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.
Crafting For Animals Guild is a group of artists and crafters on Artfire.com who are dedicated to catering to the needs of animals by either creating and designing items for animals or by supporting and/or raising funds for charitable animal organizations.
Showing posts with label giant dog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giant dog. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Newfoundland dog
Newfoundland dogs are known as the big, gentle, giants. Considered a large dog (and I guess really they are..), but to most Newfoundland dog owners they are not thought of as huge dogs. They are just the right size! :).
They can come in a variety of colors, and not all colors are approved by different countries National Kennelclubs. The colors approved by the American Kennelclub are (base color with a little bit of white is okay for all) brown, black and gray. There is also the landseer color, white basecolor with black markings (as described by the AKC).
There are other colors that do appear such as brown and white landseer. Although not very common, it does still exist, and perhaps one day it will be an approved color.
The average height for adult dogs is 28 inches. For adult females, 26 inches. The approximate weight of adult dogs ranges from 130 to 150 pounds, adult females from 100 to 120 pounds. Weight can vary from the standards of course, and you need to consider that you might have a dog that is larger then the standard and thus probably is more massive in body structure.
There are overweight Newfoundlands, and I remember seeing an ad for Newfoundland puppies where they first said that there were nice AKC blood lines (okay, that's a good thing), but then.. the father of the puppies is a 200 pound landseer! Now, that is not a healthy weight for a newfie.
My first newfie was definitely bigger than the standard height and he weighed about 170 pounds, he was a BIG newf. He was not overweight, but for a newfie to weigh 200 pounds? That certainly does not sound healthy, and to be described as a plus? I don't think so...
I now have my third Newfoundland girl. I often call her "little girl" and people that hear that usually go "LITTLE?" Hehe. She'll always be my little girl, 130 pounds and all! Cleo is a wonderful girl and she is a brown white newfie. We (Cleo and I) often hear, is that a St Bernhard? And I can see Cleo go "um NO," and I say no, she is a Newfoundland. She is not built like a St Bernhard at all, she doesn't even have similar markings. She looks just like a black and white landseer, except she is brown and white.
Here is a youtube video I made of my beautiful girl Cleo so you can see what she looks like :).
In summary, the Newfoundland dog is a big, beautiful dog but they are not for everyone. The puppies look like little bear cubs and you need to consider that the cute little bundle of fluff will become a big, strong dog with an even stronger personality. When dogs like German Shepherds and Rottweilers often have an attitude of "Ok what next, what do you want me to do now?" a Newfoundland (in general) comes with the attitude of "Alright, and you want me to do this WHY?"
Until next blog post,
Gunilla Wachtel - Kanweienea Kreations
Gunilla is an artist that loves animals. She is a member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire. She is a supporter of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Gunilla's artwork features many animals such as dogs, dolphins, orcas, horses and more. She sells her artwork as originals and prints, as well as printed on mugs, t-shirts, mousepads and much more.
They can come in a variety of colors, and not all colors are approved by different countries National Kennelclubs. The colors approved by the American Kennelclub are (base color with a little bit of white is okay for all) brown, black and gray. There is also the landseer color, white basecolor with black markings (as described by the AKC).
There are other colors that do appear such as brown and white landseer. Although not very common, it does still exist, and perhaps one day it will be an approved color.
The average height for adult dogs is 28 inches. For adult females, 26 inches. The approximate weight of adult dogs ranges from 130 to 150 pounds, adult females from 100 to 120 pounds. Weight can vary from the standards of course, and you need to consider that you might have a dog that is larger then the standard and thus probably is more massive in body structure.
There are overweight Newfoundlands, and I remember seeing an ad for Newfoundland puppies where they first said that there were nice AKC blood lines (okay, that's a good thing), but then.. the father of the puppies is a 200 pound landseer! Now, that is not a healthy weight for a newfie.
My first newfie was definitely bigger than the standard height and he weighed about 170 pounds, he was a BIG newf. He was not overweight, but for a newfie to weigh 200 pounds? That certainly does not sound healthy, and to be described as a plus? I don't think so...
I now have my third Newfoundland girl. I often call her "little girl" and people that hear that usually go "LITTLE?" Hehe. She'll always be my little girl, 130 pounds and all! Cleo is a wonderful girl and she is a brown white newfie. We (Cleo and I) often hear, is that a St Bernhard? And I can see Cleo go "um NO," and I say no, she is a Newfoundland. She is not built like a St Bernhard at all, she doesn't even have similar markings. She looks just like a black and white landseer, except she is brown and white.
Here is a youtube video I made of my beautiful girl Cleo so you can see what she looks like :).
In summary, the Newfoundland dog is a big, beautiful dog but they are not for everyone. The puppies look like little bear cubs and you need to consider that the cute little bundle of fluff will become a big, strong dog with an even stronger personality. When dogs like German Shepherds and Rottweilers often have an attitude of "Ok what next, what do you want me to do now?" a Newfoundland (in general) comes with the attitude of "Alright, and you want me to do this WHY?"
Until next blog post,
Gunilla Wachtel - Kanweienea Kreations
Gunilla is an artist that loves animals. She is a member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on Artfire. She is a supporter of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Gunilla's artwork features many animals such as dogs, dolphins, orcas, horses and more. She sells her artwork as originals and prints, as well as printed on mugs, t-shirts, mousepads and much more.
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