Choosing a Dog

THINKING OF GETTING A DOG

CHOOSING A DOG is an important decision that will affect your lives for years to come. Please give it as much thought as you would to adopting a child.

CHOOSE A DOG THAT WILL REALISTICALLY FIT INTO YOUR LIFESTYLE PERSONALITY AND FAMILY. How much time are you prepared to spend with your dog every day? Will the dog be around young children a lot? How much grooming are you prepared to do? Will shedding be a problem? Some breeds are easier to train and house train than others. How much of a challenge are you looking for? Will the dog be left alone for long periods of time? Is the dog’s life span important?

SIZE: Do you want a small, medium or large dog?

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes from 2lbs (1kg) to 150lbs (68kgs), from a few inches tall to 3 feet tall.

ACTIVITY LEVEL: The size of the dog does not indicate what activity level the dog will have. Your best guide to size, activity level, behavior traits, is to check the breed’s characteristics. E.g. a Basset hound will not require as much exercise as a Jack Russell Terrier.

MALE OR FEMALE:

Male dogs are larger than the females. They can be more aggressive, have a general tendency to roam and get into arguments with other dogs if left intact.

Female’s come in heat twice a year, spraying a urine-scented substance that’s only pleasant to male dogs. Females tend to be more nervous than males; can be harder to house train and they are usually more patient with children.

With proper love and dog friendly training, both male and female dogs will make fantastic pets.

MIXED BREEDS VERSUS PUREBREDS:

Mixed breed dogs are typically healthier, live longer, cost considerably less to purchase and generally have lower veterinary and maintenance bills throughout their lives than purebred dogs.

You should try to get as much history as possible about the dog’s parents. What breeds are thought to be in the mother? Are there any medical or behaviour problems? Ask if you can see and pet the mother before deciding.

Ask the same questions about the father, usually there is little or no information available, but if it is a neighbour’s dog you may be able to see the dog and have a fairly good idea what the pup will grow up to be.

However, if you decide on a mixed breed dog you are guessing what the dog will be like when he/she matures. Personally, we have never regretted adopting our mixed breed dogs.

PUREBREDS:

Should you decided on a particular breed or would like more information on a breed you could contact the breed clubs and ask what health problems you should look for; also if they could recommend some breeders, and generally pick their brains, I am sure they will only be too pleased to help.

Only consider purchasing your dog from a responsible breeder, check out the breeders’ credentials, and ask to see where the mother and pups are kept. It is much better for the pups to be inside the home with people than in a kennel. A conscientious breeder will ask you as many questions as you ask them. Take into consideration the information they give may be a little biased as breeders are quite passionate about their chosen breed. Ask about health problems in their line. What they know about health problems with the breed. Should they claim not to know of any go elsewhere.

Advantages of choosing a purebred dog, you have a good idea what the dog will grow up to be. Its size, temperament, grooming requirements, shedding. Also behaviour traits such as hunting, herding, digging, chewing, sniffing and protection instincts.

Disadvantages: Life span of purebred dogs is less than mixed breeds; small dogs generally live longer than large dogs. Purebreds generally have more health problems than mixed breeds. Costs are higher to purchase possibly more veterinary visits.

ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RESCUE GROUPS:

Animal shelters and rescue groups are a good place to look for a dog; typically the dogs will be mature and probably come with some “baggage”. Being in a shelter is a traumatic experience for most dogs, also they are there for a reason. It could be their previous owner can no longer care for them, or found it too hard to handle them. Whatever the reason, the staff at these shelters are extremely helpful and will work with you to find the dog which best suits your needs. In most cases expect to spend extra time “retraining” your dog using dog friendly training techniques. Some advantages adopting rescue dogs; you have a wide range of dogs to choose from, if the dog is mature you know the size, shape and colour. Your dog will be in good health, spade or neutered, also you will get a really great feeling knowing you have saved this dog and will be repaid with years of unselfish love.

HEALTH AND TEMPERAMENT TESTS:

Puppies should be checked over by a veterinarian before you buy or adopt the pup. Make an agreement with the seller for a grace period to allow you time to get the pup thoroughly checked out for any health related problems.

You can make some simple temperament tests to help determine the pup’s personality. The pup should be alert, respond to your gentle playing in an inquisitive and playful way. Gently toss a small ball towards him, he should run, pounce, nibble, roll over and generally act in a playful manner. If he shies away, acts scared, or refuses to play this could be an indication of behavioral problems that will be very hard to correct and probably require the services of a canine behavioral specialist.

Your pup should be at leased 8 weeks old before he is taken from his litter mates and mother, removing him earlier deprives him of developing his socializing skills. A puppy will nibble; it is his way of exploring and playing. When he nibbles your finger and it hurts, say “ouch” in a firm voice, remove your finger and don’t play or speak with the pup for 1 minute, then after the time out, go back and play again, when he nips repeat the process. Your pup will soon learn its more fun to play and when he bites too hard the playing stops, so he will learn to control his bite. Do not yell or scold the pup, this would be very detrimental to your relationship with the puppy.

LEAVE BREEDING TO THE PROFESSIONAL BREEDERS:

Unless your dog is a purebred and you intend to show him/her please consider getting your dog spade or neutered, it will eliminate spraying, improve your dogs socializing skills, less aggression. Neuter/spaying, helps prevent cancers of the reproductive organs, and cuts down on the millions of dogs euthanized each year simply because nobody wants them.

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