You have thought well and decided to have a dog. This is an exciting time! You are about to add a new member to your family. But you need to slow down a bit, do your homework, and make sure this new addition to your family fits in as well as possible.
Carefully consider the breed of your new dog.
It is essential that you give a lot of thought to which breed of dog is right for you and your family. This seems like a no-brainer, but too many people fall in love with a puppy and don’t stop to consider what that little lump of soft fur will become in just a few months. Consider this example from my own experience.
While living in a high-rise apartment building a few years ago, my ninth-floor neighbor came home with a Border Collie puppy. Border collies are born to run. They don’t want to run a bit. They want to run all the time, every day. But my neighbor, who worked full time and had a school-age daughter, brought this very cute puppy to a two-bedroom apartment downtown. The result was not good for the dog or the family involved.
Left alone for hours and desperate to use up some of his almost limitless energy, the dog chewed up everything in the place and whimpered endlessly. The family always yelled at him, which made everyone sad, including me and especially the dog.
The family began to dislike their pet and the poor dog became surprisingly neurotic. So much so that this once super friendly dog started biting people in elevators. In the end I was able to find him a new home on a farm and little by little he regained his sanity. No dog or family should go through this kind of trauma, so be sure to think carefully about the best breed for your circumstances and lifestyle.
choose a race
The more you know about the breed of dog you are considering, the better your choice will be. A good place to start your search is the American Kennel Club. They have extensive information on the size and temperament of most familiar breeds and an extensive breeder reference area. Here is a brief summary of some AKC groups.
sporting dogs
Many of the most popular dogs you see these days are from the sporting group. The group includes retrievers and some spaniels, as well as the Weimarner and the Irish Setter. The most popular of the sporting group are the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever. Both are relatively easy to train and are good with children. All sporting dogs need plenty of exercise every day.
group of working dogs
Some familiar members of the working dog group include the Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky, Akita, Bullmastiff, and Giant Schnauzer. These dogs must have an experienced owner who can firmly establish leadership. Many of the dogs in the working group have a thick undercoat and shed heavily.
The Toy Dog Group
Toy dogs are very popular nowadays as many celebrities are seen carrying around their adorable pooches. But don’t let the size fool you. These cute little dogs often have big personalities. Dogs in this group include the Pug, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, and Maltese. These small dogs still require training and a fair amount of exercise, but may be a better choice for apartment dwellers and those with older children.
herding dogs
These dogs include the Belgian Sheepdog, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd, and Shetland Sheepdog. The popular Border Collie is also in this group. These dogs are highly intelligent and require a lot of physical and mental exercise. If you want to spend a lot of active time with a dog, you can choose a herder.
Consider getting an older dog
The puppies are terribly cute. They also like to chew on anything their little teeth can move, they cry loudly and often, and they don’t know when or where to empty their bowels and bladder. In short, puppies are fun, but they require a lot of patience. So consider getting an older dog.
Many breeders will have older dogs available, so once you’ve decided on a breed, start visiting them. If a breeder doesn’t have adult dogs available, she may be able to recommend a breeder who does.
Your local SPCA or animal shelter may also have purebred dogs available. Many people do not take the responsibility of having a dog seriously and the result is terrible overcrowding in shelters and too many euthanized dogs.
Go to your local shelter and talk to the staff about the dogs they have available. You will find that they are very happy to talk about adopting older dogs. Don’t get obsessed with having a purebred dog. There is nothing wrong with mixed breed dogs and very often they are less susceptible to genetic medical problems like hip dysplasia.
Another benefit of adopting an adult mixed breed dog from a shelter means that everyone who sees you with your dog will immediately admire and envy you. The reason for this is that your choice of dog shows that you are a person with good emotional balance, high intelligence, and keen insight.
No matter which dog you choose, remember to always be kind and patient with your new friend. Your friend will reward you with a lifetime of loyalty and devotion.