Choosing a Dog Breed

Choosing a dog it by no means a simple thing.  There are dogs of many sizes and styles and it is convenient to choose the most appropriate breed for each person. Obviously, it would be a crazy thing to buy a breed of giant dogs like the Great Danes or the Mastiff if you live in a little apartment or a Shepherd dog like the Border collie if you don't have much time to train it or take it out for exercising. When a dog is so excitable for example, it would really get on the dog's nerve if it has to live with little and mischievous children.

However, there are less evident considerations that are also important. For example the molt: there are dogs that loose hair almost the whole year long, while others as the Poodle and the Chow loose very little hair or even no hair at all and therefore are more suitable for allergic people or people who dislike having dog's hair all around the house. Some dogs like the Doberman need very little grooming, something really interesting when the owners think of time as a very precious thing.

Choosing a Puppy or Adult Dog

Besides the breed, you will have to choose between a puppy and an adult dog. The great advantage of a puppy is that you can mold it as you like while educating the dog, so it will perfectly adapt to your lifestyle. Buying dogs when they are still puppies will let you be really sure that their training and socialization are the best. And the biggest disadvantage is that you have to begin training the puppies since phase 0 and that takes a lot of time. Getting them used to live at your house requires time, capacity to cope with frustration and to be always alert. The socialization, which is really important, will force you to have a very close relation with the little dog and being constantly teaching the puppy new things, everyday since it arrives home. designer dog collarsOne advantage of adult dogs is that they often arrive home already used to living in a house and everything that comes along with it. Many of these dogs have even learnt to behave properly with people, dogs and other pets. One disadvantage is that they could have gotten some habits that are not compatible with their new home or even had conduct problems. Reeducating an adult dog is perfectly possible, but it demands more time than educating a little puppy whose mind is a blank sheet of paper.

Choosing a Pure or a Mixed Breed of Dog ?

Either if you have decided on a puppy or an adult dog, the next decision you will have to make is if you would like a dog with pedigree or a mixed one. Once again, get well informed before making up your mind since there are advantages and disadvantages in each case.

There are currently, literally, hundreds of breeds to choose from, all of them with different aspects and psychological profiles. Obviously, if you decide to get yourself a pedigree dog you will "be sure of what you are taking home with you". In other words, you will keep yourself away from bad surprises because you can predict the dog's size as adult, the color, the length of the coat and even the way the dog will possibly behave.

This doesn't happen with the mixed dogs, but as a counterpart when two breeds are mixed up, the puppies are more likely to get the best of each breed, it is said that the mixed dogs are stronger, healthier and more intelligent that the pedigree dogs in the majority of the breeds. It is frequently possible to predict, with not much detail, the future aspect of mixed dogs if you know its parents and the same thing applies to its psychological profile. For example, the mixed dogs which aspect is very similar to the Collie's will probably tend to look after other animals or they may really enjoy running after their toys.

If you are especially interested in certain breed but you have never been in touch with a similar dog, it would be a good idea to get as much information as you can about it and even ask for a free test. Breeders will happily let you be in touch with adult dogs of this breed for you to know them better and will inform you in detail about their particular necessities. Another possibility is to take care of some friend's dog for a weekend or offer yourself as a volunteer at a canine shelter to take the dogs out for walks. All these can help you decide.

Choosing a Male or Female dog Breed ?

Choosing the dog's gender is pretty personal. In general, female dogs are usually easier to train and maybe less demanding with the family. Male dogs are sometimes competitive by nature and don't trust other male dogs, so it is very important to let them interact with other male dogs as soon as possible. The female dogs tend to be more affable with other dogs. A female dog that hasn't been sterilized has normally two heats per year and during this period it should be kept away from the male dogs in order to avoid undesired pregnancies. In any case, both genders need the same quantity of veterinary attention, socialization, and exercising, training and general care.

HEREDITARY PROBLEMS Many dogs suffer from hereditary defects such as hip dysphasia, the tendency to suffer eye problems, cardiac problems and deafness. If you buy a puppy, make sure that its parents were examined by a veterinary in order to make sure it doesn't suffer from any of these diseases. There are numerous campaigns aimed for breeders going on right now, to make it possible for them to breed only animals that won't suffer from these hereditary problems. It is very important for you to demand a health certificate from the puppy's parents and to perfectly understand everything that is written there. The nearest veterinary or breeder's club can give you a hand with this.