Considerations for Buying a Dog

Before buying yourself a dog, there are quite a few questions you need to ask yourself before choosing a breed of furball to buy. With all the different species of dogs in the world, you should make sure you pick one that will suit you well. These tips are more for practical purposes than anything else, however, not emotional ones, so feel free to disregard any of them if you spot a dog in the pet shop that tugs at your heartstrings with huge, liquid puppy eyes and a goofy, loveable canine grin...

Okay, the first tip for choosing a dog breed is definitely size. Basic rule of thumb: small dogs eat less, big dogs eat more. However aside from that, you also have to take the size of your house and yard into consideration. You may WANT a Saint Bernard, but if you live in a small apartment, it might get a bit cramped in there... Also, remember that long limbed dogs are often coursers, and will require LOTS of running room. Walking them around the neighborhood will not be enough. Trust me on this, especially if you get something like a greyhound.

Next consideration when choosing a dog breed is what I call the Fur Factor. Dogs shed. A lot. So you have to ask yourself if you have the patience to clean up after a hairy breed of furball or if you'd rather get a short-haired dog. Granted, fuzzy dogs look adorable, but they cease to be adorable the moment you find yourself waking up in the morning with a faceful of shed hair that miraculously found it's way onto your pillow in the middle of the night.

Then there's the yipee factor. Research the different types of dog breeds you're considering buying. You'll often be surprised at the various purposes for which some breeds of dogs were originally created. Some, like terriers, were bred to run down ferret holes and chase them out or kill them. While modern breeds of dogs are much more domesticated than their original doggy ancestors, instincts WILL tell true. If you like your dogs lively, pick something with a more combative or sporty background; otherwise, if you're after sheer loveability, you should consider the less temperamental and lazier - uh, I mean more relaxed - breeds.