Saturday, May 19, 2012

Dog Breeds: Top Five Things to Consider When Choosing a Dog.

Often times we fall in love with how a specific breed looks or is portrayed in the media without fully researching the breed’s traits and characteristics. For instance, Dalmatians were very popular after Disney released 101 Dalmatians – all those spotted pups capture the hearts of many people.  Dalmatian owners can attest to this breeds large size, strength, energy and stamina having been bred to run under or along-side of horse-drawn carriages. These dogs would not do well in an apartment or setting where they could not run and play or were left alone for long periods of time.

 Another example is Wishbone the Jack Russell Terrier in PBS’s popular children’s program.  On the program the dog is portrayed as cute, smart and loyal. While the Jack Russell Terrier has all those traits is also can jump vertically five feet clearing or scaling a fence easily. These dogs believe they are the pack leader and need to be shown authority by their human companion otherwise the Jack Russell Terrier will be difficult to train. Additionally, bred as hunting dogs, they have instincts to chase, explore, bark and dig. They can become aggressive with other animals and people if not given the proper training and attention.
 As you can see, it is important to investigate the breed you’re interested in before committing to the lifelong care of a canine companion. 
Below are five helpful tips and a couple of resource links to get you started. Please feel free to post your insights and experience with choosing a dog in the comments.
1.       Research, research, research.
2.       Talk to owners of the breed you like, find a forum like the one at dogcheapsleeps.proboards.com and ask questions.
3.       Visit dog parks and observe dogs and owners. Ask questions.
4.       Consider your needs and the dog’s needs when making a choice.
5.       Make sure the dog you choose will have a lifetime home in your home.
Resource Links:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please visit us at http://www.dogcheapsleeps.com