Selecting A Dog As Your Pet

Those that had made up their mind to have dog as their pet, it is time for you to think on which type of dog breeds that you want. There are 2 types of dog breed which is the purebreed and mixed breed. The 124 recognized breeds are then grouped into seven categories: hound, working, terrier, toy, sporting, nonsporting and herding. There are thousands of mixed-breed combinations. Each purebreed or mixed-breed dog will have their own unique personality. Primary considerations in addition to personality include temperament, size and coat.

Some breeds may have traits that may be objectionable, such as hyper excitability or a tendency for barking. Dogs originally bred for a specific purpose tend to retain these characteristics. These dogs may require additional training and patience. Selecting a specific breed does not guarantee a particular behaviour, but choosing offspring from animals with desirable temperaments does increase one's chance of getting the best pet. Mixed breeds can be as beautiful, intelligent, loving and as companionable as purebreeds. You may attend the dog shows or ask your veterinarians to get to know about individual breed characteristics and needs. 



Beagle belongs to the hound breed category



Cairn-terrier is one of the terrier breed



 

Maltese, one of the cutest breed from toy category



We found a useful website which may provide you more on the dog breeds information. You may log on to http://www.dog-breed-dictionary.com/ for more details and also beautiful pictures.

Most dogs even tiny ones will bark when strangers approach their home or yard. This bark is usually enough to deter intruders. A pet should not be trained as an attack dog. Attack-trained dog require special handling and knowledge to prevent accidental injury to people even including members of you own family.

You don't have to get a puppy to train it the way you like. You can teach an old dog new tricks. If you decide on a puppy, please be prepared for several months of houebreaking and initial medical expenses. For some families, the best choice is an older dog whose temperant, size, coat care, and behaviour are established. When adopting or buying an adult dog, do inquire about its background. Ask shelter personnel or the breeder what they have observed about its personality. Some animals are given to shelter because of behavioral problems. Many good dogs however are abandoned simply becuase their owners can no longer care for them or no longer want them. Sometimes, breeders will place an older dog in a home when its show or breeding days are over. Some people give their dogs away when they moved and usually these animals make excellent companionas providing a homeless animal with love and security can win you a loyal companion.

When selecting a puppy, pick a puppy that is active, friendly and inquisitive. Avoid the one that appears to be afraid of everything and snarls at people. If you select a timid puppy just because you feel sorry for it, be aware that such puppies may be fearful throughout their life. fearful dogs sometimes will become aggressive and bite. Balance is always the key, so look for a well-rounded animal. The temperament of a puppy's relatives may be an indication of its future behaviour. If you are getting a puppy from a breeder, ask to see the dog's parents. Request the names of owners of related dogs. Contact these owners for information about their dog's behaviour and also health patterns. A dog's training is an important factor in determining future behaviour.

Healthy puppies will learn quickly. Frequent contact with people early in the puppy's life enhances its adjsutment to the human family. 6 to 10 weeks is considered an ideal age to acquint a puppy with its new home. Do not engage in rough games with you new puppy as this may encourage aggression.

Obedience training is an excellent way to get a puppy or adult dog off to a good start. No matter how even-tempered a dog maybe, it still needs to learn how to be a well-mannered member of the family. Obedience training is fun where it helps prevent negative encounters between family members and the dog. It reinforces the bond between the handler and pet. Consult veterinarians, breeders, local training clubs, recreation centers and newspaper columns on dogs or pets for details about classes, cost and requirements.