When it comes to choosing a puppy, dog lovers seem to go by their television favorite as opposed to picking a dog breed that’s right for them. Movies such as Lassie, 101 Dalmatians, Marley and Me and even commercials with dogs in them, have led to the overnight popularity of the respective dog breeds with the result most often being confused dog owners and very unhappy puppies.
New Puppy? …Check out this “House Training Guide”
There are more than a 600 recognized breeds, each having a specific set of traits, skills and needs that need to be examined closely before you go about picking one.
While retrievers look adorable on TV, appearing to be the perfect family dogs, you just might be in for a rude shock if you have a small living space with more than a couple of children. If this is the case, you may find that your retriever is too huge, over-excited and often undisciplined.
Retrievers are playful and friendly, but they also require serious training as they tend to well, retrieve everything that isn’t stuck to the ground. They also require ample space to move around and no matter how wonderful they look with the family on your favourite sitcom; this just might not be the dog breed for you.
Children tend to love toy dogs with lots of hair, appearing extremely cuddly. While toy dogs are ideal for a small family in a small apartment, they tend to behave like children themselves, often fussy and shed a lot of hair. So if you already have your hands full, you might want to consider a dog breed that’s easier to maintain but still small and friendly like the Daschund as opposed to Lhasa Apsos and Cocker Spaniels.
If a watchdog is what you need, German Shepherds and Dobermans may be a great choice. Known for their intelligence and keen sense of smell and boisterousness, they are often part of protection and security and for good reason.
However, both dogs tend to be one man’s dogs, so if you’re going to be away most of the day, chances are your German Shepherd will consider your gardener or whoever else who serves him lunch, as the master. Their loyalty is undivided and often fierce, making them excellent companions for those seeking one, for those who live alone and feel the need for both safety as well as companionship.</span></p>
<p><span style=”line-height: 1.3em;”>But again, like any other dog breed, watch dogs come with their own set of needs. They need lots of space as they tend to be huge, require ample exercise, a trainer to discipline them while their still young, lots of food and regular tail and nail trimming in case of Dobermans.
So when picking a dog breed, you’d need to consider your own lifestyle and needs and find one that fits both. Going by your television favourite or one that appears beautiful may be a very unwise choice and many such unfortunate puppies end up in a shelter. So make sure you do your home-work and know the dog breed you’re about to pick, like the back of your hand. It will be well worth the effort!
