Getting a Dog, part II

This is the second in a series of articles on Getting a Dog. All articles are linked from the menu on the right, in the Articles section.

Getting a Dog - Part II
Choosing the Right Dog

When most folks start the search for their new canine companion, they have some idea what it is they are looking for in a dog. This might be a specific breed, breed type, or even just a specific size. If you already have a pretty good idea of what kind of dog you’d like, do keep that in the back of your head, and let’s talk a bit about how to find a dog that will work out great for you.

If you have an Internet connection and have Googled dog breeds, chances are that you’ve come across one of those quizzes that claim to help you find the perfect dog breed to fit your lifestyle. That does sound good, doesn’t it? You simply answer a handful of basic questions about your family, living arrangements, activity level, and number of hours you’re gone from home each day, and you’re going to know, without a doubt, which dog breed will be the perfect fit.

Obviously, this concept has some flaws. The most obvious of these is the fact that all dogs are individuals. Sure, breeds share common traits set down in the breed’s standard – things such as size or working ability – but no two dogs are exactly alike. This means that each dog has his own personality, his own motivations, and his own talents. Snoopy the Beagle may be cut out to be the next agility star while his sister Stella may be more of a couch potato.

This also means that a breed people would generally not recommend for your circumstances – for example, people tend to tell folks in apartments that they cannot have large breeds such as German Shepherds – may still yield a huge number of individual dogs that would be a great fit. In our example of the German Shepherd, maybe dogs that are laid back and happy to loaf on the couch during the day. Not all Shepherds bounce of the walls all day long!

Therefore, I’m not going to sit here and make sweeping generalizations, such as telling you that a Border Collie or Labrador would never be happy in an apartment or any kind of home that doesn’t have a gigantic, fenced-in back yard. That would be nonsense. That would also make me quite the hypocrite, because I happen to live in a rental duplex, don’t have a fence surrounding my yard, and yet still manage to keep a happy, active German Shepherd.

Instead of suggesting that apartment dwellers buy Chihuahuas and people with big houses and acreage buy Labradors, we’re going to talk about what dog would be a good fit based on his needs.

In order to do that, it’s important that you’re honest with yourself. Have a seat on the couch and say, “Self – what exactly is it you want out of a dog, and what exactly are you willing to do to get there?”

If competing in a dog sport sounds like something you might want to “get into”, you need to be serious about what it takes to get there. Let’s take agility. Agility dogs share certain traits – they are energetic and intelligent, and they require physical and mental exercise to keep them happy. Agility competition takes practice, practice, and some more practice. Do you have the time to drive to and from classes – first basic obedience and then agility practice – once, twice, or more each week? Do you have the time to exercise and work with your dog every day to keep him happy and get where you want to go on the competition field?

But also ask yourself more basic questions. Can you rely on the people who are sharing your home to do their share of work with the dog? Can you rely on the kids to take him outside to potty and play when they get home from school? Will you have someone to take your new puppy out at lunch time, or will you have to come home from work? Are you willing to send a dog to doggy daycare if you work long hours?

Especially if there are children in your household, you’ll really want to think about the pros and cons of bringing a dog into the home.

If you have young children, you might be worried about bringing a large breed of dog into your home. In his well-meaning adolescent clumsiness he may knock your toddler down and hurt him. But at the same time, maybe a small breed would not be such a good choice, either. Small dogs are very fragile and can easily get hurt if children handle them roughly, or even if a young child stumbles and falls on the dog. Definitely questions that should be asked prior to bringing home puppy.

If you have older children, they’ll probably be very enthusiastic about getting a dog and may have lots of suggestions regarding what breed you should buy for them. They’ll be ecstatic when you tell them you’re going to bring home a puppy, but you can almost certainly bet that they will be nowhere to be found when the word puppy is in the same sentence with scooping poop or taking him for a walk if it’s raining.

Beyond those considerations, it’s also important that you’re honest in regards to what you really want to get out of the dog you’re adopting, and how much time you’re willing to spend to get there. Most people get dogs primarily for companionship, which is about the best reason anyone could have, but many people start out wanting a dog for a specific reason.

For example, folks often buy Labrador Retrievers for hunting and German Shepherds as guard dogs. That isn’t a problem, however, many folks assume that because the dog is a certain breed, he’ll just instinctively know how to do these things. Nothing could be further from the truth. In both cases, these dogs have to be taught how to do the things they’re expected to do, and teaching them requires patience, training, and maintenance.

To put it differently: even a Retriever has to be taught to retrieve.

You should know: If you are interested in participating in competitive dog events, such as agility or conformation, you should know that some of these events do not allow mixed breed dogs to compete.

When it all comes down to it, what I’m trying to say can probably be best said in that old Army proverb: “Proper planning prevents poor performance.” In terms of dog ownership, that means if you plan ahead, educate yourself on the different breeds, look for the right dog, and get things off on the right foot, you’re going to have a great dog and you’re going to be a great owner.




Purebred or mixed breed?

Both purebred dogs and mixed-breed dogs can make wonderful family pets. If your main reason for getting a dog is a companion, a mixed-breed dog can be a great choice unless you’re already set on a specific breed or are looking for a dog with whom to compete in some sporting venue.
Adult mixed-breed or purebred dogs can be a great choice for a first dog, because it is generally easier to deal with an adult dog than a puppy. Most adults, for example, are already house trained, and can be left home alone during the work day – two definite bonuses if you’re a working adult. They are also more of a known quantity, in that their behaviors are known and you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Some may even be fully trained in basic obedience.

Mixed-breed puppies are always hit or miss. There’s much about a puppy that is unpredictable: which of their parents will they take after? How big will they get? What traits will he inherit? Is he going to be a difficult dog when he grows up and matures? Will he be easy to train? Will he look like his Beagle mother or his Collie father?

Purebred dogs are more predictable than mixed breed dogs because every recognized dog breed has a written breed standard that sets down how a dog of this breed should look, as well as what temperament and abilities it should have. What the standard refers to is what you should expect from a well-bred dog of that breed: approximate size, temperament, and natural abilities. The standard is a good place to start when you want to learn more about the breed of dog you are interested in.

However, you should know that there are breeders who breed outside the standard, either because they do not agree with the standard or because they do not care about the standard. In general, it would be my recommendation to avoid breeders whose breeding goals do not mesh with the breed’s written standard. Be weary also of breeders whose only goal is “to produce pets, not show or working dogs”, as this is commonly a way of saying that they do not bother to see whether their dogs match the standard by showing them in conformation or titling them in any sport or working venue.

For Example:

Pugs and Jack Russell Terriers are both small dog breeds that are fun and intelligent. However, Pugs have short snouts and do well without large amounts of activity. Jack Russells, on the other hand, were bred to hunt vermin (such as rats) and are very energetic dogs who need quite a lot of exercise.

When first deciding on the breed of dog you want, it’s important to look at the breed inside and out. Looking at photos of the different breeds, reading information and descriptions on breeders’ websites, in breed-specific message forums, or in books, can give you a lot of great information.


Don't Forget:

If you are considering a mixed breed dog, you will have to do a lot more research. Mixed breed dogs can take any of the traits from the breeds that are contributing to their genetic makeup. This makes it very hard to predict what the dog will look like when he’s fully grown, as well as what kind of temperament and abilities he will have.

Some of the things you might be interested in is how large your chosen breed will get when fully grown, and how much exercise they need. Many people specifically want to know what type of coat a breed has and how much they will shed, as well as how much grooming is needed. Some breeds shed year round, but others shed very little. Some breeds require special grooming – for example, Pugs require frequent cleaning of their face wrinkles.

It’s also a good idea to read about the background and history of the breeds that you are interested in. Learning why they were originally bred and what they were bred to do can tell you a lot about the natural talents that you may find in the dog you adopt, and also their specific needs and traits. It can even give you ideas for things to do with your dog. Why not get into a great sport or activity that your dog could be really good at?

One wonderful thing about the Internet is that there is so much information out there on dogs. You will be able to read every possible viewpoint, pro and con, about nearly every breed. And, even better, if you still have questions, the many breed-specific forums on the Internet give you a place to ask them. And by all means, please ask people who own the types of dog you have an interest in what it’s like to keep them, what they need, and what you should know. There’s nothing better than getting input from others.

Armed with all of this new knowledge, you can then make a much better decision on whether this is the type of dog that will work for you, before looking for the individual dog who will fit best in your home.

Or, to put it even simpler - planning ahead can save you from going through the same frustration I went through with my first dog ever, and first foster dog, Max, whom I got when I was clueless and unprepared.

Checklist - Things to know about your breed

• What is this breed’s original purpose?
• What can I expect the adult size of this dog to be?
• What kind of coat does this breed have?
• Does this breed shed a lot?
• Does this breed require any special grooming?
• What should this breed’s temperament be like?
• What are some of the common health problems in this breed?
• What are some of the common behavior problems in this breed?
  

to be continued