|
For those looking for a new dog or puppy, please check out your local shelters first. There are so many great dogs available, who through no fault of their own find themselves homeless. Do not overlook the many benefits of adopting an adult dog. Many of these dogs will come to you already housebroken, past the puppy chewing stage and many trained with basic commands. Shelter workers and those who are fostering will easily be able to tell you if a particular dog is good with kids, cats, other dogs, etc. There are so many adult dogs in shelters, and often times they are the last to be selected. For whatever reasons black dogs are much harder to place, so when looking please consider this. No matter what age of dog you decide on, please look at your own lifestyle and try to determine which breed or mix will best fit in. For example, a Husky will not be the happiest in an apartment, a little 3 pound dog likely won’t be the best for very small children, an active Australian Shepherd will wear out one who leads a sedentary life. Many dogs can live 15 years or more - it is extremely important to do some research and make sure you are making the right match before getting a dog. Acquiring a new dog should NEVER be an impulse decision, but one that has been well thought out. Ask yourself a few basic questions before getting a dog. 1. How much space do I have? The requirements for a toy dog are much different than for a large dog. Even among larger breeds there are differences. Those in the Sporting or Herding groups can have very different requirements than those from the Non-Sporting or Terrier groups. 2. What is my own lifestyle like? If you are an avid runner and would like a companion, a Jack Russell might be a wonderful fit, while a Basset might not be able to keep up. For a family with young, active kids a Lab or Golden might be just the dog whereas a Chihuahua might be accidentally injured. If you aren’t particularly interested in the outdoors, many of the toy breeds are great living solely inside. 3. What is my personality like? This is really more important than it seems. A soft-spoken person might not be able to handle an Akita, who requires an absolute Alpha personality. A “drill sergeant” type might scare a sweet little Cavalier Spaniel to death. Try to get a dog who’s personality not only matches yours, but one that you enjoy. 4. How much time to I have to devote to care and training? A Standard Poodle can be housebroken in what seems like a few sentences. A Yorkie, on the other hand, can take months and months to housebreak. Training a German Shepherd to heel on lead might be a cakewalk, getting an Irish Setter to do the same might be more challenging. Bathing a Chihuahua might take a few minutes, while it could take hours to bathe, brush and blow dry a Maltese. Be fair to the dog, and yourself, and make selections based on the amount of time and patience you have. 5. Can I afford a dog? Caring for a dog can sometimes be quite expensive. Not only are there the standard costs of food, vet care, grooming, training, etc. but accidents do happen. Dogs can get injured or become ill just like people. It is important to understand this financial commitment before getting a new dog. Go to www.americankennelclub.com and look through the “Breed” section and find out about the differences in dog breeds. For mixed breed dogs, it’s pretty easy based on appearances to get a general idea what kind of dog it is, at least which Group(s) (Hound, Toy, Working, etc.) it most likely belongs in. Another helpful site is www.breederretriever.com This site offers a lot of breed information - a rating chart, general description, history, life expectancy, etc. on each breed. I would like to note that while this site can offer some helpful information, I noticed “breeders” advertising on this site that I personally would not recommend. If you go to www.yourpurebredpuppy.com you can click on "180 Dog Breed Reviews" and get some pros and cons of each different breed. No matter what the breed(s) or age of your new dog, you should be in a position to commit to the following: 1. Proper veterinary care, including immediate spay/neuter. 2. Proper Diet. For optimum health, dogs should be on a “canine-appropriate” diet. This means food suited for dogs (meat) and not cattle (corn). 3. Housebreaking. This is the most common complaint of people with puppies. Although often a difficult task, you owe it to your dog to teach him appropriate family behavior. 4. Basic obedience training. This is not just for big, unruly dogs. Every dog deserves the opportunity to become a good canine citizen and polite family member. 5. Socialization. Puppies should be socialized, and this mean interaction outside of the family (pack) unit. Socialize early and often, and many future behavior problems can be eliminated. This means get him around new people, new dogs, kids, cats, public places, car rides, etc. 6. Grooming. Whether the coat is short or long, thick or thin, every dog has grooming needs. Bathing, brushing, cleaning ears, clipping nails are essential for dog hygiene and should not be overlooked. Some breeds may require hours per week, some just need occasional brushing, but this factor should be considered in your decision. 7. Basic necessities. A comfortable kennel, collar/leash, stainless steel feeding dishes, appropriate toys and treats are all basic needs of dogs/puppies. 8. A lifetime of love an affection!! Dogs end up in shelters all of the time because new puppy owners either did not select a dog that was well suited to their lifestyle, or they did not invest the time and energy to properly socialize and/or train them. Please! If you are going to get a puppy, don’t go into it with the “we’ll see if it works out” attitude. A new puppy is YOUR responsibility to care for, socialize and train. Our shelters are crammed full of dogs/puppies, and their purpose should be to care for and rehome pets when extenuating circumstances indicate that the owners can’t. They should NOT be used as a dumping ground for unhousebroken, unsocialised, or ill dogs that you didn’t/couldn’t/wouldn’t take proper care of. Nor should they be the only resort for your litter of pups because you didn’t have time/forgot/couldn’t afford to have your pet spayed or neutered. Many dogs end up in shelters because they had the audacity to “grow”. C’mon, what were you thinking with that adorable little lab or shepherd puppy?? Dogs are living, breathing beings. Please, do yourself and your dog a favor and select a dog based on an appropriate match and not on a whim.
|
