Choosing a Dog or Puppy: How to Pick the Best Breed for You

 

As I type, my fluffy poodle/Shih Tzu mix snuggles in my lap, my partner’s Manchester and rat terriers are squabbling over a rope bone, and my Boston terrier curls in front of the heater, praying for spring weather. Each one of these dogs is completely different from the others, but each also fits our household in a unique way. Before I brought any of them home, I was confident that he or she would be an excellent fit with my family. Here is the process I recommend taking when choosing a dog breed.

 

1.      Make a list of the things you really want in a dog. Many people just think they want a companion, without getting specific. Do you want a couch-potato who will be happy to keep you company while you watch  movies? Or do you want a jogging companion? Do you want a playmate for the kids, or a more aloof dog who will let you sleep a little more soundly at night, knowing he or she is capable of handling a would-be intruder? You need to consider each of the following: desired energy level, friendliness with strangers, friendliness with other dogs, tolerance of other animals, compatibility with children, ease of training, level of independence, and “snuggle factor”.

2.      Equally important, make a list of the characteristics you do not want. If you keep an immaculate house, you may not want a heavy shedder or dog who slobbers. If you live in a condo, a barker is out of the question. Here are some things to consider:  level of barking or howling, shedding, grooming needs, digging, drooling, size.

3.      Be realistic and take a look at expenses.  When my German shepherd puppy was 5 months old, I was astounded to realize that he was eating as much in one day as all my small dogs did together. This can add up to quite a bit of money for large breed dog food, especially if you feed an exceptionally healthy dog food, such as Blue Buffalo or Orion. In addition, the cost of toys, heartworm and flea preventative, and housing supplies vary greatly with size. I spent $6.99 on a Kong for my poodle/Shih Tzu and 19.99 for my German shepherd’s identical toy, sized up. Dog kennels are another expense. The crate for my little dog was just over $25, while the same dog kennel for a giant dog was around $150. Other dogs have breed specific health issues that can rack up the vet bills. For example, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are one of my favorite breeds, but I cannot afford the cost of heart medication that is so often needed for them, and French bulldogs and other short-muzzled breeds often have respiratory issues. Finally, grooming costs do add up, so if you love those fluffy puppy breeds like my littlest guy, call groomers and figure it in or get ready to shell out some bucks for clippers and such.

4.      Next, do your research on breeds before you go look at those cute, fuzzy faces. This, to me, is the most important step to follow. Dogs end up, every day, in shelters or being “rehomed” in some other way because a new owner fell in love with an adorable baby, without realizing the characteristics that particular dog would grow into as an adult. For example, if you know that you live in an area where barking is intolerable and you know that beagles are notorious barkers and howlers, you will be less likely to consider taking those adorable floppy ears home with you. If you want your dog to love playing with others at the dog park, you might do better knowing which dogs typically do not like other canines. Terriers are known for being stubborn, shepherding breeds tend to have high-energy (which can mean a dog that goes stir crazy without at least 2 hours of exercise every day, and just playing outside does not count), some dogs need a job to do, and others are notoriously difficult to house-train. Adult Labrador retrievers are good with children, but lab puppies tend to be quite energetic and may be too rough with a small child.

5.      Take a few of the dog breed finder tests that are around the internet. While these may not always give you all the possible options, they can be a place to start. Here are a few of the dog breed selector quizes I have poked around on: http://www.breederretriever.com/breedselector.php

      http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm

      http://selectsmart.com/DOG/

6.      Check into shelters and rescue groups before buying. Internet listings, such as Petfinder.com, do an excellent job of listing dogs available. Generally, rescue groups can make specific recommendations for you, due to their careful observations of the dogs in their care. You will know ahead of time if the dog is housetrained, has been taught some manners, gets along with other dogs or children, etc. Some areas of the country have entire litters of puppies dropped off at shelters on a regular basis, especially in the summer, when more are born. If you adopt a puppy, in addition to saving a life, you get a dog that has been screened, spayed or neutered, and has been given all his or her shots, tending to save you quite a bit of money over that dog with the fancy pedigree. If you aren’t going to breed or show your dog, what are you going to do with that paper anyway? Frame it and hang it on the wall?

7.      If you decide to purchase a pup, or an adult, do your research on the breeder. Puppy mills and back yard breeders are abundant, as are people breeding “designer dogs” and selling them for an exorbitant amount of money. Being a breeder does not necessarily make a person honest or knowledgeable. And being expensive doesn’t necessarily make a pup better, either. By the same token, taking a “good deal” from a breeder trying to get rid of pups can often leave you paying more money in the long run in vet bills or dealing with undesirable characteristics of poorly bred dogs.

 

 

Finding the perfect dog takes both time and effort, but if you don’t just give into impulse, the research and work will pay off in the end. Choosing the right dog breed will help you end up with a dog that is your ideal a life-long companion.