There are so many people looking for pet dogs nowadays – and this completely makes sense. Dogs are great companion animals and will make all the difference to your day to day life. You’ll bond, make a connection and they’ll really become a best friend or part of the family. They are loving. They are fun. They are entertaining. They are altogether one of the best pets that you can choose. But before heading out to a breeder or an adoption agency, you need to make sure that you know what you’re looking for to ensure that you find the right dog to fit your needs, and to ensure that you’re right for the dog you’re choosing too! This isn’t as simple as finding a breed that you think looks cute. Instead, you need to remember that different dogs have varying needs, characteristics and habits that you need to ensure match you and your lifestyle well. Here are some areas to focus on to find the right pooch.
Size
Let’s consider dog size. Dogs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from chihuahuas to Great Danes. You need to make sure you choose a dog that’s the right size for you. All dogs may seem small as puppies, but some will really grow to fill their boots. If you live in an apartment, small breeds may be fine but a giant breed is going to struggle to get around and will require a larger family size house to navigate comfortably. You also need to consider size in terms of being able to manage and handle your dog on walks and to be able to look after them if they hurt themselves and need to be carried around. If you’re relatively small or weak yourself, a large and strong dog may be more difficult to handle.
Character
Different dogs were bred for different purposes. Some for hunting, some for companionship, some for work and so much more. Make sure to look into any breed’s history to determine whether they match your lifestyle and the lifestyle you’re going to be able to provide them with. If you’re choosing a companion dog like a Bichon Frise, you need to make sure you are with them for most of the day, every day. They get lonely and separation anxiety so don’t fare well with people who are out at work most of the day. If you have a family, you may want a dog that is good with children and easy to train, like a chocolate Labrador from https://chocolatelabradorretriever.ca/lab-retriever-ottawa/. If you’re highly independent and active, you may want a highly active dog who likes to be out a lot such as a Border Collie or Australian Shepherd.
Cost
Some dogs will inevitably cost more than others. Think about this when choosing a dog, as you need to be able to afford to meet their needs. Dogs with curly and non-malting hair tend to require regular professional grooming. Large dogs will require more food and their belongings tend to cost more too – larger beds cost more, larger harnesses cost more, etc. Some breeds also cost more to insurance and are likely to incur larger veterinary bills than others. Make sure to look up the average cost of looking after the breed of dog you’re considering and make sure that it lines up with your budget. Having said that, you may also want to check for a chew resistant dog bed so that it lasts longer instead of having to buy a new one every time your pet chews it. Also bear in mind that this won’t be a temporary cost – it’s something you’re going to have to keep up with the entire duration of your pet’s life, which in some cases could be two decades! Also remember that some costs go up with age, for example, pet insurance costs will increase as your dog experiences more health complaints, or as they grow older.
Walking Requirements
Different dogs require different amounts of exercise. You need to make sure that you’re able to keep up with this yourself, or to pay a professional dog walker to provide them with this, for the duration of their life. All too many people disregard the amount of exercise their pet needs, thinking that they have a garden and can just leave their pet to run around in this. But unless you have huge amounts of land, a garden isn’t going to prove sufficient for your pet to really get their steps in, run around and stretch their legs. Some small breeds and less energetic breeds will only need short walks each day – maybe half an hour or so. Working dogs like the Australian Cattle Dog, on the other hand, are bred to have energy levels that keep them running around all day, every day. They’re going to need to be working dogs or have a huge amount of land to satiate this need.
Training
Some dogs are easier to train than others. All dogs need to be trained for their own safety and for the safety of others, as well as being trained to live comfortably and hassle free in your home. Training can range from house training to not make a mess in the house, to not damage furniture or other belongings, socialisation with other dogs and children, walking on and off the lead, road awareness training and so much more. This takes time and commitment. An untrained dog can cause all sorts of trouble and be extremely difficult to manage. For your sake and for your dog’s sake, you need to make sure that you have the time, effort and money available to train them yourself, put them in puppy classes and occasionally even have them trained professionally.
As you can see, this is just scratching the surface, and you’re going to need to make sure that you’re choosing a dog whose needs you can meet perfectly. This means doing a fair amount of research before diving in the deep end and picking a pooch up. Hopefully, some of this information will help you to make the right decision for both yourself and for the dog you eventually choose.
