What type of dog is right for you?
With so many to choose from, where do you start?
There are a lot of things to consider when making an important decision like this. Remember first and foremost you are dealing with a living creature and can't just discard it if you change your mind later. You must make a commitment to care for your friend no matter what. How you get on can be influenced by such things as the size of your house and its other, human and other animals, occupants. Whether you have a large garden can determine the size of the dog you would be best for. If you are out at work all day and there is no one to keep the dog company, you should seriously consider whether you should have a dog just now. Dogs are pack/family animals and thrive on company, they hate being alone for long stretches of time, get bored and can become destructive. It isn't them being bad, but the only way they know to relieve the loneliness. The next best thing is to have two dogs so they provide company for each other and have some interaction during the day, preventing them from becoming bored.
If you have limited time for training a puppy, an older dog might be better for you. They are usually house trained and have often been well-loved family pets, who through no fault of theirs lost their family, such as bereavement or illness. All they could need is a loving, secure home and they'll be the perfect dog.
Rescue centres
The people who run rescue centres are wonderful people who do it for love of dogs and a desire to help alleviate the suffering caused by humans on those we call our ‘best friend’ but who far too often are treated worse than our enemy. They do not do it for money.
There are networks of rescue centres across the country including charities who take in any breeds including crossbred and mongrels, and breed rescue organisations which cater for one breed, often run or helped by the responsible breeders of that breed, who don’t want any dogs they may have bred neglected. There are Cavalier King Charles rescue, Belgian Shepherd rescue, German Shepherd rescue, Labrador rescue etc. and we have tried to provide links to all of them here. They do sometimes have pups who have suffered trauma and been rescued by a breeder who then doesn’t want to sell the dog, but to find a good home for it, but mostly their dogs are adult. So you can get a thoroughbred dog for a donation; usually much less than the same dog sold by a breeder. But be prepared for a home check, and searching questions as to your motive and experience. These people care too much for their charges to take a risk on rehoming. As long as you are genuine, have the capacity and ability to care for a dog and provide a stable home, you have nothing to worry about. For Rescue Centres click
Greyhound rescue
Greyhounds are in a class of their own regarding rescue as,rather than like all other breeds where a minority are in need of rescueing and rehabilitation, all greyhounds when they reach the age of 4 or 5 are thrown out as no longer required by their racing owners, and thousands are killed every year by these people, unwanted now they aren’t quite as fast as they were and thus no good for winning money for them. There are also some who are traumatised by the ‘training’ these perverts do, and they have the scars to prove it.
Some may think that greyhounds, as they are bred and trained to chase small furry animals, must be dangerous and in need of masses of exercise, but this is not the case. They need very little exercise, a short walk daily when they may or may not break into full flight [a joy to watch], and they are very home loving dogs, having spent their former lives in concrete kennels, and their idea of bliss is their own sofa to lounge on snoozing for most of the day. This makes them ideal pets for people who can’t get out much and who can’t cope with a hyperactive dogs who needs lots of attention and walks such as a terrier. There are special centres set up rescuing greyhounds, and they can’t find enough people to adopt them, so many remain in the centres for years. These though are the lucky ones, still many thousands are shot or choked to death to satisfy the needs of this nasty industry. For Greyhound Rescue click
Other pedigree breeds
If buying a pedigree pup from a reputable breeder, think carefully about the breed of dog and its needs, rather than your fashion statement. Many people have a dog as an accessory, from the poodle dyed pink for its stupid owners obsession to the chav with his dangerous looking dog on a rope. Find out what their needs are before considering any breed, even talking to people who are experienced with them, or visiting websites and reading about them. They may have special dietary requirements or exercise needs, so make sure you are up to it and can satisfy your dog’s needs fully. If in doubt, consider a different breed. The breed characteristics are anyway largely skin deep; inside every dog is a friendly wolf, outward appearance has been tailored for fashion and is largely irrelevent. Small dogs can be aggressive and large dogs totally friendly, but that doesn’t stop some people reacting to a large dog as if it is about to savage them. While walking German Shepherds, it is not unusual to see people crossing the road rather than walk past you!
Something you must consider is how much time you have and whether the dog is going to be left alone all day. Considering that dogs are very sociable, pack animals, to leave a dog on its own all day is barely short of cruel, and anyone who is out all day working and with little time to spare, should consider if they are suitable to have a dog. Remember, the animal is not there in a box ready to come to life when you get home and desire some interaction. While some dogs will sleep for much of the day if no oneis around, others will fret, suffer anxiety and turn to destructive behaviour to relieve the tension of lonliness. If you value your home and belongings, this is not a good thing. But it won’t be the dog’s fault, and it’s no good punishing the puppy for chewing everything up, it’s down to you.
Ideal dog owners are those who either work outside and can take their dog with them – totally ideal for most dogs other than greyhounds – or who works from home so can provide company and interaction from time to time. They will sleep contentedly knowing you are there, and are always ready for some attention or a walk.
In choosing a pedigree dog you will probably already have a preference, but this is almost always based on the look of a particular breed, and may not be the best for you, or the dog. You should decide first whether you want a dog which is energetic and needs lots of exercise or one who is basically a couch potato such as greyhounds. You may prefer a strong-willed dog, or one who is easy going and laid back, one who is totally friendly to everyone, or a little shy with strangers, a playful dog is great for kids but may be a handful if you are retired, so you may want a dog who isn’t into toys. Most people like affectionate dogs, but you may prefer one who is a bit cooler and less demonstrative, and of course you must decide if you want a dog who is friendly towards other dogs, tolerant of cats, or aloof and uninterested in other animals, prefering human company. Of course you also should decide if you want a male or female, they both have advantages and disadvantages.
Other considerations to be taken into account when getting a dog are: smell, some breeds smell more than others; hair length, long haired dogs require regular grooming, and moult more or less all year, short haired dogs are easier to keep clean and are less work, although their hairs can be difficult to remove from upholstery; size is also of importance as it depends on the size of your house and car and whether relatives will be able to dog sit if you go on holiday. Don’t make the decision lightly or on the spur of the moment. Consider carefully yours and the dog’s needs and how they will fit in with your life. They are not a thing like a piece of furniture that can be placed and forgotten about, they are living creatures with their own needs, and those needs are more important than yours. For Pedigree Breeds Rescue click
Remember that your dog is required by law to wear a collar and identity tag when in a public place. Collars should be the correct size for your dog so as not to cause pain or discomfort.