Pet Care Pet Care

How to Choose a Dog

The following are four possible answers to the question, "How can I find the best dog for me?" Which do you agree with?

1. Go to a dog show and ask the exhibitors.

2. Find an active breeder of a breed you are interested in, and inquire.

3. When you see someone walking a dog you admire, strike up conversation and ask about the dog.

4. Go to the head of the class. People are defenders of their possessions, with children and pets heading the list. It is a rare exhibitor, breeder, or pet owner who does not extol the virtues of his or her dog's breed.

Make a list of dog breeds you're interested in, and ask a veterinarian about the problems presented by that breed. Pose those same questions to an impartial consultant, such as a local dog control officer, dog trainer, or kennel operator. And remember that ultimately only you can decide whether or not you can live with the drawbacks of a particular breed or dog.

Veterinarians are frequently asked about mongrels, or mutts, or curs (the latter should not be confused with the Mountain Cur, a breed of coon - hound). The disadvantage in getting one of these lies in the fact that it is difficult to predict what a mixed breed pup will turn into as an adult. On the other hand, mongrels are free of many of the inherited problems that plague purebreds (ironically, since many of these problems are recessive, it is often difficult to predict what a purebred will look like as an adult, despite the purebred's controlled parentage). There lissome evidence that hybrid vigor in the mongrel produces more disease resistant offspring. In our practice we find a larger percentage of trouble - free mongrels than of purebreds.

When we are asked, "What kind of dog do you recommend, Doctor?" we reply with a series of questions.

Do you want a giant, large, medium, small, or toy size?

Do you want a long, medium, or short coat?

Do you have a color preference?

Do you want a companion or a dog that will perform some function, such as hunting, racing, pulling a wagon, and so on, or both?

Choose the kind of dog breed that is suitable to your needs.

While choosing a pup you must also be careful about its health. In fact, you are advised not to make any consideration with respect to health of the dog no matter the how good is the breed of the dog. You may try out the following steps to check the health of the pup you are willing to buy.

  • Turn the puppy on its back and check whether it has any fleas, ticks or any incidence of rash or not.
  • Find out whether the teeth are white and standing strong on the pink gums or not.
  • Watch the pup for a while to find out the flexibility or any incidence of stiffness of the joints.
  • Make few noises near the pup and find out whether it is deaf or not.
  • You are recommended not to buy a pup which has a running nose or watery eyes.
You must also measure the rectal temperature of the pup as a temperature more than 102 degrees F indicates the incidence of fever or any serious disease.
Dog Care

All Natural High Protein Dog Food
Caffeine Dogs
Choosing a Dog
Death of a Dog
Debark a Dog
Dog Bathing
Dog Bedding
Dog Birth
Dog Boarding Kennel
Dog Body
Dog Body Structure
Dog Bone
Dog Care
Dog Diet
Dog Digestion
Dog Digestive System
Dog Drugs and the Reproductive System
Dog Drugs Applied to Skin
Dog Drugs to Kill External Parasites
Dog Drugs to Kill Internal Parasites
Dog Economics of Feeding
Dog Emergency
Dog Euthanasia
Dog Eye Problems
Dog Eyes
Dog FAQS
Dog Feeding
Dog First Aid
Dog Grooming
Dog Grooming Stripping or Plucking
Dog Growths
Dog Health
Dog Mouth
Dog Nail Care
Dog Owner Responsibility
Dog Personality Guide
Dog Physical Exams
Dog Pregnancy
Dog Spaying
Dog Surgery
Dog Tail
Dog Teeth
Dog Tongue
Dog Training Tips
Dog Vitamin
Dog Water
Dog Whelping
False Dog Pregnancy
Feeding Dog
Female Dog Reproductive System
Foreign Object in Dog
Foster Dog
High Fat Dog Food
How Long Does a Dog Live
How Much to Feed a Dog
How to Accustom Your Dog to a Diet
How to Choose a Dog
How to Choose Vet
How to Get Your Dog to Swallow Medicine
How to Restrain a Dog
How to Tell If Your Dog Is Sick
How to Untrain your Dog
How to Wean Dog
Old Dog
Puppy Feeding
Puppy Training
Types of Dog Food
Variety in Dog Diets
What type of Dog Food Should I Feed My Dogs
What You Can Catch From Your Dog
What You Should Know About Dog Feeding
When is a Female Dog Ready to be Breed
Why Breed Dog