How to find the right dog
Forget the fashion of the day, the right dog
is a very personal decision
MetPet.com Staff Writer
The availability of so many different types
of dogs can be a boon or merely bewildering. Too many people choose a dog based on
looks. This is unfortunate because the single most important characteristic of a
happy human-dog relationship is personality. The personality of the dog should
complement that of the human.
Since a dog will be with you for 10-15 years,
it makes sense to spend several weeks considering what will suit you best now and in the
foreseeable future. The extra time and care you take now will help ensure years of
happiness. Dogs adopted on a whim frequently end up in a shelter, abandoned in the
backyard or euthanized. Therefore, to prevent havoc in your life and tragedy in your
dog's, please take the time to consider your own needs and choose a dog accordingly.
The better you know yourself, the better
choice you can make about a specific breed or type of puppy. Here are some starter
questions that can help you narrow your choice.
What are your own characteristics and
preferences?
Are you bold and aggressive, timid or somewhere in between?
Are you physically strong, delicate or somewhere in between?
Can you live with excess hair, drool and odors or are you meticulous and sensitive
to such things?
Are you cuddly and demonstrative or standoffish and independent?
Do you prefer a challenge or want an easy relationship?
Have you had a dog of your own before or are you a novice?
What type of environment do you have?
Can you commit to daily exercise or will you only be able to manage the occasional walk?
Will you be spending lots of time at home or will you be out most of the time?
Do you live in a large house with lots of extra space or do you live in crowded
conditions?
Do you live close to or far away from neighbors?
Do you live where it is warm, dry, cold or wet?
Do you have a large fenced yard or easy access to a park?
Are there (or will there be) children, cats, other dogs, other pets or elderly people in
the house?
Does anyone in the house have allergies or chronic illnesses?
What do you want in a dog?
Do you want a dog for yourself, your spouse or your children?
Do you want to show and breed your dog?
Do you want a dog for a specific function such as protection, hiking, sports, hunting,
obedience
trials, etc?
Do you want a high-maintenance dog or an easy-keeper?
Do you imagine having a specific breed or type of dog?
The beauty of the canine species is its
variability. Once you know what you are looking for, there is a high probability
that you will find the specific individual that will make you very happy. Once
you've had some time to think it over, you're ready to narrow down your choice of puppy.
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