Adopting the Best Dog for Your Family by Laura Whitehead, DVM



 (From  http://www.office.microsoft.com/)

 One of the happiest memories a family can have is picking out their new canine companion at the shelter. As a Veterinarian, I see people with new adopted dogs every day. Here are some tips I’ve found to help you make the right decision:

1) Puppy or adult?

Puppies are wonderful. They can grow with you and your family and be lifelong companions. Puppies can also be a big unknown, though. Just like people, dogs have many different personalities, and that sleepy, calm puppy that seems perfect may just turn into a wild thing that is difficult to train. Puppies are great for families with children, and those who are flexible. If you don’t think you can handle a dog that turns out to be extremely active and needs hours of exercise each day, or develops behavior problems that need training and potentially expensive behavior therapy, perhaps adopting an adult with a known personality is the right choice.

2) Breed?

Most people don’t go to the shelter looking for a specific breed. It is helpful to be familiar with the common breeds to get an idea of what to expect from their behavior. Some breeds, such as working dogs (herders, hunters, etc), need lots of exercise or they may develop behavior problems. These dogs do well in homes with lots of space outside to run, and tend to not do well in small apartments. Some dogs are naturally very vocal. You may fall in love with an adorable beagle, not knowing that they howl instead of bark, and like to talk a lot. This adoption might have a poor outcome if you live in an apartment with neighbors who will complain about excessive noise. If you are unsure about a particular breed, do your homework first. You can always bring a breed handbook with you for quick reference.

3) Don't let size fool you.

Smaller dogs and toy breeds can make great companions for indoor households and for people who cannot manage an active outdoor dog due to age or health problems. Sometimes small dogs have big personalities, however. "Terriers" are cute and compact, but they aren’t called terriers for nothing. They are extremely intelligent and can have big personalities, sometimes becoming aggressively dominant if they aren’t trained properly. They still need ample exercise and mental stimulation or they can become destructive. Once again, do your homework.

4) Think about the other 4-legged members of your family.

If you have other pets at home, consider how they will adapt to the new family member. A cat who has been around a calm, older dog all their lives may not adapt well to a new, energetic puppy. This can quickly lead to behavior problems from the cat, upsetting what was a happy household. If you have another dog at home, it is helpful to introduce him or her to the new prospective family member on neutral ground to see how they will interact.

5) Training and behavior.

(From http://www.dog-bones.com/)



Behavior problems are the number 1 reason that dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters. This is why it is so important to consider all of the above information before adopting a new pet. Once you have your new companion, it doesn’t stop there. Socialization and training are very important for puppies to try and stop behavior problems before the start. If you adopt an adult, you may see some problems that can be addressed with proper training. Most of these dogs weren’t given the chance to correct their behavior problems at their previous homes, or they simply weren’t in the proper environment for their personalities. Be patient, and consult with your Veterinarian or behavior therapist about proper training.

I wish you and your new companion a lifetime of wonderful memories!

Submitted by Laura Whitehead, DVM – Laura has a thriving veterinary practice and also loves to sew, which gives her a chance to combine her great love of animals with her creative aspirations, coming up with some really lovely designs for people who love animals like she does. You can find her creations in her ArtFire studio, Paws_and_Claws_Designs.

Also, Laura is one of many Crafting for Animals Guild members participating in a special coupon promotion week to help raise funds for the guild’s spotlight shelter during National Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog month. Please click here for more info and to get your coupon code or click on the box below.

How do you choose what type of dog that is best for you?

How do you choose what type of dog is best for you? Or put differently, what kind of dog are you and your family the best fit for?

It's not all about looks, but of course, we all have our preferences for what type of dog is cute. I know, I know, not everyone prefers the big giant fluffy Newfoundland dogs like I do lol. I would suggest starting with a list of what type of dog you prefer.

1. What size dog? Perhaps you just LOVE Great Danes but you live in a tiny apartment... hm.... but start with what you like best for your list, then compromise from there if need be.

2. What breed? Perhaps what type of breed doesn't matter to you, but if it does, this needs to be on your list too. Oh, and please, please research the breed thoroughly if you aren't very familiar with it already. An example that comes to mind is my favorite breed the Newfoundland Dog. As puppies they look like cute, fluffy little bear cubs. Oh yes, they are adorable!! However, soon these little bundles of fluff grow up to be big, very big, and strength to match or surpass their size.

They need exercise, obedience training and sometimes people can't handle their 150 pound newf. Then that dog could very well get placed in rescue or shelter and lose their family. Think before buying! I happen to love newfies, they are awesome, but they are not for everyone. I see the cute puppies and know that they will one day grow up to be huge dogs, and that's okay with me but I also had newfies before.

3. That does bring up point number 3 here. Do you have time to exercise a dog? All dogs need exercise. On our walks I see dogs that appear to mostly just be in their backyard for exercise. That is not acceptable. Dogs like that often end up barking obsessively at everything and anything. It really isn't their fault either. They are bored beyond belief so they pick up bad habits.

4. Money? Dogs need veterinary exams, vaccinations and routine care. Sometimes you have to take your dog to the vet for more than routine visits too. Dogs cost to upkeep and over here in the U.S. pet insurance sure doesn't seem to be a widespread thing like in Europe. Here you pay upfront even if you do have insurance usually, then they pay you back if your claim is accepted. In Europe, it works the same as medical usually does here for humans. You pay a co-pay then it goes through the insurance company.

5. Now, if you have your list together... and by all means this isn't an inclusive list, you should have a good idea of what type of dog might be good for you. With your list together, look up rescue groups for whatever breed you are interested. You can also go to your nearest shelter and see what types of dogs they have.

6. The most important thing I did leave for the last list point here. It is if you (and your family too) are a good fit for the dog, not just is the dog a good fit for you. Perhaps you came looking for a small dog, but that senior labrador retriever is a perfect match anyways? Choosing a dog that is good for you can be simple and can be difficult, but if you find the dog that is your match, oh so rewarding.

Gunilla Wachtel - Kanweienea Kreations Artfire studio
Gunilla is an artist who sells fine art prints and originals of orcas, horses, dogs and more through Artfire and other sites.