Choosing the Right Dog Breed For Your Situation is Crucial

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Choosing the right dog breed for you and your family is very important before you go puppy shopping. This is because everyone loves puppies and they will melt your heart with their cute little faces, however, they will grow up to be dogs. Every dog breed has their own personality traits and requirements for their care and needs so it is important that you consider these things before you bring a puppy home.

One of the first things you should do is research the specific breed of dog that you are considering purchasing and find out what types of traits this breed has. For example if you are looking at a cocker spaniel you should know that this type of dog is a bit high strung and tends to nip. So even though they are adorable they may not do well with small children.

Another thing to consider is your environment. For example let's say that you are considering buying a German shepherd. They are beautiful loyal animals but you need to know what you are getting when you choose this breed. Generally speaking they do not do well with other household pets. So you may want to reconsider this breed of dog if you have other dogs or cats in the household.

You should also look at health problems that are associated with the breed you are considering. As the two example listed above also have their own set of problems that are commonly seen in their breeds. For example the cocker spaniels tend to have both eye and ear issues and the shepherds can have a very expensive and painful condition known as hip dysplasia. So make sure that you know what you could be getting into as far as health issues are concerned.

When choosing the right dog breed for your situation you also need to know how what your dog is going to need to keep it healthy. For example some dogs are going to need lots of room to run and play. So this type of breed is not going to be appropriate for apartment living or at a home with a small yard. There are plenty of smaller dog breeds that will do quite well in situations where they are walked a few times a day.

Care and maintenance of the dog should also be considered when choosing a dog. For example a cocker spaniel needs to be groomed regularly as their hair tends to knot and grows to long on their paws. You can do it yourself or you can take them to a groomer but either way it will cost you in time or money. A shepherd on the other hand will shed like crazy. This means that you are going to have to brush them often and it will cause more house work to keep the hair from accumulating. Adding a dog to your home can be very rewarding especially when you do your research for choosing the right dog breed for your home situation.

Craig Thornburrow is an acknowledged expert in his field. You can get information on dog toys [http://dogstoys.info] at [http://dogstoys.info]

Choosing the Right Dog Kennel

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Choosing the right size and style dog kennel and run is important for the contentment of your dog.  Unless your dog is going to be an indoor dog, you will most likely want to build or buy outdoor housing, a kennel, for your dog.  Even if your dog is primarily an indoor dog, you may still want to have a kennel outdoors as there are times when you may want your dog outdoors such as when you have visitors who are allergic to dogs, or if you'll be away all day and don't want to leave your dog inside while you are gone.

Primary considerations when deciding on your dog kennel

The two main factors, when deciding on what type of dog kennel you need are:

• The size of your yard


• The size of your dog

The size of your yard:  Obviously, if you do not have a large yard you wouldn't want the entire yard taken up by a dog kennel and run.  However, if you do have a decent sized yard, and your dog will be primarily an outdoor dog, it is best to at least provide a good sized run for your dog.  A dog that is cooped up all day may become very bored.  Bored dogs tend to have behavioral problems such as incessant barking, digging, whining or other destructive behavior. I have seen a dog tear apart their wooden dog kennel piece by piece when left tied up too long. (It was a Golden Retriever and they are notorious chewers!)

The size of your dog:  It goes without saying that a smaller dog does not need a gigantic run.  In fact, oftentimes smaller dogs are indoor dogs and in that case you would only need to build or buy a kennel, there would be no real need for a run.

The Kennel and Run

The kennel is a house for your dog, where they can go in and find shelter from the weather (either the heat and sun, or the rain and cold) and safety and security.  It should be large enough for your dog to turn around in, and to lay stretched out in comfortably. It should also be deep enough to provide shelter and safety.  Ideally, it should be high enough for your dog to stand up in without him having to lower his head below his shoulders.

The kennel should be weather proof, and that any metal parts are rust proof.

A run is attached to a kennel, and not always weatherproofed, often there is no ceiling to the run.  They are usually, made from heavy mesh attached to the kennel.  The floor of the run can be cemented although it doesn't have to be.  Of course, if your run is not cemented chances are that the ground will get muddy and the grass will die after some time.  There's also the possibility of your dog digging out under the mesh perimeter too, if your dog is a good digger.  Cement floors are easier to clean, but you may want to cover it with a sealant as normal paint can peel and look ugly after a while.

Whatever you decide for your dog, remember that a happily housed dog is a content dog and content dogs generally behave much better than bored, or uncomfortably housed dogs.  Don't be afraid to invest well in your dog's kennel and run, as the investment will pay off.

Susan Westingham, dog lover and owner, has had many years of experience in exhibiting dogs in Dog Shows and is an expert in dog obedience training. She has written numerous articles on dog care, dog training aids and obedience training. Read more information on the dog kennel and run and training aids such as the anti bark collar

Choosing a Dog Breed

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Buying a new pet, especially a dog can be very exciting. It is worth considering your lifestyle choices and those who live with you before choosing a dog breed. Choosing any family pet may depend on several factors which must be taken into account. Perhaps the most important question is: are you prepared to take good care of the animal and treat it accordingly?

If the answer to the above question is yes, the next step is to decide the reason you would like a dog. There can be many reasons such as protection, as a pet for a child, as a show dog or simply for the sake of companionship. This is an important factor in choosing the correct breed.

After that you should consider your living circumstances as many of the other decisions will depend on this. You should consider the area in which you live: do you live in the town or countryside? This can limit how often and where you can take a dog for walks. Next you should consider the size of your house: do you have ample space for the new dog to cohabit with the owners and any existing pets? Does your house have a garden where the creature can play or rest? It is also worth thinking about how often the pet will be left alone each day. If you are going for an expensive rare breed this will obviously have to be very limited; however on the flipside if you decide to choose a big energetic dog then you still may not be able to leave it alone for extended periods.

Another side of lifestyle considerations is the associated costs with raising a pet. Ideally you should have a budget for basic needs such as foods and cleaning products. You should also take into account the possibility of other events happening. For example a situation may arise where you will need to leave the dog with somebody for an extended period of time on a paid basis. You should also think about health costs and possible veterinary services. A limited budget also means that your ability in choosing specially bred dogs may be more limited. However this should not stop you from being able to find a good pet.

Pets like human beings require attention and care. To many people their dog is a normal member of the household. Dogs must be given regular exercise and training to keep them active and in a healthy state. They must have necessarily health checks and be given essential vaccinations. Taking the dog down to the park for a walk is something you should fit into your weekly schedule.

Once you have acknowledged the extent of your lifestyle and your ability in raising a pet, it is time to decide the type of breed. The first thing to think about is the size. Make sure to discuss this with other members of the family as this is a big limitation on what breed of dog you may choose. Do you really have enough space for a German Shepard? Or are you prepared to deal with small Chihuahuas running around the house and having to look for them from time to time?

Perhaps one of the most underestimated things about any pet is the aging of the animal. Animals have a different lifespan to human beings. The reason that this is important is as important as buying the pet in the first place. Considering many people buy dogs for company, a family can very easily become attached to the animal. The pet becomes a 'member' of the family. For many people loosing a pet can be as shocking as loosing a very close relative.

Once you have planned and taken into account all factors, its time to make the exciting trip down the pet store or going to see a few dogs with other family members. Then you can hopefully make a decision as to who you would like to welcome to your house as new member.

Copyright 2005 Dave Markel

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