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Which Dog - Choosing a Dog Tips

Updated on September 9, 2014

Which Dog is the Best Dog To Choose for You

The thought of a new puppy can conjure up that idyllic image of sitting on a sofa running your hands through his coat, taking leisurely walks in the park, and laughing at how clumsy and funny he can be, then as he grows into a mature adult he becomes your best friend and companion. But that is not always the reality, what about poop and wee in the living room, holes all over the yard, and prized possessions that have been chewed or ripped apart. Before getting a puppy or a dog, there is a need to consider the entire package and if you want the idyllic image to become a reality, then there will be a responsibility on your part to make sure it happens through an understanding of the dog's needs and which breed is likely to fit in with your lifestyle the best.

Choosing a Puppy
Choosing a Puppy

Puppy and Dog Care - The Ownership Guide for a Dog's Life

This new dog care manual, lovingly written by a highly qualified dog trainer and lifelong owner of dogs, provides answers to many of the puzzling and sometimes worrying things that crop up as both owner and dog try to cope with what life throws at them

Research is the Way to Find Out Which Dog Is For You

Choosing a Dog Is Initially About Finding Out As Much As You Can About A Breed

First of all, it's a good idea, where possible, to learn as much as you can about your favourite breed before making a purchase. People often buy a puppy because a breed looks gorgeous but pay little attention to the dog's temperament and whether its needs are compatible with their own personality and lifestyle. For example, if you are a sporty type by all means buy yourself the Dalmatian, Weimaraner or Labrador you've been dreaming of. But if you are a couch potato, you might be better off with a breed with lower exercise needs such as an English Bulldog or Yorkshire Terrier.

Best to decide first whether the breed you have aspirations for stands a chance of being compatible with your lifestyle. Search the internet for information on your favourite breed; visit dog shows if you can and talk to breeders and owners of your favourite breed. You can also buy a book on dog breeds or check in the library for information. The bottom line is that you need to do your research before buying a puppy so that you stand a chance of the relationship between you and your pet lasting the distance.

You may have been advised to wait a couple of months before teaching your new puppy to be obedient. If you were then this was bad advice, during that time he may have learned to look the other way when called instead of responding to you as his owner, and he may be pulling on the lead or dragging you in the wrong direction, especially if he is large. So now, instead of starting with a clean slate after having waited that couple of months, you now have to undo the bad habits that have formed while he was allowed to make his own mind up about what the rules are. So start training your puppy as soon as you acquire him. Ideally, this should be between eight to ten weeks old.

In this compensation led world we now find ourselves living in, there is something else you should consider. More people are suing dog owners for their dog's misbehaviour, not just dog bites or other aggressive actions towards people or their animals, but also things such as the dog jumping up at someone and knocking them down. The sooner you start training your puppy the sooner you will have a controlled dog and one you can take anywhere without worrying.

Young puppies learn easily, but don't have the same self-control as older dogs. Begin by teaching your puppy basic and easy, but important things. Think of this early training as laying the foundations for more difficult exercises later.

When to Start Training - Dog Training Tips - Train a Puppy Should Start From the First Day of Ownership - Yes Really

Dog Training Tips
Dog Training Tips

What is the Good The Bad & The Ugly When Choosing a Puppy

Not that there are good, bad and ugly dogs, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When we make mistakes as humans we can discuss those mistakes and take a new course, but when you make a mistake with a dog they just have to put up with it and they can't tell us where we went wrong.

So, as is said so often, the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to dogs is much more likely to be as a result of the owners actions and interaction with their dogs, rather than being caused by the dog itself.

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