RESEARCH YOUR BREED

RESEARCH

Your Breed

By Elizabeth Parker

SHOULD I OR SHOULDN’T I? That is a question many of us ask ourselves when trying to decide if we can adopt a new pup into our homes. We already know our hearts say yes... but have we thought about all of the responsibilities that go along with adopting a new pup? More importantly, have we determined if the breed we intend on adopting fits our lifestyle and/or the lifestyle of our family?

It may seem like a silly question, right? We know we love dogs. We know that pup is adorable...but we also have to realize that each breed has some unique characteristics that set them apart from the others. If we don’t have experience with their traits and quirks, or think it might be too much to handle, it may not actually be a good fit!

One way to help prevent failure or disaster is to do a little research before signing those papers! This doesn’t mean you don’t want to help, and it doesn’t mean you don’t care. It simply means you want to provide the best home possible for these animals in need, and you want them to thrive in their environment!

They need to be a good match for your training experience and ability. Their activity level is also something to take into consideration. Some breeds are quite content as a couch potato watching hours of television with their families, however, for other breeds, that same scenario will drive them to the point of insanity... and they will take their owners along for the ride.

The next thing to consider is the size of the breed, as large dogs – friendly or not – are more difficult to manage than a three pound dog of a similar personality. Even the friendliest of large dogs can be extremely powerful and if not trained accordingly, the result is an unhappy dog owner and an unhappy dog.

While it might not appear important at first, each breed has a different type of fur, which means that some will shed and require more daily maintenance than others. This can easily add up to a few hours per week on grooming alone. As an example, one breed for which I’ve become quite familiar is the golden retriever. This is the breed with the award-winning smile and beautiful, golden coat. It’s also a breed that requires a bit of maintenance.

Not only do they need to exercise daily but as affectionate dogs, a simple pat on their head won’t suffice. They thrive on attention. In addition, many goldens don’t realize that they’ve grown up – even as they reach their senior years – and, though they are gentle giants, they fail to realize their own strength. A golden retriever can easily knock down an adult human, even if their only intent was to play. Don’t let their gentle demeanor fool you, my current golden got scared during a thunderstorm and dragged a 400 pound elliptical machine (that was sitting atop an area rug) half way across the room!

As their name suggests, they enjoy retrieving things—including items that their owners might consider off limits. In fact, those are the items that are most enticing to a golden.

Lastly, it’s necessary to provide frequent grooming and still, they shed a lot. If a pristine house is in your plans, the energetic and playful golden retriever might not be the breed for you.

This is only one example, but each breed is known for having their own wants and needs. I’ve never owned a husky, but have spoken to those who are familiar with the breed and they have stated that before adopting one, husky experience is absolutely necessary!

If you plan to exercise with your pooch, then you might not want a dog that is known for being lazy, and if you love to relax, then you’ll want a dog who enjoys doing the same. It’s important to research their typical personalities and temperament, size, and grooming necessities to help determine if this breed will be a good fit with your family.

There is nothing in the world like the love and companionship of a dog. Their loyalty is unsurpassed and once you find the right dog, you’ll be happy you did the research first... and so will your new addition!

Elizabeth Parker – Author of Finally Home, Final Journey, My Dog Does That!, Bark Out Loud!, Paw Prints in the Sand, Paw Prints in the Sand: Mission Accomplished, Unwanted Dreams, Phobia, Evil’s Door and Faces of Deception. Available on Amazon.com!

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