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Choosing a Dog or Puppy Wisely
What breed? Pure
bred or mixed? Dog or Puppy?
.jpg) Choosing
a dog wisely means making sure you have learned
as much as you can about what to expect before
you bring a dog home.
It is the best thing you can do to assure that
the dog you choose will become a successful
member of your family.
Whether you choose a purebred or a mixed-breed
dog, an adult dog or a puppy, it is extremely important to do some
research into what is the typical behavior of
the breeds you are considering. (If you are
considering a mixed-breed dog, research all the
breeds you think are in his background.- see
"Choosing a Dog From a Shelter")
If you are going to be happy with your choice,
you need to understand what to expect so that
you are not surprised by your dog’s behavior.
Here are some important considerations about
potential dog behavior that will help you choose
a dog wisely for you and your dog.
What was your dog (or the puppy you want)
bred to do?.jpg)
Breeding
is an important factor when choosing a dog.
Yes, how a dog is raised and what training a dog
is given can have a large effect, but that is laid on
the foundation of breeding.
Not only breed expectations but who are her
parents and grandparents and what temperament do
they
exhibit? If you are choosing a dog who is a
mixed breed you need to consider whatever
combination of breeds that can be determined,
check with a veterinarian for help.
Whether you are choosing a purebred or a mixed
bred dog, you need to consider what was the dog
bred to do?
Was she bred to herd cows, or chase fox, or sit
on a pillow looking beautiful? Knowing this will give
you a clear picture of what type of behavior and
temperament you can realistically expect before
choosing a dog that is all wrong for your
family.
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If you choose a dog that was bred to work, a
Border Collie for example, but you are gone most
of the day and have no desire to spend your
evenings training your dog to run an obstacle
course, you are asking for problems. You will
have a dog that will get into the garbage, chew
your shoes and generally cause problems because the Border Collie, like most working dogs are
bred for intelligence and high energy (they love
to work!) and a desire to be near their pack
(people, dogs or sheep).
But if you choose a dog like the Beagle, most won’t like being alone all day, but will
gladly spend the evening snuggled on the couch
with you after dinner and a walk (she might not
even mind if you skipped a walk once in awhile.)
But you also need to know that a Beagle has
three different types of barks and loves to use
all three. I have lived with a beagle and
been close to another and they bark when
simulated -- a squirrel for example -- but
are generally great "hang-out" dogs.
Choose
a dog that fits into your lifestyle and family,
don’t make the mistake of expecting a dog to
change, it won’t happen. And when annoying
behavior continues
you will either be frustrated by behavior or
your dog and shut him off in the backyard, a dog
box or he will end up at the shelter waiting for
a new family if he is very lucky.
Training a dog with the help of a good trainer
can sometimes curb some behavior, but not always
and it will take commitment on your part.
It certainly will not change your dog's basic
instincts and personality.
Need for Exercise
One of the most important temperament
markers you can research when choosing a dog is_small.jpg)
what exercise or energy level does a breed
have. Of course a obvious difference is the
one listed above, but other things to look into
are how much room do you have for a dog to get
their exercise needs met?
Some small dogs may do just fine having a indoor
space to work out in without doing damage to
furniture with a few toys and a human to follow
around, a Maltese for example, but this
situation could be a disaster for a Jack Russell
Terrier.
Will the breed you are considering self-exercise
given the space and opportunity (large yard,
second dog to play with, trips to the dog
park?) Some dogs have to be convinced to get
enough exercise to keep them healthy, some Bull
Mastiffs for example.
Jogging is very hard on dogs with flat faces,
like pugs and bulldogs, which are prone to
respiratory problems.
The best advice I can give you for choosing a
dog is to really know the energy/exercise needs
of your potential breed choice:
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Check out the breed of dog you are
considering by observing them at a dog park;
-
be sure to visit and speak to breeders,
check out their webpage if they have one;
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foster or dog-sit
the real deal before you bring one home as part
of your family (SPCA or other dog rescues can
help here; and
-
remember a
puppy will go through a hard-to-live-with
stage between 6 - 12 months or longer (I am
currently living with a 11 month old Great
Dane and I am counting the minutes until she
is an adult).
Size and Strength
The strength and size of a dog is
important when choosing a dog because you will
have to be able to handle your dog in all
situations. Even with a well trained dog,
you may have situations where your strength will
be needed to contain your dog.
Most dogs are about three times stronger than a
person of the same weight. So, what this means
is that a 30lb
dog is about as strong as a 120lb person. This
isn’t always true, some dogs are even stronger
than three times; some terriers for
example.
Strength isn’t the only thing that comes into
manageability.
Many large dogs have a mild and docile
temperament. Some times training will make a
difference. Just as in researching the amount
of exercise a dog will need, you should consider
the size, strength and manageability when
choosing a dog.
Larger Dogs
.jpg) Large breeds tend to mature slower, and have
a longer adolescent period. This plus their
large size creates larger problems than with
smaller dogs. The longer adolescence can mean a
longer period of separation anxiety, during
which they can do more damage to a home.
Their larger size can cause more damage to
things they choose to chew (your whole shoe not
just the laces,) or knock down (your best lamp,)
or get onto and tear holes the upholstery of
your best sofa.
If they jump up on someone they could knock them
down, and if they bite or get in fights with
other dogs the damage can be more serious.
In general with a large dog you should expect to
put in more training time both for the dog and
to develop your own technical dog-handling
skills before taking them in public.
They can be difficult to groom because they have
more body to groom and so it takes longer and
they must be still longer. Can you begin to see
a pattern here?
If you really have your heart set on a large
dog, just make sure you fully understand what
you are committing yourself to.
Many large dogs, like Great Danes, do just fine
in small spaces; the key is lots of exercise.
Can They Be Trained?
The
work that a dog was bred for will have a direct
effect on how trainable and
what type of training will be successful.
Many dogs are highly trainable; they are smart
and quick to understand a human’s directions
even when they are far away. These dogs do
really well in obstacle training or herding and
hunting.
But they are
the wrong choice if you don’t plan to do this
high level training.
They are bred to be
working, to be busy and to be near people taking
almost constant direction (sheep herding for
example.) If they aren’t provided with this
activity they will find it. These dogs are the
ones you hear about being given to a shelter
because they dig, or bark or try to herd the
family’s children, the family didn’t do the
necessary research when choosing a dog.
Training your dog with a "Do what I say, or I'll
hurt you" approach is harmful to your dog;
training by intimidation isn’t as successful as
praise training.
Potty Training or House Training... whatever you
choose to call it
5555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555666666666666666666666666This is an area that is really
misunderstood and can be the “make-or-break”
issue for successful dog and human relationship,
so make sure you take this into consideration
when choosing a dog. Many dogs are easy to
potty train, in a matter of days they are
trained as if they always have been potty train
and as their bodies mature they would rather die
than potty in the house.
On the other hand many tiny breeds, particularly
males (intact for breeding even more)
can be extremely difficult to potty train. If
this is important to you and/or you aren’t
prepared to continually work at potty training
for the life of your dog, you should consider
whether a tiny breed is right for you.
Here as with other area of consideration, talk
to friends, breeders, do your research to learn
about what kind of training is necessary for the
breed type you are considering and then decide
where your line of compromise is before choosing
a dog you will later come to regret.
Intricate skills are involved in any type of
training and this area needs to be combined with
your expectations for your life with your dog so
when choosing a dog you can make the best
decision.
 One
practical way to do this is to make a list of
your expectations and then use this as you begin
looking at the different breeds as you consider
choosing your dog.
Children, noisy and loving
It would be unusual if you have a dog
that doesn’t come in contact with children at
one time or another. It is always better to
have a dog who can be trusted around people
regardless of their age or size, but that isn’t
always realistic. What that means is you as a
responsible pet owner needs to assess the risk
potential in your situation and choose wisely.
If you don’t come in contact with children very
often, your choices about dog breeds is
different than if you are a family with children
or grandchildren. There are breeds who are
wonderful with children and who aren’t bothered
by the all that comes with them.
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Children tend to be noisy and make noise
suddenly and have no sense of physical
boundaries. They will hug a dog’s face, pull
ears, fall on top of a dog that is asleep, crawl
into a small space where a dog is sleeping,
dress a dog in doll clothes, most of the time
not meaning to hurt the dog. You see where I am
going with this.
A dog needs to
be patient and tolerant to be around children.
Many dog breeds fit that bill. Many do not,
they are just too sensitive or too physically
fragile to handle much contact with children,
supervised or not and you need to do your
research to make sure you do not bring a dog who
isn’t considered a good fit with children into
your family.
All dogs need to be trained to have manners and
be as tolerant as possible around humans, other
dogs and animals etc. If only to give you time
to get the children, dog etc. under control or
your dog out of the situation. And all small
children should be supervised with dogs and all
children should be taught how to behave around
dogs but once again this area is an important
consideration you need to have on your list when
choosing a dog.
The best city dogs are ones who get along well
with new people and other dogs.
Protection and Territorial Guarding
First, I think we need to define what I
am talking about because the confusion about the
behaviors that go along with this has been the
downfall of many family pets. Here is how I
define these terms:
Protection and territorial guarding is the
instinct to protect oneself and one’s pack or
family, to guard a home territory, warning away
potential danger, and to protect from actual
danger if necessary.
Notice, I said “the instinct.”
.jpg) A dog at the backyard fence who barks at
anything that approaches that fence is guarding
his territory. He might also put himself
between a female dog or children playing in the
yard, driving them away from the fence and the
perceived danger. This can be misinterpreted as
uncalled for aggression.
It isn’t uncommon for humans to misinterpret the
behavior of a dog that is doing just what he is
program to do. What most people are looking for
is a moderate amount of this protection and
territorial guarding instinct, but don’t
understand it from a dog’s point-of-view.
Training can enhance or moderate this instinct
but different breeds have more or less of this
instinct and it is important for you to do your
homework on this aspect of a breed when choosing
a dog.
Forty-two percent of dogs sleep in the same bed
as their humans, according to the latest
research.
Other Dogs
If you live in an urban area and want to
socialize either at the dog-park or at the local
coffee hangout, you need to look for a dog that
can be trusted to be extremely tolerant around
dogs that are not a part of her pack. If you
have other dogs or plan on getting other dogs
you then also need a dog who can tolerate and
accept other dogs as part of her pack. These
are not always the same thing.
Dogs outside the pack
.jpg) Unfortunately some dogs have been bred (dog
fighting) to have aggression towards other dogs
and these breeds need special handling whenever
they come into contact with other dogs. With
training you can teach a dog to remain under
control, providing you can keep other dog out
of the dog- aggressive dog’s face. Some
dogs have a reputation for aggressive behavior
but with the right care and training they are no
more aggressive than any other dog. But on-leash care will always need to taken to avoid a.jpg)
tragedy. Dog-parks are not a good place for
this type of dog, although outside of other dogs
they are gentle and calm. (I live with a
pit-bull mix and as you can see from the picture
with my two year old grandson, she is well
trained and gentle as a lamb.)
Also, even a dog that has tolerated dogs without
problems may lose this ability after being
attack a few times, even in the dog park.
Sometimes all it takes is one attack. When this
happens all you can do is keep them on leash
away from other dogs.
Inside the pack
Most dogs once the pack order is worked out can
get along with other dogs. But the dogs
mentioned above may have trouble doing just
that. Particularly if the dogs are of the same
sex working out the pack order may be
impossible. They may do just fine with opposite
sex pack members but extreme care needs to be
taken when introducing these dogs.
You need to really do your research here,
be clear what you see your life with this pet
will be. Because if you decide on a
breed that tends to be dog aggressive and then
find you really want to take her into public you
may both be miserable.
Coat and Grooming
I bet you never really thought about a
dog’s coat beyond the amount of grooming it
might take and how beautiful it is on the dog.
Well, that is important but not all there is to
it. A dog’s coat can make surprising
differences in behavior.
There are some things that many people overlook,
to start out if you get your dog from a
reputable breeder who has taken good care of the
puppies they may already had some experience
with grooming. With this grooming comes some
training, holding still, learning that brushing
feels good, being handled and much more. Then
if you find a good groomer they will continue
training your dog during these regular grooming
sessions.
All dogs shed, including the ones with short
hair.
Secondly, dogs who have coats that
require regular grooming and don’t get it,
can develop behavioral problems.
You shouldn’t be surprised that matted and
tangled fur hurts! A tangle turns into a mat,
that pulls tighter and tighter, pulling the skin
that eventually causes sores. The worst case
scenario is that the sores then get infected and
harbor maggots.
Another grooming issue that comes up for dogs
whether they have long or short coats is fleas
and other bug bites. Flea bites are miserable,
they itch and then the constant scratching with
nails causes sores etc., etc.
In
all of these situations you get a dog who may
not want to be petted, gets defensive and even
aggressive when touched. A dog that needs to be
groomed, needs that grooming to happen at
regular intervals, and that takes time or
money. Many people don’t take this into
consideration when choosing a dog, leading to
behavioral problems.
You also need to figure in the cost of grooming,
which can get expensive. Many dogs like the
Maltese (pictured) and other breeds with fine,
long fur are difficult to groom at home and take
visits to the groomer as much as weekly
depending on your dog and your standards
(speaking from experience - I found trying to
home groom my beloved Maltese extremely
difficult.)
There's no such thing as a non-allergenic dog.
What makes people allergic to dogs is not fur,
but dander, or skin cells. In short, the
connection between shedding and allergies is a
loose one at best. Although some people
find dogs with “hair” vs. fur less bothersome.
Finally the length and thickness of a dogs coat
(some dogs have a double coat) also needs to be
taken into account depending on the weather. A
long-coated dog (particularly a black one) may
overheat in the summer easily, so long hot walks
may be out, and laying close to you may just be
too much no matter what the weather. A
short-coated dog will need to learn to wear
sweaters and coats in the cold weather and many
are ideal if you want a bed warmer at night.
Make sure you add these grooming issues to your
list to consider when choosing a dog as they can
have an effect on a dogs behavior.
Do
Your Research, Make a List, Check It Twice
Trying to pound a round peg into a square
hole as they say is frustrating and can be heart
breaking. Do your research starting with
what your expectations about your life with a
dog, really consider your lifestyle and don’t’
forget to make a list of what you don’t want.
It isn’t an easy task, but well worth your time,
when you figure that you probably will have this
pet for as many as 15 or 18 years. It used to
be that you chose a dog assuming it’s behavior
was based on how it was raised. We now know
that genetics play a large part in your dog’s
behavior and so breed should have a major
influence on choosing a dog, at least choosing
the right dog for your family.
Focus on finding the right breed, the right
breeder - and with the help of the breeder, the
right dog,
or even better rescue a dog from a shelter, or
rescue society
Click Here
for this helpful
questionnaire
"Are You Really Ready to Get a Dog?" to help you
decide if you are as ready to get a dog as you
think you are.
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