Chossing A Dog

Dogs are not just pets, they are investments. You feed them and they protect you; give them enough love and affection and they will respond to you with loyalty.

There are many considerations in choosing your canine. Below are some important guidelines:

Your Lifestyle

Unlike other pets, the history or breed of a canine manifests its personality, so be very specific in what dog type suits you best. Imagine a jogger accompanied by a short-legged, slow Chihuahua – how do they look? Is the jogger’s nature of activity compatible to the nature of a Chihuahua? Obviously, no. Of course, an extrovert owner must have an extrovert and hyperactive dog like the Retrievers, Herding dogs and Scent dogs. Homebodies, on the other hand, goes along with the small kinds like the said Chihuahua or a poodle.

When you adopt a dog, you have to make sure that your lifestyle suits with your dog’s lifestyle too, or else, both of you would not just click.

Dog Size

True enough that it is not advisable to bring a Great Dane or a Saint Bernard besides a Spaniel in your small apartment, nor is it practical to adopt a purebred, large dog for a middle class family (larger dogs result to larger expenses – more food, larger bed, and bigger medical expenses). The point here simply is “size does matters!” However, there are still exemptions to the rules. Most of the times, an owner’s ability to train his pet is what matters most, regardless of whether they may weigh almost the same.

For the inexperienced dog handlers, stick to the old rule – just be intelligent in choosing the right size of dog for you.

Male or Female?

Gender is not really an issue; many do not consider it at all. Usually, dogs of different sexes behave just the same. Well, if you want to reproduce many from your chosen breed of canine, you would probably purchase a female.

Purebred or Mixed-breed?

There really is nothing much on the canine breed. Purebred dogs may always be the preference of dog owners-to-be nowadays. Besides believing that purebreds are more specific breeds that would answer to whatever the purpose a man wants to achieve, they are majestic and more beautiful than the mixed-breed. Although it is true that purebred have a specific purpose, it is still the training that matters most. A Rottweiler would never see its said purpose without proper training - if mixed with a poodle (without being trained), it will act like a poodle too. Mixed-breed dogs, on the other hand, can fulfill the task of a hunting dog if well-trained for that purpose.

Exercise versus Space

Exercise is vital for a dog’s health as it is vital for human beings. In choosing your canine, you must be considerate enough of their activity in your home space. Obviously, larger dogs need larger exercise space like big gardens or backyards, and smaller dogs can go well in smaller houses. But then again, there are still little exemptions. Some large dogs like the Saint Bernard may sleep all day and may only require a few minutes of walk to exercise; while the smaller ones like a Terrier breed are the ones who need a mile run a day as an exercise.

Purpose

What is your purpose of getting a dog? This question must be reflected for you to understand how important it is to choose your dog carefully. Is it for guarding your home or your business? Is it for hunting? Or do you just want a companion to inspire you and your family? Whatever the purpose is, right selection is most essential.