Choose the Right Puppy for Your Family - Pets and Animals Article

By:Ian White

Purchasing a puppy for your family is a very big decision. It
should never be approached casually, or lightly. A new pet
becomes part of your family. You should do everything you can to
educate yourself about the breed of puppy you are considering and
its personality. You should also explore how much grooming or
maintenance each new addition to your family requires.
The worst thing you can do when selecting a puppy is simply
choosing one because you think it is cute. Most dogs are cute.
Cuteness alone does not make a good pet. Even the sweetest
looking dog can bring havoc to your home if you are not set up
and prepared for it.
Each breed of dog should be investigated. You do not want a dog
with herding instincts around small children. They may truly
take to rounding up the kids and nip and bite at their heels
during play. Breeds which have the hunter instinct in them may
not work well in homes where there are other pets, such as cats,
hamsters, rabbits and birds. Dogs which require constant
grooming may not work well in a farming family, or living
outside. Research the history of the breed you are considering
before you purchase your animal. If you are purchasing a beagle
to hang out in the house, you may be upset when he decides to
take off after that aroma that is beckoning to him from the
woods.
Terriers are favored choices by pet owners because this breed
comes in various sizes, from large to small and they have much
personality. The Cairn Terrier, for instance is wire-haired. This
breed sheds very little. You should keep in mind the Carin was
bred to be a ratter. You should be prepared for a pet that loves
to dig and burrow. This breed is very trainable, and if you
supply him a patch of ground for digging all should be well.
However, if you plan on keeping a Carin in a quiet apartment
complex, you should keep in mind this breed is prone to barking.
Find a breed which matches the personality of your home. Be
realistic and do not assume you can change a dogs nature.
When you go to observe a litter of pups, you should take in the
kennel cleanliness and the health of the parents. If the kennel
is smelly, dirty and unkempt, you can assume the mother dog may
not be in the best of health or she probably hasn't had the best
care. You should never assume because the mother is thin she is
unhealthy. Most mother dogs do go through a thin stage after
birth and during the weaning process. However, signs of
malnutrition are obvious. If the mother dog is in bad shape, you
should not purchase a pup from her litter. If she is aggressive
toward you, you should also reconsider purchasing one of her
pups.
Don't jump right in and start picking up the pups. When you go to
choose your pet, you should observe him as he plays with the rest
of his litter, first. Is there a pup that dominates his family?
Is he pushing the others aside, or being rough toward his
siblings? This pup should be considered the alpha dog of the
litter. This dog knows who he is and what he wants. You should
keep in mind these dogs tend to push their boundaries. If you
purchase one, you will have to be very diligent with your
training. He can never assume he is dominant over you, or the
children in your family. These dogs do make wonderful pets for
the family who has enough time to give them the consistent
loving but firm attention he will require. However, they can be
stubborn.
What about the pup who is cowering in the corner? This pup may
be the runt, or the shy one in his family. If you are wanting to
purchase a pet to serve as family protection, this dog is
probably not for you. This dog will scare easily and will most
probably beat you to the hiding place if an intruder bursts into
your home! However, it should be said these pets do work well
with children. They tend to be gentle, and they will come out of
their shell if they are lavished with love, praise and the proper
training. These dogs are lovers, not fighters. However, if these
pups are not worked with, their shyness will turn to fear. This
could lead to snippy dogs, or ones that actually bite. Children
should not be allowed to mistreat animals, especially ones which
are timid or shy by nature. Their sweet, loving pet may turn on
them.
If there is a pup in the litter who is barking at your presence,
you should carefully observe it. Is it barking simply because
you are a stranger? Is it barking because he wants your
attention? Or, is it barking because he is afraid? If he is
afraid, this dog could possibly grow up to be aggressive and
possibly dangerous. Fearful dogs protect themselves through
barking and barring of their teeth. If the pup is aggressive, it
will most probably grow up to be even more so. Just because a
dog barks doesn't mean he is aggressive, though. Some dogs bark
to be friendly. You should be able to tell if the pup you are
observing is simply saying "hello" or "get out of here and leave
me alone."
The middle of the road pups are usually the best. These are the
pups which come up to you. They are friendly. They may
playfully pull on your shoe strings or climb upon your lap and
start licking your face. These puppies are already trusting by
nature. They are willing to socialize with you and they want to
make friends.
You should take each pup you are considering purchasing away from
its litter to a different area for observation. How does it
react away from its family? Is it jumpy and nervous? Is he
confident and happy? Does it cower? Do loud noises send it
scurrying to hide, or is he simply startled and then full of
investigation instincts? When you talk to the pup, does he seem
interested in you, or is he simply ignoring you and doing his own
thing? All of these little clues will give you an inside peek as
to the personality of the pup.
When you hold the pup like a baby, what is his reaction? Does he
struggle, lash madly and try to nip at you? If so, this pup is
probably very stubborn and will require a firm hand to get it to
obey. Does the pup stare at you wild eyed and it fright? This
pup is probably very skittish and will require a lot of love and
coaxing. The pup who tries to right itself, relaxes, then tries
again, off and on while you are holding him should be considered
a middle of the line dog. This dog should be fairly easy to train
with the proper care and training.
Try walking away from the pup. If he doesn't follow you and is
more interested in doing his own thing, this dog will be very
independent. He may not be interested in training at all, and it
may be a challenge to get this pup to focus on you. If you call
him, he looks up and continues about his business, this is also a
sign that you have a little prince or princess on your hands who
may be oblivious to rules.
Choosing a puppy for the family should be an adult decision.
Children can easily be swayed to choose a pet on a whim. Parents
can easily check out the litter first and choose a suitable pup
or two for the children to choose from. You should also keep in
mind that children will be happy with a pet you simply bring
home, even if they had no say in the selection process.

About the Author

Author Ian White is founder of Dog-Breeders.biz. This extensive
online directory includes listings by private breeders, kennel
clubs, and occasional hobby or family breeders. Those seeking
dogs can locate and match with appropriate breeders.
Dog lovers and breeders can find more information on the website
at: http://www.dog-breeders.biz

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Top Pets and Animals Articles
1). Winter Dog Agility Training By : Brad Carlson Yes, its cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training. Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but thats no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home. Get creative with your training locations. Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage? Then you have a place to train! Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it.
2). How to Choose Goldfish By : Nate Jamieson How you choose your goldfish, depends largely on two things: the type of fish you really like to see, and the kind of container you intend to keep
3). 5 Tips for a Happy and Healthy Dog By : Paul Duxbury Think beyond the norm when it comes to feeding your dog and you will have a happy and healthy dog!
4). Pet Safety By : Lee Dobbins Your home might be "kid-proof" but how does it measure up when it comes to safety for your pet? Do you know all the hazards your pet is exposed to? Ho
5). The Long, Low Basset Hound By : Charles Kassotis The Basset Hound�s most noticeable features include the long ears, drooping forehead and short legs. These dogs are excellent at smelling, partly due to their noses but also because of their ears. It was originally bred as a hunter, but has risen in popularity as a family pet and canine pal, as the epitome of the loyal friend.
6). How To Stop A Dog From Chewing By : Terence Young Most normal dogs will bite and chew. While you cannot completely erase this behavior, you can regulate it and influence the dog�s behavior.
7). Things to think about before buying a Dog By : Paul Duxbury There is a lot to consider when bringing a Dog into your family and home. Here are a few thoughts on areas that you need to consider.
8). Train Your Buddy To �Walk� & �Dance� - Warning: Not All Dogs By : Moses Chia Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that put an abnormal strain upon the muscles of the back and hind legs and most dogs require consider
9). Three Thinghs to Keep in Mind when You Buy Parrot Toys By : Ispas Marin Three Thinghs to Keep in Mind when You Buy Parrot Toys
10). Dalmatians � Great Dogs, Even in Numbers Less than 101 By : Charles Kassotis It was the movie that made Dalmatians an instant success as companion dogs and family pets. Treated well and properly trained, Dalmatians can be every bit the wonderful companion depicted on the big screen.

New Pets and Animals Articles
1). Pet Store - A Place That Every Child Needs To Visit To Gain Love For Animals By : Brooke Hayles Pet stores are wonderful places for children to visit to gain a love of animals. While you may not be able to actually touch the animals online, the variety of supplies is usually greater than the local store.
2). Your Cat Goes Missing By : Kadence Buchanan According to the most recent Synovate pet survey (Sept. 2005), conducted in nine markets across the globe, the UK and the US were shown to be the two absolute leaders in pet ownership.
3). How To Know If Your Cat Has Feline Diabetes And How To Treat It By : Gregg Hall Just like all pets, cats need to be watched for signs of illness, such as feline diabetes. This disease is just as dangerous for cats as it is for humans and if left untreated, could become deadly.
4). Some Tips To Help You Recognize Common Cat Ailments By : Gregg Hall Many potential health issues can be avoided by keeping them up to date on their vaccinations. There are still health problems that need to be watched for, even if you take your cat for its annual physical and shots.
5). Is The German Shepherd The Perfect Dog For You? By : Lee Dobbins If you want a dog that is fearless, smart and hard-working than the German Shepherd may be for you!
6). Which Dog Breeds Are More Likely To Kill People By : Mitch Endick Some dog breeds are more likely to kill than others and some breeds are more protective of their masters and physical surrounding than others. This is the results of a twenty year study.
7). Tips To A Well Behaved Dog By : Terence Young Having a well behaved dog can really mean the difference between a pleasant experience and a downright horror pet story.
8). How To Simplfiy House Cleaning With Pets By : Melody Thacker Keeping your house clean with a pet or two in the family can be a challenge. Taking a bit of time to train your pet, some advanced planning and preventative measures will make keeping your house clean with pets much easier and less time consuming.
9). Nebelung Cats, a Substitute for the Russian Blue By : Iro Ignatiadi Not the kind of cat you would want to have with small children, the Nebelung is a great companion that loves lying in you lap and being petted.
10). Caring For Your Pet Parrot By : Lee Dobbins Parrots make great pets but they do need some specialized care. Read this article and find out if you are ready for a pet parrot.

� 2006 articles2k.com - Privacy Policy