Choosing A Pet Dog
Selecting a pet dog is an important decision that requires serious consideration as it often means the difference between a happy and lasting relationship with your pet or a tense and frustrating experience.
There are many factors to consider when selecting a pet dog:
- Your Reasons For Wanting A Pet Dog
- Male or Female
- Suitability for Apartment Living
- Short or Long Coat
- Pedigree or Cross-breed
- Match the breed with your needs
- Puppy or Adult Dogs
- Reputation and Condition of the Kennel
- Pedigree, temperament and health of the parents
- Temperament of the dog
Do you want a dog solely as a companion dog or do you require your dog to perform certain tasks like retrieving or herding? Is it because your children are begging you for a pet? Whatever your reasons, it is always important to clarify within yourself what is it exactly you want from having a pet and why you want a dog as a pet. Never choose a pet solely on a whim as they wil definitely require a lot of your time and care. If you are unable to accept the responsibilities of dog ownership as yet, please do not buy or adopt a dog until you are able to do so.
Male dogs are usually bigger and stronger than female dogs but more prone to aggressive and dominant behaviour. Unneutered male dogs are also more likely to stray.
If you stay in an apartment or if your house is located in a crowded city area, do note that some medium-sized dog breeds may not be suitable for such environments. Click on Breeds to learn more about the unique characteristics of the breed of dog you are interested in having and whether he is suitable for apartment living.
Long coated dogs have much more stringent grooming requirements than short coated dogs. Daily brushing and regular trimming are needed for long coated dogs in order to prevent hair knots and skin problems. Some long-haired breeds will require professional grooming (e.g. stripping) a few times a year as well.
Pedigreed dogs will cost much more than cross-bred dogs but you can be certain of the basic characteristics of the breed and the possible health issues that may arise. Cross-breeds are easy to maintain and make wonderful pets but there is no way of knowing if there are any hereditary health problems or temperament issues with a cross-bred dog.
Do you have small children in the house? Is the area you live in hot and humid or cold and dry? Do you have other pets? Are you able to commit the necessary time to exercise and groom your dog? Some breeds require plenty of grooming and exercise. These are some of the factors that should be considered when selecting a suitable dog.
Puppies are adorable, lively and fun to be with but they will require much more care than adult dogs. You can expect a few damaged cushions or furniture from your active little pup. Adult dogs are more calm and stable however be sure to check with the previous owner to see if there are any underlying behavioural problems. Adult dogs learn at a slower pace thus training adult dogs will require more patience and time than training puppies.
The reputation and condition of the kennel or breeder is also very important. If the kennel where the dog is kept is well maintained and in good condition, it indicates that the dogs are well cared for. If the kennel is poorly maintained and overcrowded, the dogs may have been subjected to poor treatment which may have adversely affected their health. Moreover if the mother dog was unhealthy and poorly treated, her pups may not be healthy as well. If possible, check with families who have bought pups from the breeder before.
For puppies and to a lesser extent adult dogs, it is important to examine the pedigree, temperament and health of the parents as it will reveal critical information on the temperament and possible health problems of the puppy. If the parents are bad-tempered and aggressive, it is possible that the pup may have inherited these characteristics as well.
Choose a dog with a personality that suits your lifestyle and personality. If you prefer a relaxed and quiet companion, you would not want to choose a hyperactive and vocal pup that will require plenty of exercise to work off all that pent up energy. To have an idea of the temperament of the dog, observe the following:
- Check how the dog reacts with the other dogs in the kennel - is the dog the dominant one or the shy one that hides in a corner? Is he aggressive? Your best option is to choose the even-tempered dog that is curious and friendly towards you.
- Hold the dog and see how he reacts. If he struggles violently, he may have a stubborn streak in his character. If he shivers with fright, he may be timid and easily stressed. If he is reasonably calm, it indicates that he is stable and could be more easily trained.
- Clap your hands to see how he reacts. If he is cowered by loud noises, it again indicates a timid personality. If he is startled but starts to investigate, it is indicative of a confident nature.
- Take him away from the rest of the dogs and see if there are any changes in his reactions.
- Walk away and see how he reacts. If he ignores you, it may indicate an independent nature that may make him difficult to train. If he follows you, it shows that he has a trusting personality.