Choosing the Right Dog for You

First you and your family need to really think about what type of dog you all want. Do you want an active dog to keep you company when you jog? Do you just want a quiet companion to keep you company? Do you want a dog that makes you feel safe? Maybe you want a really smart dog that you take to obedience classes or agility competitions.Too often people choose a dog solely by the way it looks. This is a big mistake. Contrary to popular belief all dogs are not alike. Some are very bossy and dominant and need more training. Some dogs are very docile and eager to please. I believe all dogs can be trained but,some train alot more easily than others. How much time are you willing to commit to training? Three things to consider about a dog’s looks are….1) Do you like the way the dog looks 2) How big or small the dog is 3) What kind of coat the dog has..Although you should like the way the dog looks ,it should not be the most important thing as I said earlier.

Now how big the dog is is very important. If he is very big, will you have enough room for him inside and out? Will the kids be able to manage him on a walk. although some large breeds are mellow and some small dogs extremely active a large boisterous dog could be a nightmare if not trained properly. Perhaps you want a little lap dog just for companionship. Or maybe something in between.

The dogs coat should be taking into consideration. I know that maybe that sounds silly but each coat type has different time and monetary requirements. We all start out with good intentions but then real life happens. You don’t want to be stressed out about Fifi looking like a matted ball because money got tight. A dog with short hair needs minimal brushing and will dry much faster after a bath. Long haired dogs need quite a bit of brushing to keep them looking and feeling good. Drying time is also considerably longer also. Then there are the breeds that are typically clipped by a groomer. You must consider these breeds most due to the extra expense of grooming. These breeds are usually groomed every 6 - 8 weeks. So it can be quite costly.

Most importantly be informed you will own this dog from 10-20 years. Choose wisely. I suggest you get a breed book from the library take it home for the family to look at. This way you can see what appeals to your family. Maybe you could sit together and make a list. everyone could list all the reasons why they want a dog. Maybe everyone can even describe what they would like their dog to look like. After you gather all the information from your family you should have a better idea of what type of dog will suit your family best.

Kids and dogs can be the best of friends and here are some suggestion to help that become a reality. First when you go to pick out a dog you should do a sound and sensitivity test. A touch test is important because children (especially young children) are not always gentle. to do a touch test all you do is pick up the dogs paw and gentle squeeze to see how sensitive he is. Another simply touch test is to simply grab some of the dogs skin at the shoulder and pull up gently. If the dog is super sensitive this might not be the best dog for your family especially if you have small children.The other test is a sound test. Simple put you make a abrupt sound like clapping your hands or drop something noisy.etc…The sensitive dog will startle but not investigate the sound. This type of dog also might not be the best for your family since he is a little fearful. Children are often noisy and move quickly which may stress a fearful dog and cause him too bite out of fear. these aren’t exact measures but will help you choose a dog best suited for an active family with children.

never ever get a dog expecting a child to take care of it. Although I think it is very important for children to have some responsibility in caring for the dog it should not be solely their responsibility. Anyone considering getting a dog should only get one one if they are ready to be the sole caretaker of the dog and not contingent upon a child taking care of it.