How to Choose a Dog that's Right for You

When selecting a dog, it's very important to give the decision some thought and not do it on impulse. Different breeds have a wide variety of characteristics, and what may be a great dog for one person or family may not be for another. In this article, I'll give you a good start on ideas to consider.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• The desire to select a dog that's right for you.

1. When considering different dog breeds, several things you need to look for include energy level, amount of space needed for regular exercise, and maintenance needed for fur/coat. Take a look at the environment you'll be bringing the dog into so you'll know it's going to be a good fit.

2. All dogs are going to come with regular expenses including food, toys, leashes, and vet care. You're also likely going to need a dog bed inside and/or some form of outdoor shelter such as a pen or fenced-in yard with a dog house. Certain dogs will also require grooming tools for their nails and fur or income to pay for grooming to be done professionally.

3. Temperament and behavior of a dog also varies from breed to breed. Some breeds are very protective of their human families when it comes to strangers (even if it's your immediate family or neighbors!) Other dogs are so friendly they've never met a stranger. I've found it's good to have a dog that's somewhere in the middle, but it varies with your situation. Some dogs are better around children than others as well, which is something you need to consider.

4. Don't ignore mixed breeds as pets. A lot of times they have less health issues (pure breeds often have inherited issues that you have to be careful in watching).

Tips & Warnings

• In researching this topic, I've found a few links below that I think would be helpful in making this decision. I also have included other related dog articles for new owners.

Resources

• Breed Selector Quiz (Give You Info on Breeds Based on Survey)
• Dog Breed Facts
• How to Train a Puppy
• How to Select a Pet
• How to Photograph Your Pet
• How to Recognize Symptoms of Canine Parvovirus (
• More How-to Articles by Cougar1002
• How to Socialize Your Puppy to Become a Well-Behaved Dog by eHow Member AJ Tyne
• How to Choose Toys for Your Dog or Puppy by eHow Member AJ Tyne

[thedogshrink]

on 1/2/2009 Good points! As a behavioral trainer, and rescue worker, I can say that many dogs lose their homes and end up in the shelter simply because the people were either misinformed about the breed or didn't bother to check out the breed before adopting the dog. Hopefully your article will make more people aware of how important selection is. 5*

[LAURA7088]

on 8/11/2008 Great article. You're right - you need to work at this so you and your pet will equally benefit! Thanks!

[Heart-C]

on 8/10/2008 Weve always had mixed breeds at home.. fantastic fellows! 5 stars!

[Psalmist4M]

on 8/10/2008 Excellent article. We have 2 dogs and each has it's own personality and actually reflecting both of ours. Great details. 5*s