Entertaining, Educational Stories about dogs and the families who love them.  Purebred or mutt, showdog or showoff, puppy or veteran, dogs love and protect their human pack.  No pet has more loyalty than a dog.  A pet dog will stay with its family no matter what, even if abused or starved!  What other animal will do that? 

by Tam Cordingley

All of us who are actively involved in the dog fancy regularly see bumper stickers saying “a dog is for life, not just for Christmas” and “Buy from a breeder” and various other slogans promoting responsible ownership.  AKC is running network TV spots about being a responsible dog owner. 

The problem is that the average person on the street has little to no idea where to get information needed on breed selection and management.  A proper and thoughtful choice of the best breed and the best individual of a breed for your needs can make the difference between a loving and rewarding relationship lasting over ten years and a stressful and unpleasant situation ultimately ending up in the dog being relocated or put to death.

I use the term put to death rather than the term “put to sleep” deliberately.  These animals are dying, not simply going to sleep.  The same as little children are not simply molested, they are raped.  By using less painful terminology we can somehow fool ourselves into thinking it is not quite as bad. 

The choice of a companion animal usually begins with looks.  I’ve had many people talk to me as a consultant and say they have been thinking of a Chow, an Afghan, or a Cocker Spaniel.  These may all be good choices, but they are three completely different breeds!  The main similarity is that they all have long hair. 

Beginning with looks is fine.  That is an easy place to start.  Head for the public library, local bookstore – or right here!.  Look at the AKC complete Dog Book or any other book on multiple breeds.  Pick out all those breeds which appeal to you esthetically.  Make a list of these breeds.

Next step is to go to the standards and descriptions section and determine which breeds are the size to fit into your living space.  If you live in a condo or townhouse probably a small to medium dog would be best.  I can hear the outcry now.  “Uncle Horace had a Great Dane in an apartment and they were both very happy”.  That may be true, but if Uncle Horace wasn’t truly committed to properly caring for his big dog it wouldn’t have been a good situation.  It is better, if choosing a new pet, to give the animal and the family the very best chance for success by choosing a suitable animal for the situation.

If you live in a large area any size dog is suitable.  If you are a family that has very young children or very old members the smaller dogs usually aren’t a good choice.  Small children are usually too vigorous for the tiny dogs and the little dogs are difficult for seniors to see, especially if the dogs are dark colored or if the house isn’t well lit.

The next step is to turn to the history of the breeds section and see what the breeds left on your list were bred to do.  If your family has hamsters, guinea pigs, and snakes and small to medium breeds are your choice it would be wise to eliminate those that are bred to kill small varmints.  If you have family members that are somewhat fragile the breeds that were developed for vigorous attitude aren’t your best choice.  If you have many strangers coming and going to your house that would be a situation not suited for one of the guard dog breeds.  If you live in a hot and humid climate and the dog will be outside unattended during the day, the short nosed breeds may suffer health problems.

Next we must consider upkeep.  This is divided into three parts.  Cost of food.  Veterinary Cost.  Grooming.  Always figure the cost of food using top quality food.  Premium foods save you vet costs, are better for the dog and leaves less for you to clean up.  Some breeds are prone to allergy problems.  Some are likely to have orthopedic problems, or eye problems.  Any of these costs money to care for.  Grooming is a two-phase issue.  Labor or paying for labor.  Some breeds require clipping or hand stripping.  Many require extensive brushing.  Check out the grooming requirements of any breeds in which you are interested. 

By the time you have crossed off the list those breeds which are eliminated for size, for purpose, for health or grooming considerations, you are ready to go look at dogs or talk to a consultant or breeder.  

Valley Pet News Sacramento CA ã 1992 reprinted with permission  

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