Factors to consider before choosing a dog for a pet

It is true that a dog is a man’s best friend but can a man be a dog’s best friend? When you are out shopping for a pet dog, maybe from an animal shelter or a rescue home, you have that perfect picture in your mind as to how will you like your pet to be. You might even find a canine which looks just the way you pictured it in your mind, but after you bring it home you might get to slowly know the dog is not the Mr. Right for you. Dogs are available not only in different breeds but also sizes, shapes as well as personalities. Some demand a lot of attention, maybe in the area of exercising or maybe some need more training than what an average dog needs or some are just more than contented to lie in one place all day without any fuss.

Choosing the right dog as a pet needs considering a few things which can be beneficial for both you and the pet you choose. Let us have a look at what those things are:

1.   Considering your lifestyle:

The basic thing to remember when you are out to choose a dog for yourself is that not only you are getting a dog for yourself but the dog is also getting a new family. A dog has different types of requirements which mean it is the responsibility of the owner of that particular dog to fulfill his needs. There are different aspects to domesticating a dog which includes his size, his friendliness and assertiveness, his exercise requirements and his compatibility with you and your family members which when met properly can get you your love of your life in the form of a pet. For e.g. if you are a loner living in a small area in a high-rise building and you are choosing to adopt an overactive breed for a dog then it is not the right decision, for you as well as the dog. For such a dog a family with kids would be the best choice for the kids as well as the dog can keep each other company and all his needs like cleaning and bathing with iclean dog wash can be taken care of.

2.   Deciding the breed of the dog:

There are two categories of dogs to look out for, purebreds and mixed breeds. The basic difference between the two categories is that the ancestors of the purebreds are the same kind whereas in the case of mixed breed one of the parents is a different breed. But this difference can rarely be able to tell you about the health and personality of the dog but you can be sure of the size and shape of the purebred and that of the mixed breed differs according to the different breeds responsible for its conception.

3.   Take the help of an adoption counselor:

When you visit a shelter to choose a dog for adoption you might not be able to decide as of course, you do not know the different dogs and are not aware of their personalities. Ask for assistance from the counselor present which can help you choose a canine keeping in mind your needs for a pet. You might also get to spend time with some of the dogs you have narrowed down to and at this stage; you should look for qualities in the dog such as:

·         The age of the dog

·         Personality of the dog, as in, is the dog shy or assertive

·         Does the dog seem compatible with kids?

When you have decided on a pet just remember he is going to be a part of your life for at least the next 10-15 years and hence should be treated like family.