CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOG FOR YOUR FAMILY
by Amanda Henry, CVT - Janesville Animal Medical Center
608.868.1761

With the Obama family getting a new puppy for the White House and V.P. Joe Biden also bringing a new dog to Washington D.C., we thought sharing some tips for selecting a new canine family member would be timely. Before bringing a puppy or adult dog into your home, many factors need to be considered.  Insufficient thought on what type of dog best fits into a person’s lifestyle is a major factor associated with relinquishment and euthanasia.  There is such a huge diversity of dog breeds, picking the correct breed for you can be mind boggling.  Here are some tips to help in the selection process.

There are many factors in your lifestyle that affect what kind of dog you should bring home.  You need to ask yourself, no matter how much you may want a dog, does one really fit into your daily life?  Do you live in the city, suburbs, or country?  Do you rent or own?  Do live in an apartment or single family home, and is it on the ground floor or 10th floor?  How long is your work day, and do you have any obligations that keep you from home after work or on weekends?  Do you travel a lot?  Do you have any other pets, and are there any restrictions on the number of pets you can own in your city?  Does anybody have allergies in your household?  What are you looking for in a dog, an exercise buddy or a couch potato lap dog?  One major factor that should influence your decision is your future.  So many animals are given up because their owners’ lifestyle changed, and the pet just didn’t fit into it anymore.  This is very unfair to any animal.

The cost of owning a dog is another big responsibility that people need to plan ahead for.  Besides the purchase price of the dog, your dog will need a high quality food, proper housing, mental stimulation (toys, playtime), veterinary visit costs for preventative care as well as any unexpected emergency visits, grooming , boarding, identification, licensing, spaying/neutering, training, and accessories (crate, dishes, leash, collar, etc.).  Pet health insurance is something to think about as well.  As you can see, there are many, many costs associated with dog ownership, which many people don’t really think about.

The next thing that needs to be decided is what breed of dog is most suitable to your everyday life.  Should you get a puppy or an adult dog?  What physical characteristics do you want your dog to have, such as long hair vs. short hair, shedding vs. non-shedding, big vs. small, etc.?  The lifespan of the dog has to be taken into consideration.  Smaller dogs generally live longer than large breed dogs.  Do you want a male or female?  What about spaying or neutering?  Where do you plan to get your dog from?  What behavior characteristics are common with the breed of dog you want to get?  For example, the temperaments of the breed, sociability, any protective behavior, its tendency to bark, and its behavior towards children are all characteristics that need to be considered.

Next, you need to consider if you want a puppy or an adult dog to bring into your home for the rest of its life.  There are pros and cons with each.  A puppy generally requires more of a time commitment.  They need to be housetrained, socialized, and signed up for general training classes.  They also need frequent feeding, exercise, and supervision.  Puppies, for the most part, adapt well to their new environment.  An adult dog may be housetrained already, they usually know basic commands, and typically have been temperament tested.  Usually, you won’t know the medical or behavioral history to an adult dog.

The next step is to figure out where you are going to get your new dog.  Shelters and breed rescues are the way to go for adult dogs.  They have both mixed breed dogs and purebreds depending on what you are looking for.  You do have to be careful and try to figure out why these dogs were given up, though.  Some are because of an owner’s change in lifestyle.  For example, if they had to move or just had a baby.  Other reasons are behavioral.  If there are behavioral problems, you need to make sure you can put the appropriate amount of time and money into the dog.  If you want to get a puppy, some rescues and shelters do have puppies available; otherwise make sure you go to a reputable breeder.  A reputable breeder will gladly provide references and are happy to show you their kennel and other dogs.  Pet stores, breeding farms, and puppy mills should be avoided at all costs.  These puppies tend to have unknown medical and genetic history, have a high incidence of respiratory and intestinal disease, and are usually stressed by the transport, handling, and housing situations they are put into.  Also, keep in mind that an AKC certificate is not a guarantee for a reputable breeder.

When it comes to picking out an actual puppy from a litter, make sure you are choosing a healthy animal.  It should have clear, bright eyes, a clean, shiny hair coat, good body condition, and no signs of illness, like diarrhea or nasal discharge.  Pick a puppy that is active and is not afraid of you.  It should accept gentle handling with no signs of aggression.  The parent’s temperament can usually, but not always, be a good indicator of what the attitude of the puppy will be.  Allow the puppy to come to you, don’t rush it.  If it doesn’t warm up within 30 minutes, you may want to avoid that shy puppy. 

Once you have done all of the preparation of picking out the correct dog for your lifestyle, you need to be prepared for when you actually bring the new family member home.  Have the food, bowls, collar, leash, and crate all set up before the dog arrives.  Also, make sure your home has been pet proofed.  Electrical wires are the most dangerous for curious chewing mouths.

There is a lot to think about when choosing to bring a dog into your family, whether you are by yourself or have a houseful of children.  Pet selection counseling is always available.  Schedule an appointment if this is something you would be interested in.  Making an informed decision will help you provide your pet with a lifetime commitment.