Dog's come in all shapes and sizes ? out of all the dogs you've ever met you've probably been more attracted to some breeds than others. Perhaps you had a dog when you were growing up and want the same breed for your children. But more needs to be determined than breed or size when choosing a family dog.
How do you choose? What do you need to know? Here are some questions you must ask when choosing a dog for family life:
How old are your children?
If your family is still young, especially if you still have preschoolers, it is prudent to consider whether your family should have a dog right now. Are you planning (or expecting) other children? Dogs require a fair amount of attention and if you have small children not only will you have less time to train or play with a dog, but you may have more difficulty trusting your dog or your children without your constant attention.
If you are still certain that you want a dog and you have the time, consider the training and age of the dog. Perhaps a well trained, older dog would be more suitable.
How much do you know about dogs?
Think taking care of a dog is a no-brainer? Well, if you have children you don't have the luxury of allowing your dog to train itself or wander the countryside. You must read or ask someone knowledgeable about the needs and training a dog requires.
If you're not up to the task you'll have to locate a trainer that will work with your dog as well as train you and your family how to deal with the dog. Many bad habits that dogs pick up come from lack of consistent training rather than the dog being troublesome.
Are you ready for the financial obligation?
To have a healthy dog you must plan for the costs of vet bills, vaccinations, flea and worm medication, grooming and training. Do you travel? Either you will need to arrange for care or pay for a dog sitter or kennel when you're away. Thinking of buying a large breed? Find out the food costs in advance ? if your budget is already tight you may be shocked at the cost of food for large dogs.
Do YOU want a dog?
If your children are young then hopefully you recognize that you or your partner must be willing to handle the burden of day-to-day care such as feeding, walking, training and cleaning. But what if your children are older and capable of more responsibility? You still need to factor in that the dog may live 10-15 years or more (depending on breed). Who will take responsibility for the dog when the children go to college or get married?
Owning a dog has wonderful benefits that you and your children will enjoy. Research continues to show that individuals benefit emotional and physically from owning a pet. But there is more to owning a dog than selecting the prettiest or most popular breed.
Shannon Emmanuel is a freelancer writer and the author of 'How to Choose the Best Dog or Puppy for Your Children'. Get a free report at http://www.best-dog-breed-for-children.com
Dog day care programs benefit the dogs of owner's who... Read More
Pilling a cat can be a "nightmarish" experience. Cats don't... Read More
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
If you are thinking of adding a dog to your... Read More
Dog eye problems can occur at any time. You should... Read More
The first thing to realize when you are training a... Read More
First pet stores began selling clothes for pets. Then kennels... Read More
It goes without saying that your dog needs suitable nutrition... Read More
Perhaps the best way to train your westie pups not... Read More
How to Deal With Anxiety in Your DogAnxiety in dogs... Read More
I am a happy owner of two rat terriers. They... Read More
Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable,... Read More
Believe it or not boutiques for dogs are everywhere. Nowadays,... Read More
Do you have some adult discus fish and want to... Read More
1. Clipping the quick when cutting nails.Don't be in a... Read More
Piranhas are unique creatures that have gained popularity not just... Read More
There are thousands of local and online Pet Stores but... Read More
A former coworker has a dog that had begun itching... Read More
Even if you haven't had a run-in involving your pet... Read More
A dog that is feeling pain can often be highly... Read More
I get a lot of horse training questions about stopping... Read More
If you are beginning to feel like an endangered species... Read More
What if you want a Boxer, but cannot stomach the... Read More
For heat dissipation and body cooling, a horse trotting at... Read More
Is there anything more cute and cuddly than tiny little... Read More
Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing... Read More
Selling a HorseThe best new tool for people selling horses... Read More
The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds. There... Read More
Maintaining your fish bowl can be difficult sometimes. However, your... Read More
Flowerhorn Cichlids Flowerhorn cichlids is a hybrid cichlid that was... Read More
Bringing home a Pug can change our life, but it... Read More
Interacting with a pet bird outside of it's cage is... Read More
Canine mastitis is a breast infection in brood bitches, usually... Read More
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, full of... Read More
Losing a family pet can be a traumatic experience, especially... Read More
Doggie day care is becoming more and more prevalent in... Read More
Here are 5 things to do to put the odds... Read More
Proper training of your dog should begin when he is... Read More
We've recently moved into a new apartment complex that really... Read More
Buying a purebred dog is not something that should be... Read More
Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that... Read More
Did you know that your goldfish can live for over... Read More
Even with the best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes... Read More
Do you have a puppy that jumps on you, company... Read More
Ever had a hankering for a certain breed of dog?... Read More
Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
Does your dog have that sheepish look? It could be... Read More
Hamster breeding can sometimes be confusing for a hamster owner.... Read More
Pets are family members and should be treated as such.... Read More
The proper selection of a training collar can have a... Read More
For most cat owners, training their cat to use the... Read More
A dog that is feeling pain can often be highly... Read More
What is Canine Infectious Hepatitis?The word hepatitis refers to an... Read More
"Dogs have owners; cats have staff," and I have worked... Read More
Every year, many cat owners decide to get their cat... Read More
Just how old is your dog really? More than likely... Read More
For the first 8,000 years of their relationship with humans,... Read More
The information in this article is based on the successful... Read More
Wondering how to begin crate training your puppy or dog,... Read More
This is general information on Discus, a member of the... Read More
Every day, people by the millions pour food from a... Read More
Do you have a home robotic vacuum cleaner? They are... Read More
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil... Read More
a) GrowlingIf your rabbit growls or grunts at you, she... Read More
This is a question that has been asked of me... Read More
Pet |