Here is the second in a series of articles designed to give you the best chance of making your dog your best friend.

Suitability

First a quick word about breed suitability. Do not buy a dog if you don’t have the time or inclination to look after them. This may seem to be stating the obvious, but I see many instances every day of people who buy a dog for one reason and then find that they have just bitten off more than they can chew – literally! For example, if you live in a city, a Border Collie (and just about all of the herding dogs) will almost never appropriate. They have a genetic herding instinct and they need to be able to satisfy this need to be happy. They are intelligent and are bred to work and if they don’t they will get bored and unhappy, basically they will become neurotic. If you have a neurotic Collie you will very likely have a big problem on your hands. They can be destructive, get aggressive and attempt to control the movements of family members. You can’t really blame them for doing that - it is who they are.

Another example is the Basset Hound, which is a dog, which likes to follow a scent. Therefore, Basset Hounds need to be in a field using their tracking abilities. They appear to be slow moving, quiet dogs but believe me, they can follow a sent for miles. Now I know that all dogs are pack animals, but the Basset and pretty much all the hound breeds are particularly so. Bassets hate to be left on their own and the point is this - if you live in a town and you buy a Bassett you had better be prepared for the consequences, because you can be sure that it will make your life extremely difficult.

So here is the bottom line. Do your research first. I would go so far as to say that if you get a dog that is unsuitable for your life style then you are being cruel to it and are guilty of abuse. I know it sounds harsh, but just about whatever your situation, there will be a breed which will be compatible and so there is absolutely no reason why anyone should force a dog to lead a life against its true nature and thereby cause it unnecessary suffering.

The breed is one thing, but the energy is equally important. Within the breeds will be a vast array of dogs some of which will be more active than others. It is vital to try and match a dog to your energy. If you like long distance running, look for a more energetic dog. My dog for example is a Westie who is very slow moving and a bit grumpy. He loves to go for a walk, but he doesn’t like to walk far and he walks very slowly. He has a crumbling spine, which restricts him. I on the other hand like to walk long distances but I took him on knowing his situation and I treat him accordingly. I don’t blame him. It is also true the other way round. If you are a slow type of person and you take on a high-energy dog, you will end up with behavioural problems and you can’t blame your dog.

So in conclusion, before you get a dog research which sort of breed would suit you and then look for an appropriate dog to match you within that breed. With that method in mind, the best place to get your new friend from is your local dog rescue centre. The staff there will be able to match you with a suitable dog for your lifestyle.

I do hope that you find a nice friend and I hope that you have found the information here useful and interesting and the full version of this article is available on my website. I also recommend a training program, just follow the link on the home page. www.dogtrainingtheeasyway.com

Julian Barterer

www.dogtrainingtheeasyway.com

www.razzamatags.co.uk