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HOW TO
CHOOSE THE RIGHT BREED FOR YOU
It constantly amazes me that many people will spend a lot of time and
research in finding just that right car to suit their situation which they may
have on average about 4 or 5 years and yet make a snap decision on getting a
dog with little or no forethought. A dog is a living, breathing creature that
will live side by side with you on average for about 10 years.
I have
seen more people in my business that are completely unhappy with their choice
of dog and blame the dog for the resulting problems that are really created by
the wrong breed choice. Not every breed suits every person or situation and if
you make the wrong choice it can be like sticking a round peg in a square hole.
Just because a dog works for your neighbour or friend does not mean it will
suit you.
So before even starting to research the breeds sit down and
think about your lifestyle. Make a list. Where do you live, house or apartment,
city or country? Do you have children or are you single or older? Are you
active or a couch potato? How much time do you have? How much money do you have
to budget on a dog? Are you a neat and tidy person who will be bothered by dog
hair or don't you care? Are you really ready for a dog and the commitment and
time required? Consider everything.
The next thing to do is either head
for the library or a bookstore for a book on dog breeds or go to various Kennel
Club sites like the American Kennel Club at
http://www.akc.org/breeds/index.cfm
or the Canadian Kennel Club at http://www.ckc.ca/scoop/ for an overview of
each breed. This will give you an idea of what each breed looks like, size,
overall care and activity levels.
Using your lifestyle list as a guide
narrow down your choices of breeds. If you live in an apartment and are fairly
sedentary you do not want a big active breed. Not all breeds of dogs are
suitable for children. Some breeds are going to need regular groomings by a
professional so you have to decide if you wish that additional expense. If you
don't like dog hair make sure that you are getting a breed that doesn't shed.
Is the dog going to have to spend time on it's own? Some breeds don't do well
being left alone.
Once you have narrowed down the breeds that you think
you are interested in and would suit you the real research begins. Try going to
a dog show so that you can see your choices in person. Talk to breeders about
their breed. However remember that a breeder will tend to have a soft spot for
their own particular breed and a grain of salt should be used. Talk to breeders
in other breeds about your breed choice. Quite often they will have a different
perspective on a certain breed. Also good resources to go to for breed
information are veterinarians, boarding kennel operators, obedience trainers
and professional groomers. Ask questions. See if you can go to the homes or
kennels of some of the breeds that you are interested in. Try to get a feel for
the breeds. Remember there is no perfect breed but there is a perfect breed for
you.
Finally once you have made a decision on a breed that you think
will really suit you make sure that all of your research and time does not go
to waste. Go to a reputable and caring breeder. Your breed choice has been made
on the best of that breed, so go to the best breeder that you can find. Dogs in
the same breed can vary greatly depending on the breeder. Make your choice
count and then you will have many happy years with the right breed for
you. |
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All articles and information
on this site is copyrighted by Rhiannon Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and
Creature Comforts Inn. Redistribution on any other website is only
permitted via a link to this site. |
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