Choosing Dog Breeds, Puppies, and Rescues: How to Choose a Dog That’s Right for You

The question I get asked the most by future dog owners is “Which breed of dog is best for me?” or “Are Staffy’s Smart?”, “Are Mastiff’s Aggressive?” “Are Jack Russells crazy?”

Now, before I answer these questions about how to tighten the seat, I want all future dog owners (or multiple dog owners) to do me a HUGE favor. First, take a deep breath. Now, put your breed stereotypes on the shelf, put your rescue dog horror stories under the stairs, and wrap your sunny pup ideals in the sparkly wrapping paper they came in.

Now that you have your investigation helmet on, I can take you through my crash course on “How To Pick Your New Best Friend.”

Now, be honest with yourself. If this is your first dog (and that means this is the first time you’ve been solely responsible for a dog), you need to work even harder to prepare for this than someone with a little hands-on experience. Now, don’t think all previous dog owners can ride the ignorance train to dog ownership, you should also do your research and learn how to prevent any of the mistakes you made with your last dog. (Superdog owners beware. If you put a little effort into training your last dog and it turned out to be a superstar, remember that doesn’t make you the next Victoria Stilwell, you just got lucky.) You may also want to look for a dog that is “quiet”, with low to medium energy levels, consider an older rescue dog that has been living in a foster home for at least a month.

I’m not going to pretend they’re not all thinking, “but, but, but… I’ve dreamed of raising my own puppy ever since I was a little boy.” So, here are some tips for choosing the right puppy for you:

• DO NOT buy your puppy from a pet store unless you support the manufacturing of puppies in puppy mills/farms where animals are abused, raised and disposed of when no longer needed. You also likely have a puppy that has learned to go to the bathroom where he sleeps and eats and you may never be able to potty train him (due to the alteration of his natural instincts to be hygienic). Disease is another big factor in pet store puppies, genetic mutation, and the fact that your dog rarely grows up to be the dog promised on the window tag.
• Find a reputable breeder. Ask a lot of questions and if there is any sign of cheating, run a mile.
• Only buy from a breeder who allows you to see the puppies yourself and at least the mother, if not both parents.
• A good breeder will have the puppies at home getting them used to human life (not locked in the garage or laundry room).
• When choosing a puppy from the litter, watch how they interact with each other. Look at the different energy levels. If you’re a new dog owner, relatively inactive, or uncommitted to super levels of training (one that will challenge your dog beyond basic training), choose the pup that’s more relaxed, not the one that jumps on all sides. you and the other puppies.
• On the other hand, watch out for the cute little “little guy” in the corner who seems shy and withdrawn. These dwarfs are not treated well by the rest of the litter and can become anxious, very fearful and antisocial. If you have little knowledge of dog behavior, do not feel sorry for this dog and think that you are saving him.

Now, as promised, here are my two hundred breeds. Breeds can be an indicator of how a dog will behave when he grows up. An example is that, when distressed, we can predict that a Malamute may howl where a Maltese terrier may bark. Genetics play only part of the puzzle here, so in my opinion, making sure your dog has been living in a socially rich environment (being positively exposed to a multitude of strange people, places, sounds, sights, and smells) goes a long way. more important than the genetic makeup of a dog. That said, we all have a soft spot on our chests that we’re attracted to certain breeds. My chest tightens every time I see a Doberman slithering through the dog park like a cheeky gazelle, whose squeaky toy no other dog dares steal.

That said, I wasn’t so blind to my squish that I went out and bought myself a Doberman puppy. He knew that work commitments and life situations would be better suited to a smaller, older, less energetic rescue dog. Now, whatever path your squish takes you, the best way to understand a breed is to talk to breed owners, visit breeders and shows, and meet as many dogs as you can. Also, beware of idealistic advertisements on Breed Specific websites and books that may cause you to pull your stereotypes off that shelf.

When choosing a breed, you want to note a few main points:

• Energy Levels – How active are you now and how active is the average dog of that breed? These must match or the dog must be less active than you.
• Sociability: Dogs that are genetically less likely to be social (get along with other humans and strange dogs) need more socialization as puppies. A normal puppy needs to have positive interaction with at least 100 strangers (including many men and boys) before 14 weeks of age (before they can safely leave the house due to vaccination issues). Guard breeds and other “aloof” breeds will need even more effort in this department. An antisocial dog is an insecure dog and cannot safely interact with other dogs, strangers, and ESPECIALLY children. Antisocial behavior includes withdrawing, hiding, growling, barking, and other signs of fear or uncertainty around strange people, places, and dogs. Ask yourself honestly, how much time and experience do I have in this area?
• Intelligence/Trainability: I noticed that one of the most popular dog breeds in Australia is the Labrador retriever, often chosen for its trainability. What most people don’t know is that with this intelligence comes an enormous responsibility to challenge the mind. Or, you’ll end up with a dog that gets bored easily and finds its own satisfying activities (barking, digging, raiding the fridge). High intelligence usually comes with a lot of energy (to result in high learning ability)
• Grooming Needs – Do you really have time to brush your dog every day? Or are you willing to pay weekly and 2 monthly grooming costs?
• Size – This is last on my list because I think it is less important given that all other factors have been handled correctly. Of course, a large out of control dog will be much more difficult to handle than a small one. I don’t think big dogs can’t live in smaller places, as long as you go the extra mile on daily outings and allow plenty of off-leash playtime outside the house. Who do you think is happy? A large dog in an apartment that gets 2 walks a day and 45 minutes of free time to play with other dogs in the park, or a small dog in a large house that sleeps in the living room 20 hours a day and has free time in the yard rear. to play alone?

And remember, within each breed and each litter there are wide variations in all of the above factors.

I won’t go into the world of rescue dogs here as I could go on forever. For more information or any questions, please visit my website. I will say that anyone who is kind enough to rescue a dog in this ugly world makes my chest crush. If saving the life of an innocent animal isn’t enough to convince you, consider the following:

• You can visibly see how a rescue dog acts and looks (as opposed to a puppy that doesn’t show its true colors yet)
• You can present your current pets to test compatibility.
• You can take your new friend for a test drive, and most rescues allow a return policy if things don’t work out.
• You can see any health problem with your own eyes.

So now you’ve come to the end of your crash course on “How to Choose the Right Dog or Puppy for You.” I hope you will leave your doggy biases and ideals where you stored them and continue your investigation into one of the most important decisions you will make for yourself and your family. And remember, even the ugliest, wildest dog can make a wonderful pet, and even the prettiest, most obedient dog can turn into a nightmare!

If you are ever unsure of the choice you are making, I advise you seek the guidance of a professional dog trainer/behaviorist.

For a free breeder questionnaire visit my website.