Puppy or adult? Mutt or purebred? Which breed? Breeder or rescue?
It’s easy to make an emotional decision about dogs. “Oh look, there’s a dog that has been horribly neglected. Let’s adopt him!” Or “Oh. My. God. Just look at how beautiful that breed is. I must have one.”
Stop right there. Before we even get to those questions, why have you decided to get a dog?
But the neglected dog may have serious behavioural and emotional problems. That beautiful dog may have been created by generations of inbreeding, so that the breed is now rife with genetic health problems.
Who wouldn’t want a dog? They are non-judgmental and loyal. They provide companionship. They don’t care if you are smart or stupid, rich or poor, thin or fat. You just look at her and say her name and she is in heaven. Where can you get that kind of unconditional love and acceptance?
Even Hitler’s dog loved him, we are told. This fact so compromised the German Shepherd breed that in the 1950s, when our family adopted a German Shepherd, we were told to call it an “Alsatian”.
Apparently, because we didn’t want to own a German Shepherd as these dogs well known Nazi sympathizers.
Dogs are good for you. There are all kinds of things you can do with your dog that will get you physically active. It’s a good way to meet people. Walk with your dog and people will stop and chat. Studies have shown patting a dog or cat will lower your blood pressure. People with dogs live longer and are more successful than people who have never owned a dog.
Look at Mr. Burns. That pack of Dobermans is the only reason he still has a pulse.
But there are very real costs for all those wonderful things.
Can you make your life work so that both you and Dogbert get what you need? Since spaying and neutering of dogs has become the norm in North America, the number of dogs in shelters has gone down. But still, some seven million dogs per year end up in shelters in the U.S. and a 2015 study estimated that at least one-third of them had been relinquished by their owners.
The top reasons why pets are left at shelters include economic difficulties, lack of time, the dog’s behavioural problems and a new baby coming home.
Think about the costs that come with being a responsible dog owner. The cost of food and (hopefully) training sessions. Collars, leads, beds, toys, nail clippers. Grooming. Dog walkers if you are at work for long periods of time. Veterinarian bills for routine vaccinations and for the unforeseen things that happen, from illnesses to injuries.
One year our vet bills were almost $10,000.
One of our cats became diabetic, and another died after a surgery for cancer. Our dog lost two eyes to glaucoma over a period of six months.
Think about the curtailment of personal freedom. Are you ready to get up an hour or so earlier every morning to give the dog a walk before work? Is it your habit to go barhopping after work with the gang on Friday night? But Rex has been home for ten hours on his own. Who’s going to feed him and let him outside to pee? Want to go away for the weekend? What are you going to do with the dog? If you put her in a kennel, that’s more money.
Consider the dog hair on your clothes, and the wear and tear on the furniture. Think about when she comes in all covered with mud and tracks it over your pristine floors.
What if he chews up your woodwork or all your expensive shoes. Are you prepared for possible behaviour issues?
Dogs are a big time commitment, involving walks, playtime, brushing, nail clipping, teeth cleaning even. How will you meet the dog’s need for companionship and mental and physical stimulation? How will you socialize him properly with other people and other dogs.
Put out of your mind the ideal picture of walking him through the autumn leaves on a crisp clear fall day.
Think about it when it’s 30 below, or when it’s pouring rain, or freezing rain, or deadly hot. Dogs thrive on routine. If you walk him every day when you get up, he is going to expect it. He doesn’t know or care that it’s raining.
Dogs are pack animals, and you will be this guy’s pack. Not only that, you will be (or should be) his pack leader.
If you haven’t thought about these things, you need to do so, realistically. Don’t get a dog only to send it to a shelter a year or two later. You are committing yourself to be the all in all for this furball for the next 12 to 15 years.
Buyer’s remorse is a really, really bad thing, when dealing with another living being.
If you are ready to take on a dog, are you ready to start with a puppy?
Puppies are adorable.
Look at that little face! Adorable, right? Don’t you feel like you just have to run out and get one?
But puppies have to be trained into good habits. They don’t just miraculously stop jumping up on you, eating your woodwork, peeing on the floor and chasing the cat. If you don’t correct bad behaviours when your dog is a puppy, you’ll end up with a dog who is a really unpleasant roommate. All too often, those dogs end up at the local shelter for “behaviour problems”.
If you adopt an adult dog he may already have learned bad behaviours. Training him out of those behaviours may be far more difficult that starting fresh with a puppy.
On the other hand, there are lots of adult dogs who lost their a home through no fault of their own, who have perfect manners. I housesat for a lady who had adopted a nine year old Lab, who got sent to the shelter when his previous owner died. Max was one of the best behaved dogs I ever met. Our own Mac was adopted as an adult, but he was easily the the best behaved and easiest dog we ever owned.
Is it better to get a purebred than a mixed breed dog?
Some people think so, because they claim you know what you’re getting with a purebred dog. This is true when it comes to size, shape and looks. In my opinion, however, the breed of the dog is a much more limited indicator of personality and temperament, although breeders will say otherwise.
Among the many things I learned in sixteen years of boarding just about every kind of dog imaginable, is that there are many cases of dogs not behaving like a “typical” Lab, or “typical” German Shepherd, or “typical” anything. You might be able to predict the statistical likelihood of a dog of a certain breed behaving in a certain way. But individual cases will vary greatly from the “norm”.
You cannot say with certainty that because a dog is a Border Collie, he will want to chase a ball. I’ve known at last two who had no interest. I have known a Golden Retriever whose owner had to make the difficult choice to have him put down for aggression, though this breed is famously sweet natured.
Yes, Siberian Huskies will likely have a strong prey drive, and want to pull on leash. Yes, Beagles may well be difficult to train because they are too interested in the story their nose is telling them. I have never met a bad tempered Lab. But Labs come in all kinds of activity levels, from total couch potato to hyperactive ADD cases to everything in between.
Just because a dog is purebred doesn’t guarantee it will display the temperament or personality typical, on average, for the breed.
Purebred dogs can differ in temperament even between dogs born in the same litter.
Some researchers have also suggested that, to the extent breeds do display certain personality traits, non purebred dogs that strongly resemble a certain breed, are likely to have similar personalities.
Chances are pretty good that the mixed breed dog below dog will be terrier-like in its determination and feistiness.
One positive advantage of adopting a mixed breed dog is that they tend to have more robust health than purebred dogs.
Before you adopt any dog, you will want to spend some time informally testing its temperament. Walk into a room with a litter of puppies. Some will come racing up to you, full of boldness and self-confidence. Others will hold back, or hide behind their mother. Same thing is true of a shelter dog. Wagging tail, wriggling butt, attempts to give kisses are a pretty good indication of an affectionate dog. Cowering, growling, showing teeth all suggest this dog has some issues.
In deciding upon a breed, or even a mixed breed dog, there are a number of important factors you first have to consider.
1. Yourself and your lifestyle.
What role is the dog going to play in your life?
Do you want a dog who will love going with you for long runs?
You will be looking at one of the athletic breeds in the Sporting or Working Dog Groups, like a Boxer, Pointer, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd or Golden Retriever.
Don’t want a dog that big? You can still choose a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, a Springer Spaniel, a Brittany Spaniel or one of the Spitz breeds.
Do you want a dog that will cuddle up in your lap while you watch TV? There are any number of small dogs who would love to be your companion, such as Maltese, Pekingese, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tsu, Pomeranians or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Be careful though. Just because a dog is small doesn’t mean it wants to spend its life lying in front of the fire. Ask most owners of Jack Russell Terriers.
Do you live alone and want a guard dog, who will bark ferociously anytime someone comes to the door? That could be a Pomeranian, but if you want to intimidate a threatening visitor – or even the meter reader – you could get a Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Belgian Sheep Dog, Doberman or Beauceron.
Do you, like me have a soft spot for the dogs who are independent thinkers? If so, you must be prepared for the time you will have to spend training them and keeping them occupied both physically and mentally.
The Belgian Sheep Dog Breed Standard requires a dog who “is always in motion when not under command”.
Huskies will challenge you plenty, and will also sing you a song.
Do you want to do doggy activities, such as Agility, Dock Diving, or even herding or hunting? Border Collies routinely take top prizes at Agility competitions. They love the work.
I adore Hounds of all kinds and description, but their desire to follow the scent will almost always trump their desire to please you. Don’t be fooled into think a Beagle is a lapdog.
Pointer and Setter breeds abound, and even if they can’t hunt birds, they will love you for taking them on long country tramps.
Do you admire the placid solidity of the giant breeds like the Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundland Dog, or St. Bernard? The later two can and do participate in the kind of tasks they were bred to do. I knew at least one owner of a Newf who had a little rowboat at the cottage specifically so the dog could enjoy pulling it to shore.
Be prepared for the drool factor with the latter two breeds. Also brace yourself for the inevitable loss. The giant breeds have a shorter lifespan than most dogs. Six to eight years is not unusual.
Large sheepdog guarding breeds such as the Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherds look wonderfully dignified. They may not take well to strangers though.
2. Your Home:
How big is your living space? If you are in a studio apartment, a dog may be fine, if it’s a toy breed. Much as you may love Beethoven, do you really want a slobbery St. Bernard taking up all the air in the place, not to mention the floor space?
Do you have a fenced yard? How secure is it? If you’re thinking about getting a Beagle or a Siberian, make sure your yard is very, very secure. The Beagle will dig out under the fence, and the Siberian will jump over it, given even a sniff of something interesting on the other side. At the pet resort, we were astonished at how much damage a determined dog could do to a chain link fence.
If you don’t have a fenced yard, do you fully understand the demands that will be put on you to jump out of bed first thing every morning to take your dog outside for a walk to relieve herself?
If you are away from home all day, do you have a secure area to confine the dog in if he turns out to be a chewer or is prone to breaking housetraining? While many dogs can be trained to stay in a crate, some dogs hate them. Besides, while a crate may be fine for a few hours, what kind of life will your dog have confined to a box for up to twelve hours a day, five days a week?
If you live in a hot climate, is your home air-conditioned? This is a real consideration for brachycephalic breeds like the Pug , or double coated breeds like Malamutes and Chow Chows.
3. Family:
Is everyone in the family on board with getting a dog? Have you discussed what kind of dog everyone wants? One clientwho arrived with a Great Dane immediately asked us if we knew anyone who would like to adopt her dog. Turned out nobody in the family except her had even wanted a dog. To the extent they reluctantly went along with her wish, they had stipulated that the dog be small. Unsurprisingly, the dog was not fitting in with the family and she had lost interest once she realised how big this dog actually was, and how much work it took.
If there are small children, or if you are contemplating having a baby, take this into consideration. Herding breeds and those with a strong prey drive are going to want to chase your toddler when they take off at a staggering run, screaming at the top of their lungs.
Consider how you are going to introduce the dog to the children and the children to the dog. You’re going to have to teach your child how she can safely interact with the dog, as well as teach the dog to respect the child.
Are there other animals in the household? Herding breeds may want to herd your cat. This may not turn out well for the cat. Sometimes it doesn’t turn out well for the dog.
If you have another dog, consider where the new dog will fit into the pack. If your dog is dominant, you may want to find a dog that is on the submissive side to avoid challenges. Think about how you will make the introductions.
4. Size:
Dogs range in size from the tiny Chihuahua at under a pound to the Tibetan Mastiff at 160 pounds. One thing some people find surprising is that giant breeds of dog do not need a lot of exercise. Newfoundlanders and Mastiffs tend to be quite indolent. There’s a reason you don’t see them racing around the agility course. Sure, your house or apartment needs a big enough space for them to sprawl out in, but a large yard is not necessarily indicated.
The bigger a dog is the more physical strength is needed to control it. As the very petite lady who boarded her two Great Danes with us pointed out, if they decided to take off while she’s holding the lead, there’s not a thing she could do about it. So if you get a strong, athletic dog, training is even more than usually important.
With a tiny dog, you can pick them up and put them where you want them to be. There is a lot of being over required though, so if you have back issues, consider that.
Big dogs eat more and that costs money. There is more poop to collect from a big dog. If you’re going to get a giant breed, think about how you will cope if the dog collapses on the floor with heat stroke or something. The General and I had quite the time getting a one hundred pound unconscious Bouvier from the back of the pet resort outside and up into the car for transport to the vet. Even the cost of euthanasia is based on the poundage of the dog. no one wants to think about that, true, but it is real.
Personally I prefer the medium sized dogs, whose backs are about at my fingertip level when my arm is extended.
5. Coat:
My beloved Toby, a Belgian Terverun was a joy to behold. His long fawn coloured coat was tipped with black. Toby’s thick double coat took a lot of work. It seemed if there was a burr bush within a block, Toby would find it. Disentangling those burrs gave a whole new meaning to the word “frustration”.
There is a reason why the short coated Belgian Malinois type of Belgian Sheep Dog is more popular than the Terverun type. Same package without the high maintenance coat.
Certain breeds like Poodles pretty much require the services of a professional groomer to shave the coat down. These things cost money.
Short coated dogs take less grooming. But they don’t necessarily mean less shedding. It’s not the dog’s hair that causes the problems, it’s the sneeze inducing dander, or even the saliva. If you have allergies, you can consider one of the breeds typically recommended for allergy sufferers, for example the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Yorkshire Terrier, Portuguese Water Dog or Poodle.
But be aware that a 2011 study done for the Henry Ford Hospital researchers published in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy found no evidence that so-called hypoallergenic breeds had less allergens. The thing that prevents or reduces allergies to dog dander early in life.
6. Health:
As discussed elsewhere, there are health issues – sometimes very serious health issues – with just about every one of the two hundred or so recognized breeds of dogs. If you are interested in a particular type of purebred dog, do your homework. Identify the problems that breed is subject to, be prepared to watch for problems and deal with them if they arise, and find a reputable breeder to buy your dog from.
There are numerous online “dog selector” quizzes and questionnaires, but they all boil down to the same thing.
Consider how the dog is going to fit into your home and your life. Consider practical matters like economics, time considerations, other family members both two- and four-footed, physical requirements and your lifestyle.
If you want this to be the start of a beautiful friendship, you have to choose wisely.