I’m looking to adopt a dog from the shelter, but have no idea how to pick one. What type of dog would you chose?
You’ve come to the right place, although your question is a bit off the mark. What you’re meaning to ask, I suspect, is “which dog is right for me?”. My idea of my perfect dog could potentially be a dog that would drive you out of your mind! In order for the dog of your dreams to materialize, you must first have the dream. You’ll need to answer some questions because, as with any good matchmaking, knowing what you want is as important as knowing what you don’t want.
Your list should include everything you wish for in a dog. Forget the movie dog descriptions for a minute “warm nose, loyal, devoted, bold, fearless” – and focus on these things instead: Pure-bred or multi-cultural? Male or Female? Puppy, adolescent, adult or senior? Long hair or short? One that requires professional grooming or not? Size matters – toy, small, medium, large or xxl? Energy level – high, medium, or couch potato?
After those questions are answered, you need to turn the spotlight on yourself and answer these reality-facing questions: do I have enough time to give to my dog during the day? If not, am I willing to hire a dog walker or dog day care to look after my dog for me? Is everyone in the house on board with the idea of a dog, and if not, am I willing to be the sole caretaker and trainer of said dog? Have I looked into the expenses and inconveniences associated with owning a dog, and am I willing to assume them at all costs, for the duration of the dog’s life?
With these questions answered, you can now contact your local animal shelter or pure-bred rescue group (go to www.akc.org for a list of rescue groups by breed). Take your list with you, and stick to it!
– Kathy Santo is a dog trainer and behavior consultant. She owns Kathy Santo Dog Training in Ramsey, NJ. For more information, please visit her website: kathysantodogtraining.com.Kathy SantoSIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER!Click “Subscribe” on the home page of my website.Find me on FACEBOOK: “Kathy Santo’s Dog Training” and TWITTER “Kathy Santo”
