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The Right Dog for You
By Julie Hume
Getting a new puppy is very exciting. From the initial decision that the family wants a new four legged friend to picking from a litter or selecting one lucky pooch from the long line of sad-eyed dogs at the pound there are a lot of decisions to be made. The success of the adventure and future welfare of the dog depends very much on the homework you do before setting out to bring your new friend home. Animal behaviourist, veterinarian and founder of APDT (The Association of Pet Dog Trainers), Dr. Ian Dunbar says in the introduction to his excellent book Before and After Getting Your Puppy: Sadly, the majority of puppies fail to live long enough to enjoy their second birthday. They suffer from the terminal illness of being unwanted - failing to live up to the promise and expectation of the Lassie-Benji-Eddie dream. As the dog is going to be with the family for ten years or more then which type of dog to get is not a decision to be taken lightly or based on the latest Hollywood breed-hype (Marley and Me, 101 Dalmations, Hachiko). Breed Traits: While a dogs nature can vary wildly from the generalised personality traits of his breed, breed specifications can still be used as a guideline. An Alaskan Malamute would not be suited to a first time dog owner with a small yard, two toddlers and no garden fence for example. Malamutes need to respect their 'pack leader' and need a strong character to lead them. They love to run and are very athletic, able and likely to jump a four foot fence or higher. Jack Russells may seem great family dogs - small, active, intelligent... and they are all of that and more. But from a bad breeder or with poor training they can become aggressive to children, overly dominant, hunt and kill other small animals and be all round terrors instead of all round terriers. When preparing to make your choices on dog type, gender or source the internet is a good research tool but it can also be very misleading. A sophisticated website can mask the horrors of a full time puppy mill so never take any breeder's website at face value and do not buy pets sight unseen over the internet. Check references, previous buyers, veterinary recommendations, health certificates and online dog forums. Breed Specific Forums A bad breeder is no more than a puppy miller in a fancy coat so if your interest is in a particular breed then before searching Google for a breeder look for breed-specific forums. For example, Members of German Shepherd Forum pull no punches when it comes to exposing bad breeding practices but sing the praises of the leading breeders in their field. Breed specific forums are also a valuable source of information on possible medical conditions that are hereditary in your breed of choice.
Saving a Shelter Dog It is a very compassionate thing to do - to take a dog home from a shelter. Even if the refuge has a no-kill policy, you can be proud of giving him or her a chance at a far better life than they would have had locked up in a small pen for most of his life. Even in the case of a shelter dog, it is important to think through your choices very carefully. Should you make a mistake the poor dog may end up back in a refuge and the second time round he may not be lucky enough to land in one with a no-kill policy. All puppies are appealing. It is almost impossible to walk past them to the area that houses the older dogs but an adult is through the puppy-piranha stage, is less excitable and will have a fixed character. If you do not have the time to devote to a young pup then an older dog - especially one that has already got basic training under his collar, may be a better choice for you. |
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This is an excellent intel. As a passionate animal lover, it breaks my heart to see so many animals carelessly discarded by owners who decide the dog or cat or other pet has become inconvenient. Some people bring home animals with less thought than most of us give to buying a new pair of socks. It's a shame. You make excellent points.
CONTRIBUTOR'S REPLY
Thank you, June. If only people did a little more research on the breed or the breed mix that makes up their new pup they'd know whether it was a good choice for them or not. You are right about some people bringing home animals with less thought than went into new socks. Sadly, 'man's best friend' often gets thrown out as easily as does an old pair of socks too.
Here are some more tips on choosing a new puppy that will fit your lifestyle http://www.dog-first-aid-101.com/new-puppy.html
Great job! The breed-specific forums idea is something that I did not think of...
Animals are great company and can be a good training tool for teaching children responsibility and caring. Too many parents rush to satisify their childs desires for a puppy, before explaining to the child what it takes to share your home with an animal.
Thank you for sharing, Julie.
Best wishes.
Frederick
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This intel was contributed by JCHume
JCHume
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May, 2012
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