CHOOSING THE RIGHT PUREBRED
by Tam Cordingley, Consultant
& CSI Instructor
With a purebred
puppy you will know adult size,
coat type, personality, space and exercise requirements, activity level and the distinct
characteristics for which the breed was developed.
A
shelter dog is cheaper and you'll be doing a real kindness? Unless you
are an experienced dog owner DO NOT rush to the shelter to adopt a dog,
thereby "saving a life" and possibly making your own life miserable.
Don't be misled by PETA's hypocritical campaign -
breeders don't kill dogs, shelters do. PETA vows to end all animal
ownership. Breeders want you to own a carefully bred purebred that
fits your lifestyle and enriches your life.
And you can do that
without feeling the least bit guilty for not having gone to the pound to
adopt a dog that has health or behavior problems that caused someone
else to reject it.
You came here for truth and expert advice. You got it, now let's help you select
a purebred dog that best fits your personality, age, physical limitations if
any, your work schedule, property, and purpose.
The problem is that the average person has
little to no idea where to get solid information. A proper and thoughtful choice of the best breed and the best
individual dog for your needs can make the difference between a rewarding relationship lasting over ten years or 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. That is wrong.
The choice of a family pet/companion usually begins with looks
and size.
Beginning
with looks is fine and that is an important reason to only look at purebred
dogs. That way you know that the cuddly 10 pound teddy bear will grow up to be
a 100 pound Akita or an even large St. Bernard. Not suitable for the
high rise apartment dweller!
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 sizes, three different "looks and they are completely different breeds! The main similarity is that they all have
long hair.
Coat length and grooming must be considered.
Will the breed need professional clipping or bathing?
Factor in that lifelong cost right now. If you don't like that idea,
then decide how much time can you spare for daily or 3 times a week
grooming? Not much? Then choose a short coated breed or one with
a non-matting coat.
Long silky coated pups are darling but the long hair
around the anus may need daily washing. Some breeds require daily cleaning of those
charming "beards" or you won't be letting him kiss or breathe on you.
Look at breed photos and read the breed
"Standards."
You are at the
right place to look at different breeds and there are breed photos all over
the internet. Head for the library to 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. Most will be in a certain
"Group" that are related in type and function.
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 have a big house and 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 little dogs are difficult for seniors to see, especially if the
dogs are dark colored or if the house isn’t well lit.
Now look at the breed's history and purpose.
The breed "standard" will also tell you the history.
Your list is shorter now so 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
a vigorous attitude and high activity level aren’t your best choice. If you
a lot of children or strangers coming
and going, 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 or heavy coated breeds may suffer health
problems.
How expensive will the breed be? Lifelong costs.
Next we must consider upkeep. This is divided into three parts. Cost of
food. Veterinary Cost. Grooming. Always figure the cost of top
quality food. Premium foods save you vet costs, are better for the dog and
leaves less for you to clean up.
And then there are vet bills. Some breeds are prone to allergy problems.
Some are likely to have orthopedic problems, or eye problems. Any of these
health problems costs money to care for. Many breeds have
breed-related health problems to consider. The sad expression of a
Basset Hound or a Bloodhound is endearing but may mean extra eye care.
Wrinkles on a Shar Pei or Mastiff are unique but also require extra
cleaning.
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 health care and 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 breeder.
Valley Pet News Sacramento CA © 1992 reprinted with permission
- THC
