Things to know before you get a dog

• How big do you want the dog to be when full-grown? All puppies are cute, but some will get bigger and bigger. Make this decision before you look at puppies.
• Do you want a lap dog or a larger dog that can live more outdoors? Either size will require a fenced in area unless you plan to walk him on a leash to potty. The larger the dog, the larger the fenced-in area needs to be.
• Do you want to housetrain a puppy or get a dog a bit older? Most people think you have to get a puppy, but getting an older dog that is already housetrained could be a real advantage for people who work 8 hours a day. Check with the shelter in your area or ask the breeder if he has an older dog you might see.
• Do we want a male or a female? In most cases, since you are going to (hopefully) have the pet altered, it does not matter. Males are more likely to mark their territory by hiking their legs on your furniture or curtains. If a female is not spayed, she will come into season twice a year.
• Do you want a short haired or longhaired dog? If you choose a longhaired dog, remember that you have to brush or comb the coat on a regular basis which could be daily or at least once a week. Bathing and drying a longhaired breed can also be some trouble so you may have to take the dog to a groomer every two weeks or month.
• How do you feel about shedding? Even shorthaired dogs shed. Use a rubber curry to brush shorthaired dogs; it pulls out only the loose or dead hairs. The poodle is known as one of the few dogs that does not shed very much – but they require a lot of grooming. If the dog is going to shed, what color hair would you like them to have to blend in with your rug or sofa?
• Do you want a dog that needs frequent grooming, or none? Whether you take your dog to a groomer or not, you still need to do some brushing and grooming at home.
• How much time will you have to exercise the dog? Dogs need exercise – some a lot more than others. Exercise might be chasing a ball in the house for a small dog to jogging with you around the block for the larger breeds. Exercise needs to be daily and not just on weekends.
• Floppy ears, or ears that stand up? Dogs with floppy ears have a tendency to get ear infections since the ear canal is dark, warm, and damp. For some dogs’ ears to stand up, they have to be cropped which means the vet cuts them and tapes them up for a month or more.
• Do you want a dog that will live 8-10 years or one that may live to 15 years? The general rule of thumb is the bigger the dog, the shorter his life span will be. The Great Dane has one of the shortest life spans while the Chihuahua has one of the longest.
• What is the temperament of the breed in general? Herding breeds like Border Collies need lots of exercise, or they get bored and look for something to do which usually get them in trouble with their owners. Chow Chows have very little side vision and have a tendency to snap at people coming up on their side or from behind them. Terriers are pretty much yappy and snappy dogs.
Research breeds by consulting The AKC Complete Book of Dogs.

Things to know before you get a dog 2010-03-15T09:40:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Unknown