BIG OR SMALL?

Whether you want a mutt or pure-breed, the next thing you should think about is the size of the dog.

If you live in an apartment, you may think it’s best to limit your pooch possibilities to small dogs. But you don’t have to. Large dogs can make wonderful apartment companions as long as they receive regular exercise during walks or dog park visits. Large dogs are often calmer and quieter than small dogs (less barking for neighbors to

complain about). Dogs of any size will make great apartment pets as long as they are properly trained.

If you have small children, would a small dog be better? Not necessarily. Any dog, regardless of size or breed, may be frightened and irritated by children. A dog that feels threatened is more likely to bite. Of course, the bite of a Chihuahua will be less severe than that of a Rottweiler. Dogs of any size can make good companions for children if they are properly trained and socialized around children (but also make sure your children are taught how to act around dogs).

Small dogs eat less (so are cheaper to feed); and you’ll have smaller piles of poop to clean up, of course. They can be easier to control (they are not physically able to drag you down the street during your walk). But again, proper training will enable you to control any dog of any size.

Do Breed Research

If you’ve decided on a pure-breed dog of a particular size, it’s time to do specific research and consider behavioral traits as well as physical ones. If you pick a pure-breed pooch without doing your homework, you may be in for some surprises.

For example, Border Collies are very smart dogs, so you might think this would be a great choice. But super-smart dogs actually require more attention and care than average-intelligence dogs. They need mental exercise as well as physical exercise. Like bright students, they tend to get bored easily—and a bored dog is not a good thing.

If you find a particular breed of dog appealing, get information about it from appropriate resources:

·            Ask a veterinarian if the breed is prone to any health issues.

Get “reviews” from people who actually own the breed. Go online. The Internet makes research easy. Just do a search for the breed and you’ll find several web sites. Don’t limit your reading to just one site; pay particular attention to comments made in online discussion forums (by owners and trainers as well as

breeders). Look for tendencies and traits that you do not want, such as aggressiveness toward other dogs. Get several opinions. People who complain about behavioral problems—such as a Schnauzer that barks too much or a Chihuahua that still pees in the house at two years old—may not have trained them properly.

Even after compiling the results of your research, remember that every dog is different. His behavior will mostly be the result of genetics and how he’s raised. And don’t forget personality. Two sibling pure-breed pups raised in the same way by the same person may have totally different personalities.

Even the best breeder cannot accurately predict how a puppy will turn out.

But there are things you can do to increase your odds of finding a great dog.

Most people pick dogs based on physical characteristics. A particular color, length of hair, type of ears, etc. But just as with people, you should look beyond the “pretty face.” The plain black pooch that others ignore might be the best choice.

You want to a dog that likes you, is friendly (not shy or scared), and doesn’t mind being handled.

Don’t pick a puppy that is less than eight weeks old. Some breeders will want you to reserve a puppy at a younger age. That benefits them, not you (and not the puppy). A very young puppy hasn’t yet developed a personality. You’ll have no way of knowing whether such a young puppy will be timid or friendly, for instance. And this is definitely something you’ll want to know, especially if you’re paying big bucks for a pup that you’ll be sharing your life with for several years!

If you’re getting a puppy from a breeder, be sure to “meet” the pup’s parents. Pay close attention to their behavior. Their behavior may give you a clue to the eventual disposition of the puppy. Don’t get a puppy from parent dogs who aren’t friendly.

Look for puppies raised indoors around people instead of in an outdoor kennel. You want a puppy to share your home; so look for a puppy that has been raised in a home.

If you’re getting an adult dog and can talk to the person giving him up, ask specific questions about its behavior. Avoid vague questions like: Is he friendly? Ask these instead: Does he like to be groomed and handled? Can you trim his nails? What happens if you take away his favorite toy? Is he good around other dogs (familiar and unfamiliar ones)? How does he react to strangers? Does he bark a lot at visitors? Has he ever growled, shown his teeth, or bitten anyone? 

Regardless of the many reasons for picking a particular pooch—whether pedigree, size, cuteness, or other traits you find appealing—the success of the relationship between you and your new friend will ultimately depend on how you raise and train him.