So you're getting a dog.

Hi, Zeek again. So you're looking for a dog of your own? Great! But have you thought about this carefully? Us dogs are all very different in needs. You need to make sure that you pick the right dog for you to make a happy home for you and your new furry friend. Take us Labradors for example. We are INCREDIBLY cute, easy to train and great family pets but we are prone to hip and eye displaysia. 

How do you decide?

You need to do your research on the dog you're thinking of getting to make sure it'd fit into your lifestyle. Here's a few things to consider.

Training. No matter what dog you get it is going to need training. When you're training your dog you need to make sure everyone that will be involved with the dog is training the pup using the same techniques. Some of the easiest dogs to train are Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds and German Shepherds. This is due to the "need to please" attitude us Labs and these other breeds have. If you're a first time owner you may not want to consider some of the tougher breeds that include Basset Hounds & Beagles because of their tendency to follow their nose, and bulldogs because of their stubbornness. My advice to you is make sure that you have some time off work so that you can properly train your puppy and make sure it is not alone for too long. After all, if I was left alone for more than 10 minutes my humans would come back to find their food gone and the flooring in a different place to where they left it. 

Do you have the room? Yeah, pups are tiny and cute when you first get them but you need to think about the dogs that they're going to grow into. If you don't have much space you may want to consider some of the smaller breeds such as chihuahuas only weighing about 6lbs and pugs. St. Bernards, Irish Wolfhounds and Great Danes are among some of the biggest dog breeds. 

Think about the future. Are you planning on having some of those weird bald puppies you humans call babies? Well then it might not be the best idea to get the smallest of dogs as children are likely to want to pick them up and the dog may not like it. They could also hurt the smaller of the dogs. You should also take a breeds standard temperament into consideration. For example while Dalmations make great loyal pets they don't have the best temperament. Some of the best known breeds to have in a family with children are Beagles, Newfoundlands and Labradors. 

Consider the cost. Us dogs can cost you a lot of money over the years. Vet bills contribute to a large amount of this and all dogs will have health problems at some point. To help in this area here's the top 3 dogs vets worry about when it comes to health. Golden Retrievers are worried about due to the amount of breed related health issues, the main one being cancer. Bulldogs are also prone to bad health. Many need surgery to shorten their soft palate and enlarge the nostrils to make it easier for them to breathe. German Shepherd is third on the list. They are prone to epilepsy, vision problems, digestive problems, bad hips and degenerative myelopathy, an incurable condition that causes paralysis. On the other other hand some of the healthiest breeds include Beagles, Australian Shepherds and the Husky.

Exercise. All dogs need exercise but the amount that they need varies between breeds. Dogs such as Dalmations, Boxers and Boarder Collies need lots of exercise. A sleepy dog makes a happy dog and an even happier owner. Dogs that are bored and full of energy can become destructive. Not to mention a dog that is overweight can have lots of health issues and isn't likely to live as long. There are some dog breeds that require very little exercise. Chihuahuas and pugs this being on account of the size.

Grooming. My owners spends most of their time picking of hairs from her clothing and removing fur from the floor. One thing i will say, Labs and carpets do not mix. If you don't fancy dog hair all over the place you might want a dog that doesn't shed. These include the Bichon Frise and Yorkshire Terriers. However these dogs will still need to be groomed to stop the fur matting. Don't think that because your dog has short hair it won't shed as much either. Dalmations and Corgis are among the dogs that shed like crazy. This list also includes the Labrador and Newfoundlands. 

For more info on the dog you're thinking of follow the link and see if they have a 101 on the breed. dog 101 - YouTube

Please note that all dogs differ even within their breeds regarding behaviours and health, this is just a guideline to help pick the right dog for you. I hope it helped! If you need any more help just leave a comment in the box below.

Don't just go getting a dog without thinking about if you can meet it's needs and if it will suit your lifestyle. Too many dogs are being given to pounds and re-home centres or being abandoned because the owners can't handle them.

It's your turn! Please leave your thoughts and experiences on this topic in the comments section below.

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Thanks for reading. Bye for now.