Choosing a Breed
A puppy represents a major commitment in terms of time, money, and of course, love. Before you commit yourself to owning a puppy, you owe it to yourself, your family, and, above all, any puppy you might buy to make sure you’re making the right decision.
Buying a puppy must be a joint decision for the whole family. Remember, the presence of the pup (and the adult dog he’ll become) will affect every one of you. Everyone in the family should share responsibility for the puppy’s daily care, such as feeding, walking, grooming, and training. Don’t buy a puppy just for the children’s sake. If they grow tired of the pup, it may be busy Mom, who may never have wanted a dog in the first place, who is forced to look after it.
Another issue to consider is the family demographics: age and number of children, any elderly family members or visitors, and any existing dogs or other pets you may have. For example, a puppy may not be suitable if you have very young children. You must decide when you think a child is old enough to cope with boisterous young dog and can appreciate that a puppy is not a toy and will not always want to play.
Puppies are cute and cuddly, but many mature into large dogs that require a great deal of mental and physical stimulation. Make sure you can handle the responsibility.
A lively young collie would probably not be suitable for elderly people, but could be fine for older children or a couple with time and energy to devote to his training. If you have other pets, such as a cat or a rabbit, that the puppy is unfamiliar with, they will need very careful introduction (see Your Puppy and His New Home).
Where do you live?
Consider whether you have sufficient space for a dog of the breed you want. No matter how cute and cuddly the puppy looks at the moment, he will grow into an adult that will need plenty of room to move around in and to exercise. Therefore the type of environment in which you live is important. Do you live in an apartment or a house,in a city, suburb, or rural area? Do you have easy access to parks, woods, beaches, or other open spaces where dogs are allowed? Most breeds adapt to town or country living, but certain hunting dogs, such as the American water spaniel and bloodhound, and working dogs are more suited to rural locations.
Think about potential difficulties caused by the layout of your house and grounds. Is there direct access to a yard and, if so, how big is it? Even though large breeds can curl up in small spaces indoors, all dogs need outside access. The balcony of an apartment may be acceptable for small toy breeds, but not, for example, a German shepherd. Does the front door open directly onto the road? Is the yard secure or, or could an adventurous puppy escape? Problems like these can often be solved with a little foresight (see Home Safety Check).
If you have young children, consider whether they could cope with a boisterous young pup.
How much time do you have?
Another important factor is the amount of time you and your family can devote to the puppy. For example, do you work full-time or part-time, every day or just some days? If you and/or your partner’s work takes you away from home during the day, would anyone else be around to care for the dog? Puppies need constant attention, and even adult dogs should not be kept on their own for too long. Remember, unlike cats, dogs are highly social animals and can become distressed if abandoned for long periods. Four hours is about the limit most dogs should be left alone.
How much will dog-owning cost?
You should also think about how much money you have to spend. You can pay out a lot of money for a puppy, especially for a pedigree dog. And the bills don’t end there. Food, toys, bedding and other equipment, veterinary care, insurance, and arrangements for vacations, if the dog needs to be left in kennels during your absence, must all be taken into account. The costs soon mount up. As a general rule, the bigger the dog and the more specialized the breed, the greater the financial outlay.
What’s the best age?
The best age to take a puppy home is around ten weeks old, or just before, when it is starting to become more independent but can still adapt easily to a new environment. What happens during a puppy’s first ten weeks is likely to have a permanent effect on the pup. Puppies learn a lot about life and how to behave from their mother and their littermates (see below “Puppy’s Early Education”). Removing them from that environment too soon can deprive them of an important education.
From five to twelve weeks is the “critical socialization period,” when a pup learns how to respond to other dogs and people. At ten weeks, provided the puppy was raised by a responsible and knowledgeable
breeder, he has had the best possible start in life, and there are still two weeks of the important socialization period left so you can go out and about with the pup, encountering all things the pup will have to cope with in the human world, visiting friends and family, and continuing to expose the pup to people of all ages and descriptions (see Down From Stand). This is also the best time for a puppy to settle into the domestic setting and bond with his new family before he becomes too set in his ways. If the vaccination program is not complete, the pup will have to be carried in public places to avoid contact.
Ten weeks is the best age to bring a puppy home; he will find it easier to settle into his new family and surroundings.
Before eight weeks, puppies are not fully weaned, so they rely on their mothers for food as well as emotional support. Puppies over twelve weeks are likely to have formed strong associations to their home and may find it difficult to adjust to a new environment. By this time, puppies may even be starting to develop unwanted behavioral traits that will become increasingly difficult to train out again.
Male or female?
You should give some thought to the sex of the puppy—there are pros and cons to both genders. As a general rule, males tend to be more independent than females, so they can be more difficult to train. Unless they’re neutered, they will follow “bitch” in season (that is, fertile) for miles, given the opportunity. Females tend to more responsive and flexible, so they can be easier to train. However, unless they’re spayed (neutered), they come into season for three weeks twice a year, when they will attract unwanted attention from males. It is very important that females be kept secure at these times—amounting to around six weeks a year, in total—if you want to avoid the risk of unwanted litters.
If you don’t intend to breed from your dog, another option is to have him or her neutered, which will solve many of these problems.
The Fear Imprint Period
Before ten weeks is a bad time to take a puppy away from his mother and siblings and put him in a strange environment. Around the age of eight weeks, puppies pass through a stage of development known as the first “fear imprint period,” when any unpleasant or frightening occurrence can have a lasting effect (see Veterinary Care). Puppies are very vulnerable at this stage of their development, so life should be kept stable, secure, and normal at this time. It is also important that any potentially frightening experience, including elective surgery such as dew claw removal or treatment for hernia, be avoided at this time. Any traumatic event at this stage can result in lasting fears and phobias that are difficult or impossible to eradicate. At this time, visits to a vet should be as positive as possible.
Many breeders interrupt the normal weaning process by removing the mother from her pups for ever-increasing periods. They do this to dry up her milk, so they can sell the pups by the time they are eight weeks old. Yet this is a critical period in the social development of the puppies. At around eight weeks, the relationship of the pups to each other and to their mother begins to change. Mom will start to play with and discipline her offspring, and thereby teach the pups important lessons.
What is the right breed for you?
Once you’ve made up your mind to buy, the next question is: What sort of dog should I choose? Think about where you live—town, city, suburb, homestead—and how much space you’ll have for the puppy to run around in. And don’t forget, puppies don’t stay cute and adorable forever, so plan ahead and give some thought to how you’ll cope with the adult dog once he is fully grown. It goes without saying that the bigger the breed, the more space you’ll need. (So an Irish wolfhound is probably unsuitable if you live in a small apartment or have limited outdoor space in which the dog can move about freely.)
If you are physically active and outgoing, you may want a dog that can go running or hiking with you, keep up with your bicycle, or just accompany you when you jog in the park.
Temperament and lifestyle—yours and his
Consider your temperament and lifestyle, things such as your hobbies and leisure activities. Do you enjoy walking, riding or fishing, or do you prefer regular visits to the movies, theater or restaurants? Whatever your interests, would the dog be able to enjoy them with you? If you are physically very active and outgoing, you may want a dog that can, for example, go running or hiking with you, keep up with your bicycle, or just accompany you when you jog round the park. If so, a good choice is a medium-size breed traditionally used for herding or sporting work, such as a Springer spaniel. Their body shape is ideal for constant running. For young couples who enjoy long hikes in the woods, a strong and active breed such as a Labrador may be suitable.
If you are buying a dog for your children, choose a breed that is quick and eager to learn tricks and play games. On the other hand, if you are the quiet, introspective type, you might prefer a placid breed that is content to lie at your feet while you watch TV, read a book or listen to music. Remember, too, that with care and attention, your dog may live to be over 14 years old, so, when choosing a dog, think about future aims and likely lifestyle, and don’t just plan for the present.
Another factor to consider when choosing a breed is climate. A thick coat provides a dog with excellent insulation—a useful characteristic if you live in a cold climate—but in warmer climates, the dog may often need to stop and rest in order to cool down. Bear in mind that breeds with thick, shaggy or curly coats will need daily grooming and regular careful clipping to remove knots and avoid matting. A smooth, fine coat, on the other hand, needs less grooming and allows the dog to lose heat more quickly. However, you may need to put a dog coat on him in cold and wet weather.
Gun dogs like this German pointer are good-tempered and easy to train, which makes them ideal household pets, especially for families with children, although they do need regular exercise and lots of space.
Mixed-breed dogs
Unless you have set your heart on purebred dog, it is worth considering mongrels (mutts) and crossbreeds. A mongrel is a mixture of several breeds. They are often highly intelligent and can make very good family dogs. They can be highly individual in shape, coloring, and temperament. However, unless one breed seems to predominate in the puppy, you cannot be sure exactly what kind of dog he will grow into, or how big he’ll become. Purebred dogs can be very expensive, which makes mongrels a much more affordable alternative, especially for families.
A crossbreed dog can offer a good compromise between purebred and mongrel. A crossbreed is the first cross from two purebred dogs, such as a cock-a-poo, a cocker spaniel-poodle cross. By mixing two breeds, you can often get the best characteristics from the two—perhaps strength and agility from one breed and loyalty and intelligence from the other. (Bear in mind, though, you can also get the worst traits from the two breeds!)
Lively sporting breeds like cocker spaniels need owners that are energetic and active. Their thick coats also require regular grooming.
Purebred dogs
Purebred dogs have usually been selectively bred for a particular purpose. So, before you buy one, think long and hard about the reason why a particular breed looks like that and whether it will be suitable for your needs. If you don’t know the origin of a particular breed, find out as much about it as you can by checking out your local library, or the internet, or by contacting the various breed societies.
Adaptable, affectionate, and loyal, racing dogs like this greyhound enjoy short bursts of speed, but are otherwise content to laze around, which makes them great pets for families with large yards.
Most breeds were produced for work, hunting/sport, or as show or companion dogs. For example, border collies were bred for herding sheep, hounds were selected to track animals such as deer or foxes, and gun dogs were designed to fetch game birds that had been shot down. The dog will still carry those traits, so knowing what it was originally bred to do helps you to know what to expect. You can assume that retrievers, which were originally bred to be gun dogs, will be better at retrieving than greyhounds, for instance. Some dogs were bred to catch rabbits and other game, and you will find it difficult to get them to behave otherwise.
Intelligent and lively breeds enjoy lots of exercise, becoming very popular as family dogs.
Show dogs have been selected mainly on the basis of their appearance rather than their behavioral traits. So, if looks are most important, go to a show breeder or general breeder. However, for a working or sporting dog, go to a specialist breeder, who will have selected strains that show an aptitude for the particular task. Bear in mind, too, that working dogs such as collies, or sporting dogs such as gun dogs, are bred to be highly active and intelligent, so they need to be kept physically and mentally occupied. The following examples should help you to know what to expect from a particular breed. But remember, there are always exceptions, and all dogs are individuals, so you must not assume that the puppy you buy will conform to character.
Gentle and good-natured non-sporting breeds such as the bichon frise make ideal pets for less active or elderly people and are also popular show dogs.
Sporting and hunting breeds
Hounds, such as beagles and foxhounds, were bred for hunting, either on their own or in packs, and you can see this innate behavior in the way they instinctively chase after other animals, often with other dogs. They were mostly expected to work independently of man, so they are not as responsive to commands—or as eager to please their owners—as other, more people-oriented breeds. As a consequence, they are not so good at playing games such as “run and fetch’ and tackling an obstacle course. Unless you plan to make use of the hound’s natural instincts and to put in the extra time to train him, the innate urge to hunt and chase could get your dog—and you—into a lot of trouble. The greyhound, in particular, is bred to chase a lure, meaning that it will instinctively chase and kill small animals, so be aware that this type of dog is not really suitable to have around smaller pets, such as rats or guinea pigs.
With their strong chasing instinct, hunting dogs such as these foxhounds can play or work for long periods of time.
Originally bred for hunting, terriers are active, playful, intelligent, and full of personality, making them ideal pets for extroverted older children.
Many people do not realize that terriers were, originally, hunting dogs, trained to catch foxes and to dig rats, mice, rabbits, and other prey from burrows in the ground. The desire to dig is still very strong in them. If you choose a terrier, don’t be surprised if he demonstrates his skills on your prize lawn or flowerbed. Terriers retain their powerful hunting instinct, so, if they are not properly trained and socialized, they can pose a threat to other pets and, sometimes, babies and small children. They can also be extremely strong-willed, so you need persistence and patience during training. On the plus side, their active and intelligent nature makes them ideal for outgoing older children, since they have lots of personality, boundless energy, and love playing games.
Some dogs, such as Staffordshire and bull terriers, originally bred for blood sports, have strong characters with independent natures that make them suitable for families with older children or teenagers. Gun dogs have been carefully bred to work closely with humans—to stalk prey, and then to run and fetch on command. This has made them highly intelligent and very active, so they are ideal for playful families. Golden retrievers and Labradors are usually placid, good-natured dogs, being friendly with the children of the house, as well as with any visiting play pals.
Staffordshire terriers are strong natured, independent, and sturdy, so they are perfectly suited to families with older children or teenagers.
Working and herding breeds
Working dog breeds are naturally exuberant, so they need regular exercise physical and mental—or they can become boisterous, difficult to control, and even destructive as they seek an outlet for their natural energy. This means that as the dog grows he will need plenty of exercise—including playing games and also learning new tricks—to keep him interested (see What to Buy).
Both a working dog and a guard dog, the energetic and intelligent German shepherd needs an experienced owner who can provide the physical and mental stimulation that these breeds require.
Herding dogs, such as collies and shepherd dogs, were originally bred to corral sheep and other livestock by rounding up the animals, usually following commands. They are extremely fit and active, and have the strength and stamina to run around all day if necessary. If they do not find a normal outlet for their natural behavior they can channel it into undesirable activities, such as chasing bicycles, joggers, children playing ball, and other pets, such as cats. Choose breeds like this only if you are an experienced owner, and have a great deal of time and space so you will be able to keep your pet physically active and mentally occupied for long periods each day to provide a natural outlet for his energies.
TEN REASONS PEOPLE GIVE UP ON DOGS
Each year, hundreds of thousands of dogs arrive at rescue centers because their owners are no longer able—or prepared—to look after them. On average, about 25 percent are unwanted presents, another 25 percent have behavioral problems, and the rest are given up for domestic or other reasons. Here are some of the most common reasons:
1. The breed was that year’s “must-have” accessory (the “101 Dalmatians” factor).
2. The cute fluffy little puppy was irresistible— but he didn’t stay cute and little for long.
3. Due to lack of training, the dog got aggressive, destructive, or uncontrollable.
4. The dog was acquired on impulse, usually to please children, before the owners realized the level of commitment involved.
5. The dog was left alone for long periods, barking and upsetting the neighbors and/or becoming aggressive, destructive, or uncontrollable.
6. The elderly owners could no longer cope with the demands of dog ownership.
7. The expense of dog owning—feeding, neutering, veterinary treatment, boarding costs during vacation—got to be too much.
8. The marriage or relationship broke up and no one wanted the dog.
9. The overriding needs of a young family or the arrival of a new baby made dog ownership too difficult.
10. The owners moved to a new apartment with a “no pets” rule.
The fit and active border collie was originally bred to round up livestock by following commands, so these herding dogs need a lot of space in which to run around.
Highly intelligent and responsive, guard dogs like Rottweiler are also strong-willed and physically powerful, so their owners should have the type of temperament to match.
Guard dogs
Many working dogs have a “guarding instinct,” but some breeds, such as the Doberman and Rottweiler, were bred specifically as guard dogs. These breeds are highly intelligent and eager to learn, so they respond well to a regular, well-planned training program. However, they are also very large and powerful, which presents particular problems in terms of upkeep. They are also strong willed, so they will be a challenge unless their owners have a strong character, too. Remember: You are responsible for your dog’s actions, so if you own a guard dog, you must ensure that he is well trained and does not pose a threat to your community.
If you plan to get a guard dog, it will be your responsibility to make sure that he receives proper training and does not become a nuisance to your neighborhood.
TEN ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU
People who want to acquire a dog from a rescue center are usually asked the following questions to check whether they will be suitable owners. They are questions that all potential owners should ask themselves, too. Before buying a puppy, consider:
1. Why do you want a dog?
2. Have you had a dog before?
3. How big is your family?
4. How old are your children?
5. Do you fully understand the expense involved in dog ownership?
6. Does everyone in the family really want a dog?
7. Who will be responsible for exercising the dog?
8. Who will be responsible for feeding the dog?
9. Who will be responsible for grooming the dog?
10. Will the dog regularly be left alone for more than an hour or two?
Non-sporting and toy breeds
Less active people, especially the elderly and others with impaired mobility, may want a pet mainly for companionship. In this case, the best option might be a small breed that is not too active by nature and is content to fit in with your domestic routine. Toy and non-sporting breeds such as the bichon frise, miniature poodle, Maltese terrier, and Pomeranian have been bred to enjoy close contact with their owners. Loved for their affectionate and entertaining personalities, most companion dogs are also especially gentle and good natured. A small dog is less likely to cause injury to her owner by running around or jumping up during her early boisterous phase of puppyhood but could trip an elderly owner.
All dogs need regular exercise, but small companion dogs are content with short walks supplemented by simple games played in the house or yard that will tire out the dog, but not the owner. An ideal general family dog for first-time owners is the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Easy to train, and not too big, this dog can cope with the rough and tumble of being around children but doesn’t need to be kept constantly active, so they make good companion dogs.
Sporting dogs like these Welsh springer spaniels are full of energy and enjoy being part of the action, so they are perfectly suited to active people and outdoor life.
