Whats The Best Dog For Me?

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

So, your wanting a dog? Wondering what the best dog for you would be? The best type or breed of dog is one that suits your lifestyle and family. Place a Border Collie in a small apartment where he or she is left alone for the majority of the day can spell trouble. Put this very same dog on a farm with plenty of room, an owner who is around the majority of the time and plenty to do and this same dog will make for a wonderful companion! There is no truly right answer, regardless of what anyone tells you but, there are things you can do to help find the best dog for you.

In all honesty, it is the owner that helps create the type of dog no matter what the breed and by choosing the best type and breed for your home is the first step in making the dog / owner relationship work. The next step in the process is how well you train and socialize your dog. A poorly trained and socialized dog does not make a good companion.

There are five things that many dog owners make a mistake on when choosing their dog, yes there are more but let's stick to the five basic things that happen and think them through.

1. Failure to research the breed. There is nothing worse than hearing from someone that they purchased a dog because they loved the dog's looks but now that Fido is older they just can't handle him. Thinking about what that cute puppy will become and the traits of it's breed sure would have helped! I know of someone who recently purchased a Saint Bernard, their family fell in love with the breed while watching the movie "Beethoven" and just had to have one! Now this darling pup is 6 months old and the family complains how the dog takes up too much space in their small two bedroom bungalow. This was not a home for a Saint. A neighbor spoke with me briefly about getting a Bulldog, said that after being around my dogs he felt the Bulldog would make an excellent pet for his family and how great it would be to take the dog with them to hike in the summer and snowmobile in the winter. What an awesome companion a Bulldog would make and how great the Bulldog in one of the Adam Sandler movies was! Bulldogs aren't known for their stamina and easily overheat, this isn't the ideal home for a Bulldog and he or she would be lucky to live through their first year with this active family. Neither case was someone who was thinking logically or considering the type of dog in question. Getting a dog based on what you see on TV or in the movies is irresponsible. What makes a breed excel in televison or movies is often an accident waiting to happen in your own home.

What about size? Can you physically handle the dog you want? If your five foot tall and one hundred pounds soaking wet, how easy is it going to be for you to lift a one hundred plus pound dog into a bathtub for a bath or better yet, what if the dog becomes ill and you have to physically lift the dog into your vehicle for that emergency trip to the vet?


2. Failure to get the dog from the proper place. Just because you know all you can about a breed does not mean you've done all of your homework. A dog should be adopted from three places only: a reputable breeder, a shelter or good rescue group. Back yard breeders and pet stores are two of the very worst places to obtain a dog. A responsible / ethical breeder has no need for a third party, such as a newspaper ad to advertise their puppies and the classified section of your local paper is filled with back yard breeders. A responsible / ethical breeder places their pups by word of mouth and trust me, most have a waiting list!

When looking for your companion make sure to ask the proper questions. What health tests have they done? A reputable / ethical breeder health tests their dogs and will gladly tell you about it as well as show proof. What type of warranty does the breeder offer? A good breeder will offer a warranty. There are many other questions that should be asked and a good breeder will answer them all. They won't be offended and will expect you, the buyer to scrutinize them just as they will you.

3. Failure to recognize responsibilities as an owner. The very best home for a dog is one where they aren't alone the majority of the time. In todays society many people have to work however, making sure that you have plenty of time before and after work to spend with your dog is important. There are things you can do to insure your dog is getting the attention he or she needs while at work. Hire a dog walker to walk your dog once or twice a day, dog and puppy camps are available during work days and not only insure your dog won't be alone but are also an excellent tool for socialization. Dogs don't start off wonderful, they need an environment that allows them to be that way and it's your responsibility to make sure that happens!

Dogs are no different than children. You certainly wouldn't leave a two year old child home alone without supervision so why would you leave the dog? The less time spent with your dog, the more chance of unwanted behavioral issues and the less likely you'll have that perfect four legged family member. Dogs require a lifetime commitment, living anywhere between 8-15+ years and with this in mind, are you prepared to live with your dog and his or her behavior for that long? Much of how well or how poorly your dog fits into your family depends on you. A dog is almost as expensive as raising a child when it comes to veterinary expenses. Are you financially able to care for your dog? Medical issues can and will arise and it isn't uncommon when that accident or emergency comes up to have a $500.00 plus vet bill.

4. Failure to socialize / train your dog. I can't stress enough how very important it is to begin training and socializing your dog from the very first day you bring him or her into your home! Even young puppies can benefit from learning simple commands such as sit or lay down. Your not only beginning to teach your dog what it should know later in life but your also beginning to weave a bond between puppy and owner. Try to introduce your puppy to at least one new thing a day, whether it be someone wearing a hat or the sound of thunder on a CD. Introducing your puppy or dog to things that it may encounter both in and away from your home will help your canine friend to be comfortable no matter where he or she is.

5. Failure to be consistent in training. An owner who's family isn't consistant with the house rules will confuse the dog. If you forbid your dog from being on your furniture but your teenage son allows Fido to join him on the couch while watching television your dog becomes confused. Your sending out mixed messages and this can lead to your dog possibly acting out, stress and anxiety. If you were told at work by one supervisor that it was ok to surf the net from your desk during moments of down time but another supervisor fired you for it wouldn't you be confused?

Constantly changing the rules in your home or during training is not helping your dog to become the best companion he or she can be. For instance, teaching your dog that it's ok to potty on papers or pads inside your apartment is ok because you live on the fifth floor and it's just easier for you than going downstairs, and then later moving into a house and yelling at the dog for going on your favorite magazine you left on the floor because the dog should have known to ask to go outside is not acceptable. Your sending mixed messages! What was ok before is not acceptable now? Be consistant and think before you train.

Young puppies should not be put into formal training classes or out in public until their third set of shots but by starting them off at home with simple training such as sit and lay down you'll have a jump start on the other puppies once that formal training starts. No dog is ever too old to learn and from the first day in your home the dog, no matter what age should begin his or her training. There is so much more to getting a dog than how cute they are or how wonderful it would be to have a dog at home. Please think before bringing Fido home, there are already too many unwanted dogs in shelters and rescues and by making sure your prepared you can be assured that your new companion won't be one of them.

[mrsgrubby]

Crossfire, this needs to be a "sticky" so it doesn't get lost in all the other posts, it is great!!!

[calgal]

These are all so true and if you look closely at the dogs and owners you will find a lot of mis-matched unions. I was watching a training session at PetSmart the other day and there was a prime example. This VERY elderly couple had a JRT puppy and I heard them tell another person that they were having a very difficult time with him since he was so active. I don't know if or why they chose this breed, but it sure isn't for old folks.

[PawNclaws]

Crossfire, this needs to be a "sticky" so it doesn't get lost in all the other posts, it is great!!!

I second that. This is a great read for thoughs looking for a new companion but dont know which breed would be right for them. This'll help them sort thru the breeds and analize their living, health, and activity to find the proper breed that best suits them. I know many go for looks and popularity with out analizing their living, health, and activity situations(same for the breeds activity/size/health/etc)- ends up to be one big mess and usually ends up taking its toll on the dog more so(which is very sad to see). Great post....

[britishbandit]

EXCELLENT POST!!
So ture. Getting a dog isn't just a matter of finding one you think is cute, or just looks nice. To give you and your dog the best quality of life, you have to do extensive research to find your "perfect match". It is something a many people don't think about, I agree.....sticky this post!

[D.Schäferhund]

Make it a sticky!!!!

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Thanks all Ok, we'll make it a sticky

[Devin_king]

Hey people