Dog buying tips. it is not as easy to buy the right dog as you may think!

Buying A Dog? How To Make Sure You Choose The Right Dog For You.

So you’re thinking of buying a dog. Great idea… as long as you do your homework first. Have you researched dog breed information to find out what breed will fit best with your lifestyle?

“Dogs were developed into different breeds to perform different jobs”

Herding dogs helped with livestock. They had to be energetic, intelligent, and loyal. Hunting dogs were bred to help retrieve game; they are focused on anything they perceive as game, whether it is a duck that his owner just shot, or your prize chicken that escaped his coop.

Terriers were bred to hunt vermin. They developed the skills for hunting them down and killing them. Theyre good diggers, and will probably catch a mouse or two for you. No matter how far removed todays dogs are from their original jobs, you never know when that little remnant of what they were bred for may surface.

While you may really like how a certain breed looks, you need to look up information on the dog breeds you’re considering before buying. You may really like that beautiful Maltese, but unless you’re willing to do the required grooming or pay someone else to do it, it may not be the right breed for you.

If you don’t have a big yard, you may want to skip the largest dog breeds and the most active breeds.

Dogs like Great Danes, Greyhounds and Mastiffs like to stretch their legs in large areas. Active breeds like Border Collies, while beautiful and intelligent, soon get bored and destructive if they do not get enough exercise.

Likewise, if you live in an apartment or condominium, you may want to take into consideration that some of these bigger breeds really need to live outdoors, they might be a pack dog that requires another dog as a companion, or they might need a regular job to do to be happy.

If you have small children, you may want to choose a breed that is known for its gentleness and loyalty. Golden retrievers, labs, or one of the sturdier companion breeds may be a good choice.

Choosing a dog that has aggressive tendencies is not the best choice for a family with small children, no matter how much you may like how they look. Think safety first.

Regardless of your final choice, whether it is an Irish Wolfhound or a Chihuahua, your dog needs regular exercise and training to become the pet you truly will enjoy.

Exercise will keep your dog happy, healthy, and out of trouble. Training will teach the dog what is expected, what is off limits, and will teach you how to effectively communicate with your dog. An untrained dog will sit on your furniture, jump on you and your family, urinate in the wrong areas, and snatch food from the counter.

Dogs can also be very destructive. When they lived in packs, they had rules to follow, depending on where they were in the pack order. Training your dog is the same thing. Your dog will be happiest knowing what is expected of him, what is off limits, and what is appropriate behavior.