You’ve thought it through and decided to get a dog. This is an exciting time! You are about to add a whole new member to your family. But you need so slow down a little, do your homework, and make sure this new addition to your family is going to fit in as well as possible.
Closely consider the breed of your new dog
It’s essential that you put a lot of thought into which breed of dog is right for you and your family. This seems obvious but too many people fall in love with a pup and don’t stop to consider what that little bundle of soft fur will become in just a few months. Consider this example from my own experience.
While living in a high-rise apartment building a few years ago my neighbor on the ninth floor came home with a Border Collie pup. Border Collies are born to run. They don’t want to just run a little. They want to run all the time, everyday. But my neighbor, who worked full-time and had a school age daughter, brought this very cute pup home to a two-bedroom apartment in the center of the city. The result was not good for the dog or the family involved.
The dog, left alone for hours on end and desperate to use up some of his nearly limitless energy, chewed up everything in site and whined incessantly. The family was always shouting at him, which made everyone unhappy, including me and especially the dog.
The family grew to dislike their pet and the poor dog became shockingly neurotic. So much so that this once super-friendly pooch began biting people in the elevators. In the end I was able to find him a new home on a farm and he slowly regained his sanity. No dog, or family, should be put through this sort of trauma so make sure you think carefully about the best breed for your circumstances and life style.
Choosing a breed
The more you know about the breed of dog you are considering the better your choice will be. A good place to start your search is with the American Kennel Club. They have extensive information on size and temperament for most of the familiar breeds and an extensive breeder referral area. Here’s a short run down of some AKC groups.
Sporting dogs
Many of the most popular dogs you see these days are from the sporting group. The group includes retrievers and some spaniels as well as the Weimarner and the Irish Setter. The most popular of the sporting group are the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever. Both are relatively easy to train and are good with children. All of the sporting dogs need plenty of exercise daily.
The Working dog group
Some familiar members of the working dog group are the Newfoundland, the Rottweiler, the Siberian Husky, the Akita, the Bullmastiff, and the Giant Schnauzer. These dogs should have an experienced owner who can firmly establish leadership. Many of the dogs of the working group have thick undercoats and shed copiously.
The Toy dog group
Toy dogs are very popular today as you see many celebrities toting around their adorable little dogs. But don’t let the size fool you. Oftentimes, these cute little dogs have big personalities. Dogs in this group include the Pug, the Shih Tzu, the Pomeranian, and the Maltese. These small dogs still require training and a fair amount of exercise, but may be a better choice for apartment dwellers and people with older children.
Herding dogs
These dogs include the Belgian Sheepdog, the Australian Shepherd, the German Shepherd, and the Shetland Sheepdog. The popular Border Collie is also in this group. These dogs are very intelligent and require plenty of physical and mental exercise. If you want to spend a lot of active time with a dog, you might choose a herder.
Consider getting an older dog
Puppies are awfully cute. They also like to chew anything they can get their little teeth around, they cry loudly and often and don’t know when or where to empty their bowels and bladder. In short, puppies are fun, but require plenty of patience. So consider getting an older dog.
Many breeders will have older dogs available so once you’ve decided on a breed start calling around. If one breeder doesn’t have adult dogs available he or she may be able to recommend a breeder that does.
Your local SPCA or animal shelter may have purebred dogs available as well. Many people do not take the responsibility of dog ownership seriously and the result is terrible over-crowding at shelters and far too many dogs being put down.
Go to your local shelter and talk to the staff about the dogs they have available. You’ll find they are very happy to discuss older dog adoption. Don’t get hung up on having a purebred dog. There is nothing wrong with mixed breed dogs and they are very often less susceptible to genetic medical problems such as hip dysplasia.
Another benefit of adopting an adult mixed breed dog from a shelter means that everyone who sees you with your dog will admire and envy you immediately. The reason for this is that your choice of dog shows you to be a person with fine emotional balance, high intelligence and acute sagacity.
No matter what dog you choose remember to always be kind and patient with your new friend. Your buddy will repay you with a lifetime of loyalty and devotion.
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