“Puppy Love”
By Dr. Steve Velling
People often make the mistake of going to a pet shop on a
whim, or being dragged to one by their children, and the next thing you know
you are in love with the cutest little ball of fluff you’ve ever seen. I’ve seen many people come to me after
initially going to the grocery store, only to run into an Adoption Day from a
local shelter group and come home with a puppy instead of groceries! That’s not a bad thing, but it really is
important to consider the many different questions that go into dog ownership:
-
Do you
want a big dog or little dog? Some
people love huge dogs no matter the amount of hair, drool, or amount of food
fed, while others love a little one that they can hold in their arms or on
their lap. Dogs can be split up into
roughly 5 sizes – 1) Toy Breeds (Maltese, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians), 2) Small
breeds (Beagles, Bichons), 3) Medium Dogs (Border Collies, Bulldogs), 4) Large
Breeds (Afghans, Standard Poodles, Weimaraners), and 5) Giant Breeds (Bull
Mastiffs, Great Danes, Newfoundlands)
-
Do you want
a lover or a loner? Some dogs do
well in family settings (like Golden
Retrievers and Labradors) and other dogs prefer quiet or single owner settings
( Pugs and Akitas).
-
Will your
dog spend their lives indoors or outdoors?
People need to think about how much space they have. You really shouldn’t get a Great Dane if you
live in an apartment. Also, some dogs
are really made for either the outdoors (Rottweiliers, Huskies) or need lots of
exercise (Border Collies).
-
Are
allergies a factor? This has to be
one of the most common requests that I get in terms of what breed to get. Many people want a dog that is
“hypoallergenic” and doesn’t shed. In
some cases, adults or children really do have a severe allergy to dog hair, but
most of the time the parents don’t want to deal with hair being all over
everything, a request from my wife for our next dog. A good website to go to is Dog Breed Info..
Now that my oldest daughter is heading off to college, my
younger daughter is looking to fill the void with a puppy. Who wouldn’t want a puppy? But that cuteness comes at a cost – time,
money, and energy are the biggest investments with successful dog
ownership. Still the payoffs are even
greater – unconditional love, constant companionship, improved health to name a
few. So picking a puppy has long term
effects and consequences, and it all starts with understanding your own
situation beforehand.
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