Adorable Dog Tags

Choosing a dog

Picking the puppy that is right for you will often require some forethought. Avoid impulse buying or adoptions. These can often lead to disappointment and even resentment towards the pet. If you see a “puppy in the window,” think about the purchase and do research into the breed before you lay out your hard earned cash.
As far as “free” puppies go, they seldom are. Make inquires about the diet that has been fed, any vaccinations or worm medications given and be sure to check for ANY hair loss, skin thickening or redness. These can be indications of sarcoptic (contagious to humans) or demodex mange.

Make a list while thinking about what you want in a dog.

1. If you like peace and quiet, a hyper Pomeranian or Boston Terrier, would not fit in. Do you live in an apartment? If so, a Great Dane, St. Bernard, or Mastiff would not be the dog for you.

2. Perhaps you are athletic and enjoy long walks, jogging or hiking up mountain trails. You would get along great with a Labrador or some other active breed.

3.  Will you want a lap dog or one to rough house with? Dachshunds, toy and miniature Poodles, Bichons, Maltese, Chihuahuas and certain small breeds of terriers are all too happy to lay around in a lap or on your feet all day. For an exuberant playmate, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Collies, Dobermans, Fox and Rat Terriers and Boxers are all excellent choices.

4. Do you have other dogs? Some breeds get along with anything while others will fight almost any new dog that comes in. Female Welsh Corgis are often bad about not accepting other female dogs. Other breeds were originally bred to fight other dogs, bulls or large game. Investigate the history of possible breeds before purchasing one and bringing it in with your established pet. You may also want to investigate your present pet’s origins for the same reasons. It must be remembered that whenever a new dog is introduced into the household a pecking order will be set up. Usually the older, established dog will be Alpha and the newer dog will allow him or herself to be ruled. These will likely change as the new puppy gets older and hormones kick in.

5.Think about medical conditions. Do you suffer from allergies or asthma? If so, you would probably want to avoid long- haired, double coated breeds such as St. Bernards and Collies that shed a large portion of the year. If you have asthma, there is a long-standing belief by many people that Chihuahuas don’t cause as many flare-ups. Poodles are also credited with a lower incidence of asthma related complications because of their low shedding rate.