Choosing your Best Friend is one of the
most important decisions you’ll ever make.
How you make this decision will have a
great impact on your life, and an even
bigger affect on the dog’s. It will
determine the success your Friend will
have in your home, and, like choosing
your life’s partner, it’s not a decision to be
taken lightly and takes careful
thought and consideration.
Whether dreaming of a pure breed
puppy or rescuing a dog from a shelter,
there are many factors to consider. It is
not enough to have an attraction to a
specific breed based on their looks or
perceived personality. They must have
the qualities that fit into your lifestyle.
Too often I have seen energetic Border
Collies adopted by sedentary families,
who are shocked to find that the dog has
endless energy. Dismayed that they can’t
keep up, they are forced to
re-home the poor pup.
Or the young family who purchased a
puppy, thinking it would be great for the
kids to grow up with a pup, but are
stunned by the constant supervision the
pup requires. Poor Mom suddenly
realizing she has a another baby on her
hands. Sleepless nights, included.
With a little education and thought, these
mistakes can be prevented, so before you
adopt the newest member of your family,
consider the following:
-Lifestyle. What is your energy level?
How much time do you have to give to
exercise, grooming, training, etc? What are
your family’s limitations (be honest with
yourself).
-Research breeds. Though all dogs are
individuals, there are some characteristics
that are consistent within the breed. For
instance, Beagles love to sniff (I have yet to
meet one that doesn’t), so if you dream of
brisk walks with few stops, you may want to
consider a different breed.
-Age of the dog. Puppies are tons of fun,
but LOTS of work. Think about whether
you have the time to devote to training a
pup. For the first few months, it’s a full time
job. If you adopt a puppy, you really are
getting a baby. One that nips, chews, has
accidents and doesn’t sleep through the
night. If time is scarce or you are
inexperienced with raising a pup, a mature
dog may be a better choice.
-Budget. Buying or adopting a dog is a
financial commitment, in addition to an
emotional one. You’ll need to have funds
for medical bills, food, grooming, toys, beds
and much, much more. Emergencies
happen and we need to be prepared.
-Research breeders/rescue groups.
Make sure they are reputable and have
high standards for the families that
adopt/purchase their dogs. If they care
where their dogs go to live, that most likely
means the dogs have been in good hands
while in their care (never buy from a pet
store).
When those fireworks go off and you are
In Love, there’s nothing like it. The warm,
fuzzy feeling that you have when you’ve
found the dog of your dreams is truly one
of the greatest joys of life.
Like all Love Affairs, there comes a time
when we must come down to Earth, and
start the work of Being In Love. Your
smart choices will guide you through this
time, so you and your pup will have a
love that lasts Forever!
The Tail End
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