Choosing Your Canine Companion

By Jill Marie O'Brien, CPDT
Director of Animal Training & Behavior Services

Whether you chose to purchase a puppy or give a homeless pet a chance at a good life here are some tips on selecting the perfect pooch for you.

Prior To Going To Get Your Pet :

First and foremost, consider your lifestyle or what your future lifestyle may be. How much time do you have available to dedicate to a new pet? If you can't even find time to sit down to eat a meal, chances are you will be hard pressed to find time for your new pet.

The breed of dog or its mix is very important to consider. Some breeds require more experienced people to live with. Don't pick a dog because they are the latest trend. Your previous experience as a dog owner must be considered as well.

Are you single? Do you have children? Are you planning on having children"? When children are in the home, finding a dog with a solid temperament is imperative. A dog that is just tolerant of children is not enough. The dog must love children. A dog that is a little submissive (not fearful) and tends to choose children as their companions, are generally better for families with kids. Adult only homes have a little more flexibility in the choice of dog or puppy they want.

How much space does your home have? Is it a small apartment or a large house with a yard? Whether you chose a small or large dog, it is important to select a dog whose temperament is suited to that environment.

Dog hair is another consideration. If you are sensitive to dog hair you might want to select a dog that doesn't shed very much or has a reputation as being hypoallergenic.

Think about the activities you will be involved in with your dog. Are you looking for a running companion or a sofa surfer? Do you want to train your dog for competition or working or just looking for a dog to lie by your feet at the end of a day; every breed and mix of dog has different activity requirements. For your relationship to be successful with your pet, you must choose a dog that best meets your lifestyle.

How To Select Your Canine Companion :

Look at all the available puppies and dogs in the shelter, or puppies in a litter.

Select a few out of the whole group that peak your interest.

Try to choose dogs that seem genuinely interested in people.

Avoid dogs that growl at you or seem unfriendly. It is much harder to integrate a dog like this into an average pet home.

Narrow your choices down to 3 or 4.

Ask the caretakers to let you meet each dog one on one.

Are you comfortable handling the dog?

How do the caretakers feel about the dog?

If you have kids, have trained shelter personnel see if the dog has issues with food aggression or aggression with special items. A dog that gets aggressive with stuff is not a good choice for families with children or a novice dog owner.

Don't forget to consider other pets in the home. If possible, have the resident dog meet the dog you're the most interested in.

Get registered for a training class right away. Dogs that have been trained have a much higher success rate in staying with their families. Find out more about training by staying tuned, I will be back to discuss classes and selecting a good trainer later in the program.