You have decided that yes, you are willing and able to provide a proper home for a dog. Now you have to pick from the many breeds available.
There are several factors that come into play when deciding on the perfect breed for you.
What type of housing can you provide? Large, active breeds are not suited for apartment living. Do you have a fenced in yard? If so, does it have shelter and a place for food and water? Once you have evaluated your own situation and know what you can provide, you can narrow down your selection.
Are you an active person or sedentary? Do you envision your dog going places with you like the beach, park, etc? Or do you want a dog that is more of a house companion? Different breeds have different energy levels and needs for activity levels. This comes from the origins of the breed and is not something you can change for your particular dog. In other words, If you select a large breed that was originally bred to herd, you need to have room for this animal to run and get the activity it needs. On the other hand, if you select a toy breed and put him out in your large yard all day he is not likely to be very happy.
Some breeds are happy to be outside running around and smelling all the different scents that are out there. But other breeds just want to be with their owner. They are happy to just be by your side, no matter what you are doing.
Choose a breed that is right for your physical surroundings, then go further by choosing a breed that fits you activity level and your expectations for how it fits into your lifestyle. If you take these simple steps instead of picking the cutest puppy you can find, you and your pet will lead much happier lives.
By: John Hanly
About the Author:
Ok, first off, our dog hasent been eating for about 2 weeks. We originally thought it was the other dogs eating her food, so we brought her into the house to eat, but she didnt. She started losing weight, and energy, almost immediately. My parents tried different things but were unsuccessful. So I intervened, cause its not my dog but I dont want her die. We had BBQ hotdogs tonight, and there was 4 left over. Without anyone knowing, I tested a couple things. I brought out hotdogs, pizza, and a bowl of dog food. She ate the hotdogs and pizza without thinking. But, the dog food she wont even touch. Which I originally suspected cause of the lawsuit that was recently started.
Basically, she looks really bad, hips showing and all that. They were going to put her down tomorrow, but I got her to eat. Now, being half educated, I know that when somethings starving, the last thing you do is feed it a whole bunch. So, how do I bring her back to health?
Shes a full size poodle, and shes 15. Though she acted young, until recently. Do you feed her a little bit 5 times a day, or, medium amount 2 times, or, start off with a little bit frequently and increase. Or what?
