Choosing Your Canine Companion
Whether you chose to purchase a puppy or give a homeless pet a chance at a good life here are some tips on selecting the perfect pooch for you.
Prior To Going To Get Your Pet :
- First and foremost, consider your lifestyle or what your future lifestyle may be. How much time do you have available to dedicate to a new pet? If you can't even find time to sit down to eat a meal, chances are you will be hard pressed to find time for your new pet.
- The breed of dog or its mix is very important to consider. Some breeds require more experienced people to live with. Don't pick a dog because they are the latest trend. Your previous experience as a dog owner must be considered as well.
- Are you single? Do you have children? Are you planning on having children"? When children are in the home, finding a dog with a solid temperament is imperative. A dog that is just tolerant of children is not enough. The dog must love children. A dog that is a little submissive (not fearful) and tends to choose children as their companions, are generally better for families with kids. Adult only homes have a little more flexibility in the choice of dog or puppy they want.
- How much space does your home have? Is it a small apartment or a large house with a yard? Whether you chose a small or large dog, it is important to select a dog whose temperament is suited to that environment.
- Dog hair is another consideration. If you are sensitive to dog hair you might want to select a dog that doesn't shed very much or has a reputation as being hypoallergenic.
- Think about the activities you will be involved in with your dog. Are you looking for a running companion or a sofa surfer? Do you want to train your dog for competition or working or just looking for a dog to lie by your feet at the end of a day; every breed and mix of dog has different activity requirements. For your relationship to be successful with your pet, you must choose a dog that best meets your lifestyle.
- Look at all the available puppies and dogs in the shelter, or puppies in a litter.
- Select a few out of the whole group that peak your interest.
- Try to choose dogs that seem genuinely interested in people.
- Avoid dogs that growl at you or seem unfriendly. It is much harder to integrate a dog like this into an average pet home.
- Narrow your choices down to 3 or 4.
- Ask the caretakers to let you meet each dog one on one.
- Are you comfortable handling the dog?
- How do the caretakers feel about the dog?
- If you have kids, have trained shelter personnel see if the dog has issues with food aggression or aggression with special items. A dog that gets aggressive with stuff is not a good choice for families with children or a novice dog owner.
- Don't forget to consider other pets in the home. If possible, have the resident dog meet the dog you're the most interested in.
- Get registered for a training class right away. Dogs that have been trained have a much higher success rate in staying with their families. Find out more about training by staying tuned, I will be back to discuss classes and selecting a good trainer later in the program.
