Why are you getting a dog? The rewards from having a dog are real but
hard to define. It can be for company, for exercise, to reduce stress,
for security, or many other reasons. It's a bit like having a two year
old child that never grows up, and if you don't like children maybe you
don't like dogs either. Keeping a dog does cost a fair amount of money
too (but they are far cheaper than children!)
What type of dog? Consider the following as a kind of checklist. Your
answers to these questions will narrow down your choice considerably.
Does the dog need to get along well with children? It is often the
largest dogs that are best with children; toy dogs are too delicate for
small children to handle.
Does the dog need to get along well with other dogs and pets?
Is the dog easy to handle, or does it need an owner who is experienced in dog training?
Do you want to take your dog on trips with you? This is much easier with a small or medium sized dog.
How much exercise does the dog need; how much time and energy are
you prepared to spend exercising the dog? Some breeds need much more
exercise than others. Remember that the dog needs exercise whatever the
weather.
Does the dog need a lot of space or is it suitable for living in an apartment?
Do you want a watchdog or one that is friendly to strangers?
Do you want to leave the dog alone during the day while you are at work?
Do you need a dog that is OK for people who suffer from allergies?
Does the dog need a lot of grooming and if so are you going to do it
yourself or pay someone else to do it? Some long haired dogs need much
more grooming. However, many dogs that don't need grooming do shed hair
constantly.
Decide if you specifically want a male or female dog.
Mongrel -mixed breed They are often free or very cheap to obtain, and
cheaper to insure. They are usually healthier with fewer behavioural
quirks than pedigree dogs. On the other hand you won't know quite how
your dog is going to turn out if you get a mongrel puppy. Be careful
about getting a dog that is advertised as 'free to a good home' etc as
it may be that the way it was brought up has created health or behaviour
problems. Dog homes always have a supply of mixed breed dogs and can
usually give you some idea of the dog's behaviour, health etc. Also they
should take back a dog that turns out to have problems or is unsuitable
for any reason.
Pedigree breeds If you want a pedigree dog choose a few breeds that you
think may be suitable. If you are not very familiar with the breed read
as much as you can about it. Consulting Breed standards is very
important if you want to breed from it, or do well at dog shows, but not
as helpful concerning breed health problems, character of the dog,
grooming or training, but other more general books will fill the gap. If
you just want a pet your priority is a healthy well behaved dog and
many 'faults' relating to size, build, color and markings etc. will not
concern you. If you tell the breeder this you may get offered a special
price for a dog that will be a good pet but is not suitable for breeding
or dog shows. According to Wikipedia the American Kennel Club
recognises about 170breeds of dog, far too many even to list them all
here. For convenience, it divides all dog breeds into seven groups:
Sporting Dogs e.g. pointers, setters, retrievers and many spaniels. They
generally need a fair amount of exercise. Breeds that are generally
good with children include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers,
English Setters, English Cocker Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel and
Flat Coated Retriever.
Working Dogs e.g. guard dogs such as Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher,
and sled dogs such as Malamute or Husky. They mostly need plenty of
exercise and a fair amount of space. The Newfoundlander looks like a
giant teddy bear and is noted for its gentleness and good nature. It is
particularly good with children and makes a great family dog. It was
born to swim and does need a lot of grooming.
Toy Dogs e.g. Yorkshire Terriers, Toy Poodles, Shih Tzus, Pugs,
Pomeranians, Maltese. These are suitable for city apartments and don't
need much exercise so are more suitable for the elderly and housebound.
However toy dogs and small children don't mix well!
Terriers e.g. Yorkshire terrier, Boston terrier, Scottish terrier, Cairn
terrier. This group includes small and medium sized dogs. They
generally need firm handling and are better with older children. They
are energetic and enjoy games such as playing with Frisbees. Note that
bull terriers, Pit bulls and Staffordshire terriers were originally bred
as fighting dogs. They need an experienced owner who will ensure that
they are properly socialised and trained.
Hounds - Sight hounds include Afghans, Borzoi, Greyhounds and Salukis.
These are very fast and energetic. They should always be kept on a lead
except in a fenced area otherwise they can run off chasing a squirrel or
cat. However older greyhounds become much quieter and retired racing
dogs can make excellent pets once they become accustomed to living in a
house. If exercised thoroughly mornings and evenings greyhounds can
adapt to being left alone all day. The Irish Wolfhound is one of the
largest breeds. An adult male will weigh 120 to 160 pounds. They make
good family dogs as they are reliable, patient, good-tempered and
affectionate. Scent hounds include Dachshunds, Bloodhounds, Bassets and
Beagles. They are much calmer than sight hounds. Beagles are very
popular as they are loyal, and good with children and other pets.
However they are not so easy to train as they have an independent streak
and will follow a scent regardless of anything else.
Herding Dog e.g.Shetland Sheepdog, Border Collie, Collie, and German
Shepherd. These breeds were originally developed to herd cattle and
sheep so they are intelligent and athletic. Shetland sheepdogs and
border collies do need a lot of exercise and space to run. German
Shepherds are one of the most popular breeds, but have suffered from
defects due to over-breeding. They should be reliable, self-confident,
loyal and even-tempered, but nowadays there are some which are shy and
nervous which should be avoided.
Non-sporting dog. This group includes all the breeds that don't fit into
any of the other groups. A wide variety of types and sizes including
the Bichon Frise, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, Bulldog, Boston Terrier and
Poodle.
Designer Dogs. This is a term used for hybrid dogs which are deliberate
crosses between two breeds in an attempt to get the desirable qualities
of both breeds without any of the problems associated with either breed.
Poodles are popular for these crosses because they have non-shedding
coats which should be better for people with allergies. The non-shedding
coat seems to be a dominant characteristic present in all the 1st
generation crosses. E.g. a Labrador retriever crossed with a poodle is
known as a Labradoodle, a cross between a pug and a beagle is a puggle, a
cockapoo is a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle and
goldendoodle is a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle. With
170 breeds to start from there are over 14,000 possible combinations of
two breeds! There are already over 100 different hybrid breeds
registered at the American Canine Hybrid Club.
Health Different breeds are prone to various hereditary diseases such as
hip dysplasia, aortic stenosis or entropion. Before buying a pedigree
dog check which diseases that breed is prone to and check with the
breeder that the parents of the dog you choose have been certified free
of defects.
Allergies & Hypoallergenic dogs If someone in your family suffers
from allergies it would be sensible to choose a low-shedding dog such as
a poodle, but all dogs produce some allergens. If you suspect an
allergy to the dog you need to visit a specialist to check if the dog
really is the cause. There are many ways to reduce the impact of any
type of allergy e.g. hard floors instead of carpets, antihistamine
treatments. Regular bathing and careful grooming for your dog should
also help.