Last Updated on 12 months by Jenny Sovann
Owning a pet can be excitingly rewarding. An amazing choice is a dog. The search for a perfect dog can be daunting albeit exciting. It needs to be properly done as you commit yourself to caring for another creature that will depend on you for survival. In making a choice, many questions will come to mind: “what is the perfect dog breed, what gender is best for me, what type of care is involved?” These are some of the questions worth finding answers to.
There are so many important aspects to contemplate to find the perfect dog breed. A thoughtful consideration of these points is important in determining the outcome of raising the pet.
STEPS TO CONSIDER TO FIND THE PERFECT DOG
1. Size of the dog
This is one of the easiest decisions to make when choosing a dog. The dog size is influenced by your personal preference and living circumstances. For instance, the size of your apartment can determine the dog size. A giant dog can be easily accommodated in a large apartment than a small one. Also, a small dog might be difficult to keep track of in a large residence.
Examples of dogs with different sizes
- 1-10 Lbs – Chihuahuas, Maltese, Papillons, Pomeranians, and Yorkers.
- 13-25 Lbs – Boston Terriers, Carn Terriers, Chinese Crested, Fat Cats, French Bulldog, Havanese, Highland Terriers, Pekingese, Poodle, Shih Tzu e.t.c.
- 26-40 Lbs – American Staffordshire Terriers, Cavalier King Charles, Scottish Terriers, Shetland Sheepdogs e.t.c.
- 43-70 – Australian Shepherds, Bulldog, Boxer, Bull Terriers, Basset Hounds, English Springer, Cocker Spaniels, Welsh Corgis e.t.c.
- 72-90 Lbs – Chow Chows, Doberman Pinschers, Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Siberian Huskies, Vizslas etc.
- 91-110 Lbs – Alaskan Malamute, Great Dane, Sheepdog, Old English, St. Bernard e.t.c.
2. Creating a List
Creating a list of the dogs which fall under the size you need is the next step. It requires making research on the dog breeds and their sizes. You can create multiple lists if your interest lies in multiple sizes, with each list headed by its size for easy tracking. As you consider various factors, dogs that don’t match your requirements should be crossed off. This narrows your broad list till you get the perfect dog.
3. Grooming
In the search for the perfect dog, its coat needs to be considered. The climate is one important factor that helps suggest the dog type. Dogs with little or no hairs have very little tolerance to cold regions, unlike fluffy or hairy dogs which thrive in them. Whereas, these fluffy creatures find it difficult to tolerate hot conditions.
Time is another important factor. The amount of time you can afford to groom the dog also suggest which breed is right for you. More time is required to groom fluffy animals than those with no hairs.
Your preference is worth considering too in finding the perfect dog. If you like hairy or fluffy creatures, then you need to look out for them. If you aren’t comfortable with them either, you should stick to the hairless ones. You need to search and look at pictures of different coats of dogs to make your mind over.
Your choice here narrows the list made earlier. Now, you need to take the next step in getting closer to the perfect dog breed for you. Dogs that don’t fit your requirement or profile should be crossed off.
4. Exercise
Do you need a very active dog, running itself out of energy and looking for things to do? Or are you in need of a more lay-back dog which sits around or cuddle all day? The level of energy you expect in a dog has a role to play in choosing the perfect dog breed. You need to determine the level of exercise you want to give the dog on a daily basis.
This step further shortens your list. As done earlier, cross of the dogs that do not fit into the dog profile you are looking for.
5. Purpose
Do you need a guard dog or one that keeps you company, agile, obedient and good with kids? Deciding what you need in a dog is essential in the search of a perfect dog. If you are in need of protection, a herding or guarding dog is the right match for you. A working dog fits the bill if you are in need of agility and obedience. Extensive work is needed to get the dog that suits your purpose.
From your list, cross out dogs that do not fit the desired requirements.
6. Choosing The Dog
Now, you should have a very trimmed list or even one dog left on it. Your choice will be based on what looks good to you and fun to keep. As you decide which dog to pick from the remaining list, search out the health risk associated with each and their lifespans respectively. A local dog trainer can be consulted on your selection and the next step to take.
Love, at first sight, might not lead to a perfect relationship between you and your dog. This is because of nature, the difference in care, feeding habits, energy levels and other parameters needed by each dog. On the part of the owner, choice, time, finances, purpose and living conditions needs to be considered in picking the right dog. Extensive research is needed in making the right decision to find the perfect dog.
The failure to regard the natural inclination of a breed beforehand has often led dog owners to turn their pets over to shelters. This leaves the dog to an uncertain fate.
The local dog trainer suggested earlier can be very helpful in reducing or eliminating this problem. You can get the best assistance from them as they are in pole positions to suggest the perfect match for you from your narrowed list. You need to probe a lot using questions and being honest with them regarding your lifestyle, living situations and those who reside with you. The more information you give, the more help you receive. At the end of it all, you realize the search has been worthwhile as you have acquired the perfect dog breed.
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