Choosing a Dog

Congratulations on the decision to add a dog to your family! Your new dog will be a part of your family for the next ten to twenty years so choosing a dog that is right for your family is very important.

First you will need to decide what you want in a dog.

Do you want a small, medium, or large dog? There are benefits to any size dog. Many people prefer small breeds because they think they do not have room for a larger dog. Be careful, as many small breed terrier types are very active and need more room to exercise and run than a lazy Mastiff would. When choosing a dog, it is wise to pick a dog based on its' personality, energy level, and maintenance level, rather than picking a dog for its' looks. You will want to be able to live with this dog and its' personality for many years to come!

Before choosing a dog, it is a good idea to research the particular breed to find out if you might be compatible with that type of dog. Many people loved Eddie, the Jack Russell Terrier on Frasier. He was smart, well behaved, and well trained. What Eddie did not show you about Jack Russell Terriers is that they are very high energy and hyper. They will literally bounce off the walls and are extremely smart and stubborn. They are not always the best choice for small children, and many are not good with small animals (cats, ferrets) because they were bred to hunt small critters. If you are not prepared to handle this breed, they will walk all over you. Many Jack Russell Terriers have ended up in rescue because people thought they wanted the cute small dog they saw on TV.

This is just one great example why it pays to do your research beforehand when choosing a dog. Each breed has its' wonderful qualities and its' quirks. Many breeds are suited for certain types of people and by doing your research, you will at least know what you are getting yourself into.

How much grooming would you like to do? Can you deal with shedding? Long haired breeds need constant combing and brushing. Breeds like Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Bichon Frise, Schnauzers, and Shih Tzus need frequent grooming. They either need daily brushing or to be clipped regularly to prevent their hair from matting.

Short hair breeds are easy to groom and keep clean but sometimes can be more frequent shedders. Frequent combing can help prevent your dog from shedding all over your home. In my opinion, dog hair is just part of having a dog! You may have to take a little more time to vacuum or to brush your pet, but the love they give you makes up for it ten fold!

Once you have figured out the answers to some of these questions, you should consider this very important aspect before choosing a dog.

After working in Animal Rescue, it is no secret that I am very Pro-Animal Rescue. So we will discuss animal adoption first.

There are many reasons to rescue a homeless dog. There are anywhere between 4-8 million homeless animals euthanized (killed) every year in the United States. There just aren't enough homes for them all and instead of letting them roam around trying to fend for themselves; animal shelters and pounds are forced to do the heart wrenching task of giving these animals a humane death. When choosing a dog, you will never find a shortage of homeless dogs that need a loving forever home!

Dogs that are in shelters are not bad dogs. There are so many reasons why pets end up in shelters. Sometimes their owners just do not want to take responsibility for them anymore. Sometimes their families are forced to move and cannot take their pet with them. Many families get a puppy on a whim, without thinking it through and realize that they weren't really ready for a dog. Many of them did not plan ahead when choosing a dog. Some dogs get lost and their families don't go looking for them, or do not know where to look. The list of reasons and excuses people use when they give up dogs are endless.

Sometimes the dog does have issues that its' family was not prepared to deal with. Just because a dog is at a shelter, does not mean it is damaged goods or that it couldn't fit in well with your family. Every dog deserves a happy life, and you can make a difference in that one dog's life just by choosing a dog that is in a shelter or rescue organization.

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To the world you are just one person, to the rescued dog you ARE the world.

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Adopting a dog is very rewarding and mixed breed dogs are wonderful companions. You don't always know what you are going to get temperament or behavior-wise but they can love and be as loyal as a purebred dog can.

Rescuing a dog is saving a life, and there is no better feeling than that!

As wonderful as rescuing a dog is, buying a purebred from a responsible breeder can have its advantages. Finding a good, reputable breeder is very important and if you do so, you will find that you will end up with a healthy, well bred dog. Buying from a breeder that does the necessary health tests will give you peace of mind. It is a relief knowing that your puppy comes from a line of dogs that are free of hip dysphasia or other hereditary or congenital defects. You will avoid possible heartbreak when buying a dog from someone who really cares about breeding the best, healthiest, and most sound dog possible.

You can get an idea of what kind of temperament you puppy may grow up to have when purchasing a pure bred dog. A responsible breeder is not going to continue breeding dogs that have bad temperaments or health issues.

When buying a purebred from a reputable breeder, you will not be surprised at the size of you dog when he is full grown. If you adopt a puppy from a shelter, they don't always know what breeds the parents were. Usually it's just the shelter worker's best guess! Sometimes the littler "Terrier Mix" puppies grow up to be large breed dogs and that can sometimes surprise the puppy's owners.

Before choosing a dog, you should stop and think about what exactly you want in a dog, and if you want to rescue or find a good breeder. You will be living with this dog for the next 10-20 years, so it's not a decision that can be made lightly! When you do find the dog that you think is right for your family, please make a commitment right then and there to give it the best life possible and allow it to become a cherished part of the family.,

There is a lot to think about when choosing a dog.