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What Kind of Dog Should I Get ?
http://sarahindwood.com/howtotrainadog.php - What Kind of Dog Should I Get ?
In considering the differences among dogs, breeds help us understand the physical and
behavioral traits typical of the various types of dogs. Choosing a dog with characteristics
suited to your family's care-taking abilities makes a safer and happier experience for the
dog as well as the family.
Breeds are so different from each other that one dog can be perfect while another would
never successfully fit your home. Expect that, in a mixed-breed dog, the most difficult traits
of each breed will prevail. Wishful thinking doesn't shape a dog's temperament: genetics,
early life experiences, management and training do. A dog's genetic heritage will be a limiting
factor on how much you can shape the temperament in the direction you desire.
Let's consider some things for your family to decide as you research what type of dog
to get. Remember, even if you get a mixed breed, you'll need to make sure that every
breed in the mix is a breed right for your family.
What Kind of Dog Should I Get ? - Size
A dog is approximately as strong as three times the dog's weight compared to an adult
man: 50-pound dog = 150-pound man. Consider limiting the size of your dog to one whose
adult weight will be no greater than one-third the weight of the handler. Many people will
have a lot more fun with a dog they can comfortably manage on the leash.
Handling a larger dog requires more training, skill and practice for both the handler and
the dog. For the best prediction of size, adopt either a purebred puppy or a dog who
has reached adult size. A mixed breed puppy is an unknown in terms of the size dog you
are committing to take responsibility for!
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What Kind of Dog Should I Get ? - Activity Level
Does your family's dog need to be calm in the house while everyone is busy? Will there
be days when no one has time to spend a few hours exercising the dog? If so, choose a
to be reduced until a couple of weeks or so after adoption.
What Kind of Dog Should I Get ? - Protection Attitude
If you have children, other children will be visiting your home. An overly protective
dog would be miserable and dangerous in such a situation. Unless one of the parents is
a serious dog trainer, opt for breeds having low or no protection attitude.
The same goes for any highly sociable household, with people in and out visiting and you visiting
other homes with your dog. Some breeds have been selectively bred to take on responsibility
for detecting and sizing up strangers, with a view to protecting against those who don't
pass inspection. This kind of dog is a big responsibility when your lifestyle involves
a steady stream of new people.
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http://sarahindwood.com/howtotrainadog.php
Aggressiveness toward Other Dogs
When your dog tries to pick fights with all the other dogs you meet on walks, people can
get hurt. You can reduce this risk by choosing breeds low in the trait of aggressiveness
toward other dogs.
You can further reduce the risk by how you manage and train your dog. When out with your
dog on leash, teach your dog to ignore the other dogs. Block the path of another dog
who rushes up to your dog in a frightening way. Better yet, choose places to walk with
your dog where you won't encounter loose dogs.
If you want your dog to have play dates with other dogs, choose safe, enclosed areas where
you can remove the leashes. And of course choose friendly playmates. Letting your dog
get jumped and frightened by other dogs is typically what makes your dog become aggressive
to other dogs in the first place. Even a dog born with the trait of aggression toward other
dogs may never show the trait if carefully managed, and the most mild-mannered dog can
develop it if the family doesn't protect the dog from being attacked by other dogs.
Training class is a great place to teach your dog to leave the other dogs alone when out
on leash with you. One family member can work with the dog first while the others watch,
Expect a small dog to be closer to a year of age to be solid on housetraining, and some
never make it. Tiny male dogs in particular need consistent supervision, and are unlikely
to ever be able to be trusted with the run of the house unless you have them neutered
Your dog's start in life has a profound effect on housetraining, too. Whatever surface the
the outdoors. A dog who has extensively pottied where the dog sleeps and eats will likely
What Kind of Dog Should I Get ? - Where is Your Dog Going to Live?
and you will end up with a happier, better-behaved dog and happier neighbors.
able to cope with situations such as moving, medical problems and emergencies. Resting
Dogs are pack animals, designed to live in a social unit with others. They can be perfectly
spend little time with people can develop some bad behavior problems, such as disturbing
What Kind of Dog Should I Get ? - Grooming
a few minutes of grooming every day, for the wonderful training and conditioning to human
professional grooming should have an appointment every 2 to 8 weeks. Discuss the grooming with
The matter of grooming is another reason to pass by the puppies at the animal shelter.
If you were to choose a puppy who is going to grow to an unknown size, unknown activity
yourself to for the next ten to fifteen years of having that dog! That's why at least half
When researching any breed, find out what genetic illnesses show up in dogs of that
done everything reasonable to screen the breeding dogs for genetic problems.
a responsible breeder will help you with the dog and will take the dog back if that is
pet shop puppy did not come from a responsible breeder who meets the families and follows
for genetic and temperament problems. Adult dogs also tend to be much quicker to train
don't have as much genetic information or history on the dog, but you do have the expert,
Some breeds are very trainable because they were selectively bred to work as partners
to train with the dog and to spend about an hour a day for a minimum of several months
Another option with a dog of a working-type breed is to adopt an adult dog with training.
it or lose it" applies to dog training in a big way. If you aren't positive you want
Size, activity level, protection attitude and aggressiveness toward other dogs all profoundly
with the dog, your family will fail with that dog. It's not just the dog who needs the training
type of dog. It takes time, work, and the right teachers.
to sleep. That's why it's so important to make these decisions before ever bringing
Dogs live 10 to 15 years. Kids usually leave dogs with their parents when they move away.
in the years ahead? Think about whether this is the right time to bring a dog into your
life, and what kind of dog can go with you where you will be going. For the dog's sake,
misery. Complications from allergies can become so severe that it's impossible to keep the
Step aside from the emotion of meeting a cute puppy or a personable dog, and think about
sources and books that give the traits of various breeds you might be considering. Don't
Print out this list and keep it nearby whenever you talk to a breed expert, so you don't forget
who write breed books are going to tell you the best things about that breed. They're
The research can be a great deal of fun. Take your time with it. If your family should decide
decision can be an act of great love for dogs.
What Kind of Dog Should I Get Video