Dog Breeds Training

Congratulations, you have made the decision to adopt a dog.A true blue friend and confidant.But before you even consider adopting a new dog, there are some things that you will want to keep in mind.

Things such as what kind of lifestyle do you have? Are you very physically active and outdoors alot? Or are you more sedate, a bit of a couch potato. Where do you live? In an apartment/condo, or do you have house with a yard. How about any children? Are they smaller or older. What about allergies? And this is just the beginning of questions that you may need to ask yourself.

Now, a dog can and will be an excellent addition to your family and will bring you a lot of joy and happiness. They will be there when no one else is, always faithful.

But as it has been said, choose wisely. Taking home the first cute puppy that catches your eye is not always the best idea. A truly responsible owner will do research into the breed or breeds that they are interested in before making their choice. They will take the necessary time to find reputable breeders. To talk to them and get a feel for what kind of dogs they have. They will take the time to get to know the breed of dog that they think that they would like, to understand the dogs temperment and quirks.

Breed Guidelines

With all the dog breeds available from which to choose, you are going to want to set aside some time to really consider your situation and just what type of dog might suit that lifestyle.

The two main areas that you should consider the most when deciding on your future four footed pal are size and energy level. Both the dog's and your's.

Energy Level

You are going to want to pick a dog that has an energy level on par with your own. This can get to be a sore spot with you if the dog that you like can't keep up with you. You will either end up practically dragging the poor pooch or leaving him at home because it is too much trouble to take him on your power walks.

On the other hand, if your lifestyle is more sedate, a dog that has a higher energy level and needs more physical activity like running or chasing a ball is not going to be a good fit for you. Most likely you will be frustrated by his desire to keep himself occupied.

Size Matters

The size of the dog deceives many would be owners. Most people assume that a larger dog will need more exercise. This is not always the case. As a general rule, the smaller dogs like Cocker Spaniels to medium sized dogs like Border Collies and large dogs like German Shepherds need more execise and attention. Very small breeds like Chihuahuas and very large breeds like Mastiffs tend to need less exercise. But of course there are always those dogs that are exceptions to the rule.

The size of the dog also comes into play when it concerns your home. If your place is small, it would be unfair to a large dog to confine him in the smaller space. It also would end up uncomfortable for you as you will most likely trip over his rather large body while he sleeps underneath your feet.

Another consideration is how often you are going to have to let him out to go potty. If you live on the tenth floor of a condo, he may not be able to wait until you get outside. A small breed of dog may be able to make use of the potty grass type products on the market, but it is unlikely that a St Bernard would.

Health Matters

From years and years of breeding to get just the right "look" has resulted in many breeds of dogs having health issues. That often means special diets, breeds that are prone to diseases and higher vet bills for their care. This is when doing research into the breed really pays off. Not knowing these types of issues up front can make living with your pet unbearable. As your pup gets older and becomes a seasoned citizen of the doggie world, those health issues increase dramatically.

Dog Breed and Temperment

A dogs temperment is partly based on his genetics, but also to a large degree on how he is treated by you. You have probably heard that there are no bad breeds, just bad owners. And that could very well be true. But then again there have been many many stories of certain breeds that have a higher incidence of trouble associated with them.

When it comes to the temperment of your potential pet, you are going to have to be honest with yourself and your past experience with dogs. If you are a lifelong dog owner, then may have little trouble with a dog that needs more attention or a firmer hand.

However, if you have never owned a dog before much less taken care of one on a regular basis, it would be wise to avoid certain breeds. For instance, many people fall head over heels in love with Border Collie pups because they are so adorable.

What these owners don't realize until later is just how much work Borders are. They are what is known as a "working" dog and as such they require plenty of activity. Most people assume the worst, thinking that they have a bad dog when in fact they just have a pet that needs more mental and physical attention than others. The poor dogs then are given away or worse, end up in shelters or on the street.

If you haven't owned a dog before or had some personal experience with one, it might be a good idea to look at dog breeds that are known as companion dogs. These are the type of breeds that like to be near you but don't necessarily need your undivided attention.

Owning A Dog

In the end, pure bred dogs are just that, dogs. They may have fancy names, or titles or traceable lineage, but in the end they are just dogs. But owning a dog, whether he is pure bred or a mixed breed is a huge responsibilty. It takes as much effort as raising a child does. You need to be sure that you are ready for all that it entails as you are the one they will depend on for everything in their lives just like a child.

The best advice is to spend the time necessary to fully research the breed of dog that you think you would like. One that matches your lifestyle, personality, experience level and living arrangements.

Doing your homework before hand can lead to a much better choice for you, a much better life for your dog and hopefully a lifetime of pleasure for you both.

To get some real indepth info on things like how to choose your dog, how to raise, handle and train a dog, take a look at Secrets To Dog Training. It's a home study course in dog training that's packed with all the information needed for owning your dog.

It covers everything from housetraining to preventing and solving behavioral problems to obedience training. With it you will be able to train your pup much faster and with a lot less trouble. It's the ultimate dog owners handbook and is written by an experienced dog trainer. You can check it out here: Secrets To Dog Training