Which Breed Is Right For You?


Why does one breed appeal to a person over another? Why do some of us love the size, looks and temperament of a Great Dane and others would never own anything but a Toy Poodle?

Every breed has their pros and cons. As a prospective puppy buyer/dog owner, you must be aware of the traits, both good and bad, of the breed you are considering. Many pet owners own the breed they do because of an impulse buy. Sometimes this works out fine and other times dog owners find out, too late, that this is not such a wonderful breed (for them) after all. Sadly, it's the innocent dog that suffers when it gets placed in a new home, returned to the breeder or, worst of all, taken to the pound!

Each breed was developed with a definite purpose in mind. Each breed (or most anyway) have breed specific health and or temperament problems of which you should be aware. Some breeds have coats that need hours of grooming to keep the dog in good shape. Some breeds shed more than others. Some breeds are very active and hyper while others are quiet and sedentary.

Because different breeds have different characteristics, it's a good idea to first define exactly what traits you want in a dog. Do you want a large dog, medium or small? What is the main purpose of having the dog, other than companionship? Do you want the dog to hunt with you? Do you want a dog that is a good guard dog? How about children? If you have them, you want to be assured that the breed you choose is going to get along with the kids. And if you do have children, what age are they? A dog breed that tends to be very hyperactive and aggressive would not be a good choice with very small children as the dog will likely do damage if it jumps on the kid and play bites. However kids in the 10 years and up range would probably thoroughly enjoy an active outgoing playmate.

What about grooming? How much time are you willing to spend on this chore? What about shedding? Some dogs don't shed at all and others shed almost constantly. How much noise are you willing to put up with? What about trainability? Some breeds are notoriously difficult to housebreak and/or train while others practically discipline themselves. If your interest is obedience, seek out those breeds that excel in the field. If you're a hunter and have visions of fall days in the duck blind with your trusty dog, you wouldn't go out and buy a Chinese Crested. If you hope to own a dog that will be around for 15 to 16 years, don't purchase a large breed.

Lana Hampton makes it easy to find the dog information you want. Visit her site today for the latest dog information.







Related News



Get pets ready for hurricane - MiamiHerald.com

Get pets ready for hurricane
MiamiHerald.com, FL -7 minutes ago
Never leave pets to fend for themselves. BY ELINOR J. BRECHER Your pets depend on you for everything, including safety from the storm, so as you gear up for ...

Pet care facilities available during storms - ENC Today

WNCT

Pet care facilities available during storms
ENC Today, NC -3 hours ago
When it comes to major storms, residents and local officials must do as much to prepare pets as they do for humans. "All people really need to do is what's ...
Lenoir County Emergency Operations Center monitoring HannaWNCT
Emergency officials continue preparations for HannaENC Today
Lenoir Co. prepares for HannaENC Today
all 4 news articles

Keeping Track of Pets - Washington Post

Keeping Track of Pets
Washington Post, United States -Sep 5, 2008
Dear Heloise: Thanks for telling pet owners to put COLLARS WITH LICENSES for identification on their pets. Please also continue to recommend microchips. ...

Prepare for any disaster with pets - Daily Herald

Prepare for any disaster with pets
Daily Herald, UT -56 minutes ago
1 thing you must remember when it comes to disaster management is that you cannot rely on someone else to rescue and care for your pets. ...

City mulls making it law to spay, neuter pets - Houston Chronicle

City mulls making it law to spay, neuter pets
Houston Chronicle, United States -Sep 5, 2008
Won't my pet become overweight? Get answers. Readers debate the benefits of holding off on neutering for a couple of years. Join the discussion. ...

Pets of the Week - Salt Lake Tribune

Pets of the Week
Salt Lake Tribune, United States -Sep 5, 2008
Visit the Utah Animal Adoption Center, 1955 N. Redwood Road, or visit www.utahanimaladoptioncenter.org. For more information, call 801-355-PETS.
Pit Bulls Attack Man Walking His DogKUTV
all 5 news articles

Pedigree pets dumped in record numbers - Times Online

Pedigree pets dumped in record numbers
Times Online, UK -8 hours ago
Pedigree cats are also among the pets needing new homes as owners face rising living costs. Anne Power, a co-ordinator for the Ragdoll Rehome Group, ...


Tropical storm and disaster preparedness for pets - Tri Parish Times

News24

Tropical storm and disaster preparedness for pets
Tri Parish Times, LA -Sep 5, 2008
As Tropical Storm Gustav heads toward the Gulf Coast and develops into hurricane strength, Banfield, The Pet Hospital would like to remind family members ...
Keeping Your Pets Safe Before, During & After The StormLocal10.com
Pets weather Gustav wellDetroit Free Press
It's tough choice to give up petDaytona Beach News-Journal
Cay Compass - Marco Island Sun Times
all 280 news articles

PetSmart helping homeless pets on September weekend - Newnan Times-Herald

PetSmart helping homeless pets on September weekend
Newnan Times-Herald, GA -45 minutes ago
More than 2000 animals welfare organizations in North America are expected to participate, with the goal of placing 15000 homeless pets with new families. ...

Group gets pets out for storm - The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

Group gets pets out for storm
The Times-Picayune - NOLA.com, LA -1 hour ago
The Best Friends Rapid Response Team provided 3000 pet carriers when it learned some animals were turned away from buses because they didn't have their own ...