Choosing A Dog
How do I choose between a puppy and an adult dog?
The decision to get a puppy or an adult dog is a big one. You get to raise a puppy from infancy and hone it into who you want that puppy to be. When you get an elderly dog it depends on how they've been raised, just like a human. There are a lot of considerations. If you're an elderly person, I highly recommend you get an elderly dog. That's not a put-down or anything; it's just that I want somebody to be compatible with their animal. A puppy has a lot of energy, they're very needy, and if you're elderly you're not going to want to be in that position. It's very compromising and frustrating. It's very important that you match your temperament with the temperament of the dog.
What are the general differences between male and female dogs?
The differences between male and female dogs are vast. People don't understand that female dogs can be just as guarding in terms of their behavior. I think they're more affectionate often and I think they're easier to train. That's not to negate the male dog. We love the boys, but I really highly recommend that you neuter them so that you don't have the issues that are involved with males like marking, roaming and fighting. If you neuter the male dog early, they're going to be just as good as females.
What size of dog should I get?
The size of the dog that you choose is very important. I think that more important than size is breed, because some sizes are actually very lethargic and some small dogs are extremely energetic. You have to realize that if you have a small dog, like a Jack Russell, that dog needs copious amounts of exercise, whereas rescued Greyhounds are couch potatoes. You have to really take into consideration what that dog was bred to do.
What are the pros and cons of purchasing a purebred or a mixed breed dog?
The pros and cons of purchasing a purebred dog are that you're going to know to a good degree what this dog was bred to do, and therefore what its temperament might be like, what its exercise needs are going to be, and what its shedding is going to be. There are a lot of questions that can be answered by getting a purebred dog. However, let me speak to the mixed breed dog. The mixed breed dog has what we call "hybrid vigor", which means that you have two breeds or breed mixes being put together, and they tend to be more intelligent and they tend to be healthier, because you're taking different gene pools and mixing them. Of course, it depends on what the gene pools are. There's a variation with the breeds.
What are the pros and cons of purchasing a retired work dog?
Getting a dog who's a retired working dog, especially if they were a guide dog for the blind or something along those lines, is fantastic. I think you're taking into your home an animal who is very accustomed to many situations and has, of course, many commands. It might be a little more difficult if it's a retired police dog, because I worry about the biting that they've been trained to do. However, if somebody's going to place that dog, the dog's probably been tested and is pretty child proof. However, you have to be careful of any dog that's been trained to bite.
What's a crossbred dog?
In the old days, cockapoos were probably the rage. A cockapoo is a cocker spaniel and a poodle, which is a nice mix, as those are two really nice dogs. Crossbreeding produces high bred vigor, which means the dog is typically a little bit more intelligent and possibly much more healthy, because you're taking different gene pools. Today, the big rage are the labradoodles, the goldendoodles and the schnoodles, etc. I have to say, I'm liking what I'm seeing. I'm not a fan of dog breeding in general, but if this is where the trend is going, I think it's fine and I think that as long as it's done responsibly and people know what they're getting into.
How many different breeds of dogs are there?
There are about 150 breeds of dog recognized by the AKC right now. However, there are myriad more than that, probably six breeds of dog or something along those lines that we don't even know about. Well, we do know about them but they're kind of off the charts. They're a little more esoteric. So there's a lot of breeds of dog out there to choose from.
How do I know which breed of dog I will be compatible with?
You need to look at your lifestyle in order to choose a dog. If you're active, you get a breed that is very sporty. If you're sedentary, you want to stay home and have a lapdog, you choose maybe a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is going to love you to pieces. You really, really need to take into consideration what your dog breed is and who you are, and what your availability to that dog is.
What were different dog breed groups bred to do?
I always say that dog breeds are divided into two groups: the dogs who work for people and the dogs who are independent. Labrador retrievers work for humans. They go out, they retrieve a duck, they bring it back. The herding dogs: they go out, they herd the sheep, they bring them back to humans. They have a real relationship with us. Independent dogs include hounds. They're scent-oriented, so they go out into the field and they choose a scent, and they're off doing their own thing. The terriers go to ground and they hunt vermin. They're working off of their own desires, needs and interests, whereas the other side is working for us. If you want a dog who's going to be really willing to speak to you and listen to you, you get one from the other side; you get the herders or the retrievers, and you stay away from the hounds and the terriers.
How do I choose a dog that will get along with my old dog?
Most older dogs do not like young puppies. Young puppies are extremely irritating, they have no manners and they don't know how to speak dog. Initially, you want to keep older and younger dogs separated a lot. You do introduce them, but you keep the puppy on a leash, and you show the older dog that he is still indeed the number one. You do a lot of mommy-and-me or daddy-and-me time with the new puppy. You do take that puppy on outings. Later down the line, when the puppy has manners and has gained some intelligence, the older and younger dogs can both be together and it most likely will be a harmonious situation.
How do I choose a dog that will be good with my kids?
A dog that will be good with your children is a dog that can take a lot of abuse. Get a Lab or a Golden because they're bread to jump into ice-cold rivers and retrieve dead ducks with guns going off by their heads. This means that they can take the abuse, and the rough and tumble that children dish out, without retaliation.
