Choosing the Right Dog!

A good relationship between you and your dog can be a rewarding experience. This positive relationship begins with choosing the right pet. You need to consider your home environment, life style and your family needs.

Often dogs are chosen with little thought or consideration resulting in disappointment and heartbreaking consequences. The key to a happy, fulfilling relationship between you and your pet is to make the right choice in the first place.

SPAYING

Before taking on the responsibility, make sure that everyone in the family is willing to help take care of the dog. Feeding, playing, exercise, training and grooming are essential to canine care. If after careful consideration you find that you will not be able to attend to all these tasks properly, perhaps a more low maintenance pet should be considered for now.

Other important determining factors:

o Family dog allergies
o Financial burden - feeding, training, grooming, spaying, veterinary care, leashes toys etc

The right dog for you

Learn as much as possible about the characteristics of the breed of dog you are interested in buying. Although each dog has it's own individual personality, breeds tend to have distinct appearances and behave in certain ways. A large fenced yard would be suitable for an active dog such as a retriever whereas an apartment may be suitable for a less active dog.

Coat length should also be taken into account. Long, thick-haired coats require a great deal of grooming. Some short-coat dogs require little grooming but tend to shed their hair all year round. Breeds such as poodles that don't shed need to be clipped regularly.

Think about the climate your dog will be living in. Dogs with thick coats will be extremely uncomfortable in hot humid temperatures. If you live in conditions with extreme climates, consider a dog whose coat type permits easy adaptation.

Then there is the gender of the dog that needs to be considered. In general males have more behaviour problems and are more aggressive than females. While both male and females make excellent companions, first-time owners or families with children might want to look at choosing a female. Males and females make equally good watchdogs.

Mixed breed dogs often make the best pets. Adopting a mix breed dog is one of the best ways of avoiding inherited diseases.

Playful family breeds: Border Collie, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Yorkshire Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog

Choosing the Right Dog!

Feel free to visit my blog for further discussions or comments on the above topic. http://dog-dilemmas.blogspot.com

SPAYING