Finding and Choosing a New DogSo you have decided to bring a new member into your family? Great desicion! Buying or adopting a dog will probably be one of the best decisions you ever make!
Finding a DogConsider the Cost
In total, running a typical dog for an average lifespan of 12.8 years will cost almost 18,000. Your Home Is your home suitable for a dog? Consider this. Is there enough living space for your new dog as it grows up? Is there a nice big yard where your pooch can run around or a park close by that you can take him to every day? Is Your Source Reliable? Make sure that the person you are buying your dog from is reliable and trustworthy. You do not want to buy a poorly bred dog because this can lead to major problems in the future. The neighbor's dog who just had puppies is a great source for a new puppy because the pups will be socialized into a family and react well to the routines of a family. You might want to consider giving a retired dog a good home for the remaining years of his life. Notice boards at veterinary offices are not reliable sources. |
Choosing a New DogPuppy or Adult?
Getting a puppy is a lot of work but it pays off in the end. Getting an older dog also takes a lot of work. You can't expect the older dog to adjust to the new lifestyle like it's a piece of cake. You need to treat it like it is a new puppy. Let it get used to it's new surroundings and it's new family. Show it it's relief area and where it will sleep. Go over the commands it knows and make sure it follows your directions. The advantage of getting a puppy, is that you can train it and shape it's character however you want. With an older dog, it's character is already shaped and it can't change. Boy or Girl? Getting a boy has it's benefits as does getting a female. Male dogs are more likely to be aggressive, dominant, and destructive than females are. However, neutering can make some of these "problems" go away. Neutering a male will make it less likely to try and escape in search of a female in heat. Neutered females will not urine mark and will stop trying to escape. No matter the gender, their watchdog abilities are always the same. Size Do you want big, medium, or small? It's up to you, but it obviously depends on the breed. Smallest dogs live the longest and larger breeds live the least amount of years. Purebred? Crossbred? Or mutt? *The advantage of getting a purebred is that you know exactly how big the animal will be when it grows up. You are saving yourself from many unpleasant surprises! *Crossbred dogs used to be known as "mistakes." Now, it is perfectly normal and popular! It is very successful! It diminishes the risk of genetic diseases and often creates beautiful breeds such as the Labradoodle and the Cockerpoo! *Mutts are just about everything else. They are a mix of this and a mix of that, most often the shelter dogs picked up off the streets. The good thing about mutts is that they are less likely to have any genetic diseases but on the flip side, you do not know how big the dog is going to get. You might think you picked up a stray maltese, but really, you picture up a standard sized poodle! |