While that adorable puppy face may tug at your heart few potential pet owners realize how important it is to choose the right dog. Choosing the right dog can mean the difference between a lifelong loving relationship between owner and pet and traumatic pet ownership that can often have unhappy results. Whether large or small, active or couch potato, long-haired or short, choosing a suitable dog that fits your lifestyle is the most important first step you can take as a potential pet owner. Here is what you need to know about how to choose a dog.
Dog ownership should not be taken lightly. If you are at all concerned that this may not be the right option for you pet advocates strongly discourage you from going any further without thoroughly researching and investigating all the pros and cons on choosing a suitable dog. After doing your research on all the possible options you will be able to clearly determine whether becoming a dog owner is the right move for you.
What kind of dog will best fit my family? This is perhaps the common questions potential pet owners must answer in their search for a dog. Choosing a suitable dog for your family is a major decision and there are all kinds of things to consider. Will a dog fit with your lifestyle? Will you have the patience to deal with the needed transition time for a mature dog? Would a puppy be best for your family? And it is important to understand that even if you have decided on raising a puppy, you must remember that cute little bundle of fur could easily out-weigh you in a year’s time!
What are the logistics you need to consider? One of the first things to think about is will a large dog be best or a small one? Unless you have lots of room or live out in the country you may have to downsize your doggy dreams. Do you have children? Certain dogs will do well with small children while other dog breeds should definitely be avoided. Do you have other pets? Like with children, certain kinds of pets will welcome a new addition to the family while others definitely will not.
What lifestyle considerations will you need to make? Potential pet owners should ask themselves the following questions. Are you the outdoors type? Do you get plenty of exercise? If you spend a lot of time outdoors or perhaps are a runner or jogger than a larger dog that can be outside with you would be a great choice. On the other hand if you lead a more sedate lifestyle or tend to just be indoors more than a quieter and smaller dog just might be the choice for you.
How much do you want to spend on the dog’s upkeep? While the initial outlay for a dog may not seem like much you need to remember that the larger the dog, the larger your food and vet bills are going to be too! Larger dogs need large dog beds, toys and other accessories that can add up. You may want to make sure that your budget can support your new doggy dreams as well.
What kind of upkeep will your selected dog breed need? Once you have determined what kind of dog would fit best into your family, lifestyle and budget you then need to research a few dog breeds that would fit your needed requirements. Once you have narrowed the field down to two or three breeds talking with a vet or other experienced dog owners can be very helpful. It is important to keep in mind that many breeds are "low maintenance" requiring little in grooming, vet checkups or other needed efforts; conversely there are breeds that require constant grooming, checks and the highest level of involvement and care. It is important that you select a dog that you and your family can be committed to caring for (whatever the level of care needed) for a happy and lifelong relationship between dog and owner.
Tags: choosing a dog breed | choosing a dog breed | how to choose a dog | how to choose a dog | dog breeds