Choosing a Dog

Before you take the big leap into canine companionship, consider all the facts. Doing so will insure that you and your new dog will have a wonderful, long-term, and memorable, relationship. There is nothing like a dog to come home to or to share good times. If you enjoy the outdoors dogs enhance that enjoyment. Should you participate in canine sports or just like the idea of your children growing up learning the responsibility and love associated with pet ownership, a dog will fill in many gaps. Here is a list of considerations; questions you should ask yourself prior to getting a dog.

1. Do I have time for a dog? Dogs are not easily put aside like a pet Gerbil. They require a lot of time. From feeding and cleaning to training and medical care, dogs are much like children who never grow up and move away. They are totally dependent on you for every facet of their lives.

2. Do I have the financial resources to care for a dog? Unless you intend to own a large energetic breed, purchasing the dog food will be the least of your expenses. Generally, the veterinarian bills can be expensive and are required yearly. Should your dog become ill or injured this adds to the expense. As your dog ages he will require even more veterinary care for age-related health issues. Then there's the expense of beds, toys, treats and training. (Though initially training is a large expense it is likely to save you more in the future as your dog will tend to be less destructive in many ways. Think of it as sending your child to school. Without an education your child would not be able to function normally.) Should you have a job which requires long hours away from home you may have the expense of a dog walker or doggie daycare to contend with as well. When you wish to travel there are the costs of boarding your dog or paying for a pet sitter. In general, while you must consider the original cost of obtaining the dog, it is the lifetime of dog care that will cost far more.

3. Is my family a safe place for a dog? Dogs are often obtained by family members without thought to how other family members might handle having a dog in the household. What if someone has allergies to dog dander? What if there are very young children such as toddlers or infants? What about the fact that children can often be careless about leaving doors open or toys on the floor that might be dangerous to the dog? Are there toxic chemicals stored in an area where the dog can easily access them? These are just a few things to consider as you do not wish to risk the life of your new pet nor the well-being of your other family members.

4. What type of dog is right for my household? You need to do a thorough consideration of how active you and your family are as well as your overall lifestyle. Answering the following questions will help you choose the right breed type:

a. Where do you live? If in the city a low energy breed or small dog would be easiest. If in a suburban area or in the country an active and/or larger breed would be great.

b. Do you like being outdoors? If not, choose a low energy, small breed. If so, you would enjoy a higher energy or larger breed dog.

c. Do you have children under 8 years of age? If so, you want a low energy, sedate breed.

d. Do you have active, older children? If so, a higher energy breed will do.

e. Do you live alone and spend a lot of time at work? You should have a low energy breed that is not prone to separation anxiety.

f. Do you love spending time outdoors and do so at every opportunity? A high energy breed or larger dog would be lots of fun, but not if you spend many hours at work during the week without the chance to properly exercise your dog.

g. Do you love participating in canine sports? Do your research by attending these shows, speaking to breeders and temperament testing puppies to find the ideal dog for your chosen sport. For example, the herding breeds tend to perform the best in Agility, while many sporting breeds are best at Dock Diving and Hunting Tests.

5. Learn how to temperament test. Regardless of which dog breed or mix you choose, do not bring a dog home because of his big brown eyes. Perform a series of tests to insure he will fit into your life. The last thing you want to do is stress out a dog by bringing him home, discovering he won't work well in your environment and then returning him to his breeder or foster home.

Here's a few examples of a temperament test:

a. Clap your hands and move backwards. If the dog comes towards you that's a great response.

b. Take hold of the dog's paws. If he allows you to hold his paws that's a good response.

c. Lift the dog slightly. If he allows this that's a good response.

d. Touch the dog's ears and tail. If he allows this, he's on his way.

e. Try turning the dog over onto his back. If he allows this, great. He's likely to be wonderful with very young children, too.

And as a general observation, if you are checking out a litter of pups or a group of dogs at a shelter, try not to take home to one that comes at you the strongest as this is likely to be a handful at home as well. You will need an assertive personality to deal with an assertive dog. A family dog should be open to new people, places and experiences, allow handling and accept direction easily.

Taking all of these factors into consideration will put you many steps closer to the relationship you've dreamed of and experience you'll never forget.