Choosing a Dog: Size, Up-keep, Health and Temperament are Factors to Consider

Dogs, in general, make wonderful pets. They share the common characteristics of devotion and loyalty to their owners and, for this reason, many people have come to refer to them as man's best friend. However, no one should ever rush out to the local grocery store parking lot and choose a puppy from a box labeled "free to a good home." Finding the perfect dog takes time, thought, and research and is not an undertaking one should do on a whim. Anyone interested in owning a dog would be wise to decide on one based upon the categories of size, up-keep, health and temperament.

First, dogs come in all sizes from the extremely large to the very tiny. When searching for this type of pet, it is important to consider the size of the animal and the setting in which he will be living. For instance, a huge dog, like a Mastiff, most definitely would not function well as a housedog. On the other hand, a teacup-sized dog, like a miniature dachshund, certainly would not last long outdoors if left to his own devices. For a family with small children, a big, burly dog could accidentally harm a child simply by knocking him down in an attempt to play. For my own family of four, a medium-sized outside dog was just the ticket.

Second, every dog requires upkeep. For this reason, anyone who wants to have a dog for a pet must think about how much time is involved in the upkeep of that particular animal. All breeds require grooming in order to stay healthy, but some require more care than others. They require periodic bathing and combing of their hair. Dogs with longer hair need more frequent attention than shorthaired dogs. When we picked a dog, it was unanimous when we chose a shorthaired one that we could easily groom through a weekly bath along with periodic hair combings to remove leaves and other debris. Squeals of laughter can be heard a mile away as we chase our dog around the house each week in an effort to put her in the bathtub for a needed scrubbing with soap and water.