dog breed

<p>There's one problem with adopting a dog from an animal shelter: The selection of available canine companions can overwhelm you! Man's best friends come in all shapes, sizes, and, of course, personalities. &lt;BR&gt;The good news is that almost any shelter dog can make a wonderful, lifelong companion for you and your family. The bad news is that some of those bundles of energy will make less appropriate pets for you than others.&lt;BR&gt;The key is simply knowing what to look for. Here are a few things to think about:&lt;BR&gt;Examine Yourself Choosing the right dog generally means identifying the type of animal that matches your lifestyle and wants. If you live alone in a small, third-floor apartment, for instance, adopting a large, active retriever mix might not be the best choice. Conversely, if you have a family of four and are looking for a companion to match your active lifestyle, such an animal may be perfect. A dog's size, exercise requirements, friendliness, assertiveness, and compatibility with children should all figure into your decision.&lt;BR&gt;Learn about Different Breeds and Mixes So how do you find out which dogs have the qualities you're looking for? Information is the key: Learn about various breeds, visit with animals at the shelter, and speak with an adoption counselor for guidance.&lt;BR&gt;Dogs fall into one of two categories: purebreds or mixed breeds. Most animal shelters have plenty of both. The only significant difference between the two is that purebreds, because their parents and other ancestors are all members of the same breed, are similar to a specific &quot;breed standard.&quot; This means that if you adopt a purebred puppy, you have a good chance of knowing about how big he'll get and what general physical and behavioral characteristics he'll have.&lt;BR&gt;Of course, the size, appearance, and temperament of most mixed breed dogs can be predicted as well. After all, mixed breeds are simply combinations of different breeds. So if you know the ancestry of a particular mixed-breed puppy or can identify what type of dog he is (e.g., terrier mix), you have a good chance of knowing how he'll turn out, too.&lt;BR&gt;Mixed breeds offer several advantages over purebreds. When you adopt a mixed breed, you benefit from the combined traits of two or more breeds. You also get a dog who's likely to be free of genetic defects common to certain purebred dogs. Mixed breeds, in fact, are often considered the more &quot;natural&quot; dog. When you adopt a mixed breed, you adopt a totally unique companion.&lt;BR&gt;Visit with Shelter Animals While you're at the shelter, keep in mind that it is a stressful place for any animal. Quite often, a dog's true colors won't show until he's away from other animals and the shelter environment. So even if you walk past a kennel with a dog who isn't vying for your attention, don't count him out. He may just be a little scared or lonely.&lt;BR&gt;An adoption counselor can help you select canines who'll match your lifestyle. When you spend time with each animal, you'll want to ask yourself:&lt;BR&gt;How old is the dog? You may want to select a puppy as your new companion. However, young dogs usually require much more training and supervision than more mature dogs. If you lack the time or patience to housetrain your pup or to correct problems like chewing and jumping, an adult dog may be a better choice.&lt;BR&gt;How shy or assertive is the dog? Although an active, bouncy dog might catch your eye, a more quiet or reserved dog might be a better match if you don't have a particularly active lifestyle.&lt;BR&gt;How good is the animal with children? Learning about a dog's past through a history sheet or from an adoption counselor can be helpful, but past information isn't always available. In general, an active dog who likes to be touched and is not sensitive to handling and noise is a dog who'll probably thrive in a house full of kids. Also keep in mind that puppies under four months of age, because of their fragility and special needs, often won't be adopted out to families with young children.&lt;BR&gt;Choose a Pal for Life Every dog in the shelter can provide you with boundless love and companionship, and every dog certainly deserves a lifelong home. But some dogs are better for you and your lifestyle than others. That's why you should take the time to make a thoughtful choice. After all, you're choosing a pal who'll be with you 10, 15, or even more years. Select the right dog, and you and your new companion will enjoy those years to the fullest.&lt;BR&gt;Are you preparing to bring a dog home to your children? Did your neighbor tell you they have free puppies, all you have to do is come &lt;BR&gt;over and choose one? Or did your children see an adorable puppy in the pet store and are now begging you to let them bring it home? How &lt;BR&gt;do you select the best dog breed for children? Does it matter?Since having a dog is such a common thing, do you really need to &lt;BR&gt;know anything more than how much it costs?Well, how did you choose your car, or your home? Did you consider the cost, safety and suitability for your family? Of course you did. &lt;BR&gt;If you heard stories of a particular car that was susceptible to causing accidents or that a neighborhood was known for its rough &lt;BR&gt;occupants you would find something that was safer.If the car or home was too expensive to maintain, it would impact &lt;BR&gt;your decision, as would the size of the vehicle or how many bedrooms the house had.However, many people bring home a dog that they have spent no more &lt;BR&gt;time in choosing than selecting oranges at the grocery store. Although we hear stories of dogs attacking children and perhaps know &lt;BR&gt;of people who got rid of dogs after they grew too large for the apartment or destroyed property, as a group, parents still choose to &lt;BR&gt;bring dogs into their families with little instruction or research. The truth is, most families with a dog will never deal with the &lt;BR&gt;terrible situations we hear about on the news. Dogs love people. Most dogs love children. Children and adults love dogs and it is &lt;BR&gt;very doubtful that after thousands of years the connection between canine and humankind will be broken. What does need to be considered is how to make the best possible &lt;BR&gt;environment for your children and dog so that you don't need to worry about unexpected tragedy or the sad disappointment of giving &lt;BR&gt;your children's pet away. There are many experts with various views, but several points can be generally agreed upon when choosing a dog for your family. Find a dog that is good with children.&lt;BR&gt;Don't all dogs love children? The answer is simple - NO. Some breeds, and even individuals within a breed, are more or less &lt;BR&gt;tolerant of children and the rough handling that usually ensues. Selecting a breed that enjoys the rambunctious atmosphere of a &lt;BR&gt;family home will go far in ensuring that the children have a willing playmate and the dog is happy.Choose a dog that is the right size or energy level.&lt;BR&gt;Do you live in an apartment? Do you have a large, fenced yard? Considering the size of home or yard you have should influence your &lt;BR&gt;choice of dog. Some breeds are naturally larger than others. Some smaller breeds (like Jack Russell Terriers) are small but have an &lt;BR&gt;enormous amount of energy that can be difficult to control in a small home.Decide on a trained or untrained dog.Perhaps you plan to train the dog yourself. You may choose a puppy &lt;BR&gt;so the children participate in the training process. But how much do you know about training dogs? Are you ready for the hassles of &lt;BR&gt;housebreaking and obedience training? Perhaps selecting an older, trained dog might suit your family better.The decisions you make before bringing your dog home and selecting &lt;BR&gt;the best dog breed for children will help your family enjoy their new pet for a very long time.Shannon Emmanuel is a freelance writer and is the author of 'How to &lt;BR&gt;Select the Best Dog or Puppy for Children'. Find out more about rasing a safe family dog at</p>\n============\nExcerpt:\n============\n\n<PRE></PRE>\n============\nTrackBack:\n============\n\n\n