22 Feb 2008 09:34:45 | Randy Myers
For all too many, the process of choosing a puppy or puppies is
based purely on how cute the puppy is or how playful its
personality seems at the pet store or kennel. Granted, playful
and cute puppies can really tug at your heart strings and urge
you to make an impulsive and expensive decision regarding this
very important addition to your family, but without proper
thought and research into the type of breed you are purchasing,
your family and your cute, adorable puppy could be in for a long
road of pain and frustration ahead.
Purebred puppy breeds have inherent characteristics that are
particular to their breed, and these characteristics usually get
more pronounced with age. While different breed characteristics
will be appropriate for different families, matching the wrong
breed with the wrong family can have devastating consequences.
It has been estimated that the number one reason why competent
pet owners relinquish ownership of their puppy or puppies to one
of the many county humane services to be found all across the
country is because they have become frustrated with certain
characteristics of the dog. No matter whether the problem is
big, such as aggression to children or other pets, or small,
such as a tendency to chew everything in sight, as the puppy
grows and its cuteness wears off, the frustration experienced
from having a poorly matched puppy will increase. And the
consequences can be heart wrenching for the both the family and
the dog.
But by simply taking a little time to research the breed you are
considering purchasing, you can guarantee that your new puppy
will be a well-loved addition to your family unit. While I'm not
saying that you should discount a breed entirely based on one
troublesome characteristic, I'm saying that you should be
prepared and able to deal with any problems, behavioral or
health related, that is associated with the breed.
In order to obtain accurate information when choosing the right
breed of puppy for your family, stay away from sources that have
an interest in selling the puppy. I learned this one the hard
way. After my children and family fell in love with a puppy at a
local, reputable pet store, I had many questions for the sales
clerk about how easily the puppy could be house broken. A puppy
making messes all over the house is just not something that I
can deal with a few times let alone for months of house
breaking.
I was assured by the clerk that the breed was very intelligent
and able to be crate trained in a matter of three days. To make
a long story short, $1,500 and 9 months later the puppy still
requires constant supervision and cannot be a complete part of
the family due to our inability to house break him. Research
conducted after the purchase revealed that the breed was
inherently stubborn and in some cases unable to be house broken
despite all attempts.
So, instead of relying on biased sources, turn to the library
and people who own that particular breed of puppy or have owned
one in the past. If you know someone who has relinquished a
purebred puppy of the breed that you are considering for a
fraction of the cost that they paid for it or for free, you need
to ask them some serious and pointed questions before deciding
to invest in that particular breed of puppy. Here are the most
important questions that you need answered before purchasing a
puppy or puppies:
1. What is the temperament like? 2. What is the mature size and
weight? 3. Are they good with children? 4. What are their
indigenous health problems? 5. How long do they live? 6. How
much do they shed? 7. How much do they eat? 8. How trainable are
they? 9. Can they be easily house broken? 10. Do they require a
lot of grooming? 11. How noisy are they? 12. How protective are
they? 13. Do they require any special care or management? 14.
Are they good with other dogs and animals?
Now all you need to do is match the answers of these questions
with your family's needs. Choose wisely, and you will have
chosen a best friend of a lifetime, a dog that will truly be a
joy to have and a treasured member of the family.
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By Randy Myers
