?
Dog breeds are not interchangeable. For centuries, dogs have been bred to do particular jobs. While few breeds still do the jobs they were bred for, they harbor the skills and adaptations that made them successful in their original careers.
Breeds require different types and amounts of care, training, food and exercise. They have different personalities and drives. Some are gentle and laid back, while others may be dominant and noisy. When selecting the breed of dog for you, try to match personalities and circumstances.
There are lots of great references to help assist you in choosing a breed, a few are:
Gender
Male Dogs
Males possess a strong territorial instinct to make your home his home. He may mark your yard-his territory-with urine. Male dogs that frequently mark yards may damage shrubbery by burning it with their urine. This problem can be eliminated by training both males and females to urinate in a specific part of the yard.
Female Dogs
Females tend to be smaller and less dominant, with less inclination to wander. While they're less territorial, females may be aggressive with certain people and animals. They also go into “heat” twice a year on average, which will attract males and can be quite messy.
Note - Unless you plan to show or breed your dog, spaying or neutering is a good way to eliminate the sex drive for both genders. For females, spaying avoids periods of heat, pregnancy, mammary or uterine cancer, and infections of the uterus. Neutering reduces a male's drive to search for females in heat, mark his territory, and act on aggressive urges, and it eliminates his chance of developing testicular cancer.
Age
Puppies should not be separated from their mother and siblings until they're at least 7-8 weeks old. A puppy needs substantial time to be nursed by his mother and to learn how to be a dog from his littermates.
Making the Choice
It's important to evaluate the animal before you make your final decision. Is he healthy? Does he follow you? What is his reaction if you crouch down beside him? What is his response to a sudden noise or movement?
Observe him in his own environment and try out these techniques to help determine his temperament:
-
Talk to him. What is his reaction-does he look at you, ignore you, or walk away from you?
-
Get close to him. What is his response-does he lick your hand or lower his ears?
-
Crouch down and extend your hand-does he come to you?
-
If you have children, how does he respond to their presence?
-
Walk away form him. Does he follow you?
|
