Choosing A Dog Breed

Posted on October 19th, 2010 Written by +Brian Benson Email Author

Discover How To Choose A Dog Breed

People have a tendency of picking out dogs due to its popularity in the movies or the media. When the movie Babe came out, Border Collies became the popular choice for most people because Babe wanted to be one. When the movie 101 Dalmatians came out, several people flocked to pet stores to adopt a Dalmatian. But what most people don’t know is that certain dog breeds require certain kind of people and pet owners should not treat this lightly and just pick a dog that they think is cute.

In 1995, the most sought after dog breeds were the Rottweiler, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Poodle, Beagle, Dachshund, Cocker Spaniel, Yorkshire Terrier and Pomeranian. The Dalmatian wasn’t in the top ten breeds at the time but when the live version of the movie 101 Dalmatians came out pet stores gave a report that this breed became popular again.

One of the most popular dog breeds is the Labrador Retriever. It is a popular choice for many pet lovers because of its reputation for being a wonderful companion to individuals or families. But sometimes these kinds of dogs would not complement families or individuals that are timid and people who are not used to boisterous, active dogs can find these Labradors to be more than they could handle. Sometimes when pet owners take in Labradors and they find out that they are not used to their energetic lifestyle the poor retrievers are sent to animal shelters.

There are several canines, either mixed or purebred, that end up like this because of pet owners who don’t choose dog breeds wisely. But this situation can be easily avoided if pet owners try to match the dog with the kind of life and personality that they have.

Canines come in different shapes and sizes and if a person wants a dog for a companion there are several kinds of dog breeds to choose from. If a certain person cannot get used to a large energetic dog there are other dog breeds that might suit him or her better.

Choose a Dog That Fits Your Lifestyle

To give people an example of what to look out for when choosing a dog, here are a few anecdotes that might give them some insight on the choosing process:

• Karen runs every morning prior to going to the office and she regularly plays badminton with her friends during weekends. She is a very vibrant lady who prefers to channel her energy to outdoor activities than staying at home and watch shows on TV. When she decided to adopt a dog, Karen narrowed down her choices to the Weimaraners and the Dalmatians. Both of these breeds are energetic and large canines that can be suitable companions for athletic people.Karen adopted a Dalmatian puppy and settled him in a crate. She took dog training classes and started bringing her puppy to her badminton games to watch her play. Karen has been having fun with her pup because both of them are fun-loving creatures and have abundant amounts of energy.
• Peter is an insurance manager who works in the office for ten hours every day. So when he comes home, he wants nothing more than to sit in his chair and watch the game on TV. He still likes to get a dog but he wants something that would not need too much housetraining. Peter did some research on dog breeds and discovered about Miniature Schnauzers that looked like a perfect pet for him. He went to the nearest pet store and got himself a Schnauzer; he taught it some basic tricks like play dead, beg for treats, fetch stuff and Peter even started taking the pup outside for walks every morning.
• Mina is a mother of three, all of whom are still under seven, and her family is thinking of getting a dog for a pet. Mina’s youngest is the most energetic of the three and is prone to running around the house and creating havoc. When they were looking for a dog the kind of dog breeds they were deciding on were a beagle, basset, dachshund or a border terrier. They decided on a border terrier and they realized that they found a perfect match for their family.The terrier was quick to learn and after a few weeks the little pup was able to sit and lie down on command and Mina and the kids had no problems taking the dog out for walks.
• To make their condominium a bit livelier, the Adamses bought an Afghan hound puppy. The puppy may have proven to be an elegant enough of a dog, however, Sandstorm was also constantly running away from home. This cost the Adamses several citations and had to bail the dog out of the animal shelter four times in a span of one year.
• On her way home from work, Suzy Johnson always sees a sign of Chow chow puppy for sale. The sign tacked on a utility pole said, “Chow puppies, $100.” She had driven and passed by that pole for several days and contemplated the idea of owning a purebred dog; the little fluffy teddy bear-like creatures proved too cute to resist. And so she brought one home and named him Bandit. However, after less than a year, Suzy was too terrified of Bandit. He gets angry and growls whenever she touches his food, snaps a leash on his collar, or when she tells him to get off the bed.
• The Bronsons got a Labrador Retriever puppy, hoping they’d a have a companion to lie by the fire with on winter evenings and play with out in the sun during the day. Instead, Champ proved to be boisterous and knocked the kids down in his excitement, runs off the street to play ball with other kids, and leaves a mess on the coffee table whenever he wagged his tail.
• One day, the Whitfield couple, Alice and John, took their kids to see Disney’s 101 Dalmatians. After a few weeks of convincing their parents, the kids got their very own Pongo puppy.Unfortunately, just like any other case of impulse buy, the Whitfields were completely at a loss on how to handle this high-pressure puppy. It ruined their carpet, chased the cat, messed with their daughter’s bed, chewed the cabinets, and bounds out the door at the slightest sound of its opening. The bigger and more unruly he gets, the more the Whitfields hated him.
• At two years of age, Sandstorm was turned over to the Afghan Rescue.
• Champ the Labrador was put in a dog run the Bronsons built, where he can watch the kids play during the day and listen to the family’s activities through the closed windows of the house at night.
• Pongo, at six months old, was sent to the animal shelter to find a new home.
• Bandit the Chow puppy was put down at the animal shelter at fifteen months old for biting his mistress Suzy.

Not as Easy As It Looks

Whenever a family suddenly decides to get a dog, choosing dog breeds is not always as easy as it looks like. Karen, Peter and Mina all have one thing in common: they have a great chance of developing a compatible relationship with their dogs because they have chosen a breed that perfectly suit their need and personalities. Had the Adamses known that an Afghan hound needs a lot of room to run, they would have decided to buy a different breed, some thing that would be fine with the compact space of condominiums. If Suzy were aware that Chows are completely opposite of their cute and fluffy appearance, she would have not given the sale sign a second glance. Had the Bronsons been knowledgeable of the boisterous personality and retention of puppy characteristics of the Labrador, they would have thought twice of buying.

For centuries, different dog breeds have been bred to do particular jobs. Even though few dogs still do what they were bred to do, they still have the skills and adaptations that first made them popular in their previous careers. Different breeds require different types and levels of training, food, care, and exercise. They have different personalities and quirks. There are gentle and laidback dogs and there are dominant dogs. Some are quiet, some are noisy; some dogs that need the satisfaction of running dig holes, climb fences and slip through the doorways. Other dog breeds need to be busy and can be a mess at home if given nothing to do. While some dogs are innately bright, some are a bit of a difficulty when it comes to training. Some were born to stand on guard, while others are what you would call a family dog.

Budgeting for a Pup

So that pet owners will increase their chances of finding a perfect match for them, they should fix a budget for buying a pup and do some research to find out the right kind of breed for them.

Pet owners should consider what kind of dog they want and what they expect from the dog to give back to them. Would be pet owners should consider the level of activity they want from their dog, the amount of training that the dog needs, and the amount of grooming that the dog needs. If the pet owner leads a very active life and likes to exercise regularly and would want a companion to go with him then a large or medium size dog is suitable for him. If a pet owner hates having hair stick into rugs, carpets or even the sofa then one should look for dog breeds with short coats. If a pet owner has kids and cannot make time to train or exercise a dog then that pet owner should consider getting a dog that requires little training.

When pet owners have considered every detail in narrowing down the dog breed that is suitable for them then they can start figuring out the cost, the suitability of their domicile, and the time and effort that they are willing to spend on the dog’s training.

According to cost reports on adopting dogs, purebred canines are much more expensive than mixed dog breeds. Despite that, it is much easier to figure out the expenses for purebred dogs because of the standard outfit of products for their size, type of coat and temperament. Purebred puppies cost more than their adult counterparts.

Figuring out the expenses for a dog can be easy; one just has to consider the size, type of coat and amount of training that the dog needs. Large breeds are more expensive because they need larger amounts of food, higher doses of medicine, and funds for neutering if needed. Large breeds would also need large toys, collars, leashes and bowls. Obviously, professional dog groomers charge more for bigger dogs because they take more time to clean than smaller ones.

Smaller breeds are less expensive and would require lesser training and exercise.

After figuring out the expenses, pet owners should consider their living space next. The amount of space that a pet owner has should match the amount of space a dog needs. Large dogs, obviously, require large spaces for them to move around a lot. If there aren’t enough large spaces in a person’s home and he still wants a large breed then he should make it a point to take the dog out regularly. Large dog breeds need to run and move around a lot otherwise they will become depressed, agitated or even aggressive because they haven’t been able to expend their energy on invigorating exercises.

Smaller breeds, of course, do not need large spaces (although it is always better if dogs get as much space as they could have). Smaller breeds need lesser training and lesser exercises. A short stroll around the block is good enough for small-breed canines.

Picking out dog breeds can be easy and successful if you take time to figure out what kind of dog is suitable to your lifestyle. There are several dog breeds out there but you should be responsible enough to pick one that would be a boon to them rather than a bane.