Researching Your Breed
The more you know about the dog you adopt, the happier you will be about your decision. Getting the facts by researching the breed you have chosen is an essential step in being satisfied with your new pet. There are some key points which you should look for when you are researching a breed.
This post provides you more tips on how not to get disappointed when adopting a new dog. We hope both your family and your new dog(s) are going to have a great time together!
If you have decided to adopt a purebred dog, you may have much or little interest in his pedigree. However, even if you do not consider it to be an important factor, you should still gain all of the information. You can request a copy of the dog’s pedigree papers, which should include all of the details about his parentage and bloodline. As many breeders of purebred dogs own the parents of the puppies they have for sale, visiting your new dog’s parents can be a positive experience.
It is a good idea to be wary of breeders or individual dog owners who state that their dog is a purebred but do not have papers as proof of this. While they may be completely honest, the possibility that they are not is something to keep in mind before you agree to adopt the dog.
When you are researching the breed you have chosen, the main points are to help you in deciding if this is the right breed for you, and what to expect from owning your new pet. You can research on the internet, by talking to owners and breeders, and by visiting the section about dogs in your local library.
Learning about the history of your breed can be an enlightening experience. Whether you have interest in such factors as where the breed originated or not, there is valuable information to be found in the breed’s history. One example is the breed that has been bred for a specific purpose. Not only will you find this interesting, it will also help you to understand your dog’s temperament, attitude, and personality.
What can you find in the history of a breed? The facts you come up with may be astounding! The dog you adopt may be the descendant of dogs owned by royalty, dogs which were primarily used as work animals, or dogs which were chosen as guardians of their masters. The more you know about where your breed came from, the more you will understand how the pet you choose fits into your life today.
Researching a breed includes learning about the standards for this particular breed. Even if you are thinking no further than gaining a good companion, you may want the very best example of your breed. A little research will provide information on the factors which constitute top standards in color and markings, size, body tone, and other physical characteristics. The highest quality dog will meet these standards.
As you have already read in brief, purebred dogs can come with a variety of health issues. Before you adopt a purebred, researching the health issues commonly associated with your breed can help you to decide if you want to take this risk, and to be prepared in advance. You need to know whether your breed is prone to developing health conditions from bone problems to cancer, and how you will deal with such conditions if they do occur.
If these concerns do not deter you from adopting the breed of your choice, you may wish to check into purchasing health insurance for your pet when you adopt him. You will then be better prepared for both the financial and the emotional aspects of health problems, and your dog will have a better chance for a longer lifespan.
You want the experience of owning a dog to be positive for both yourself and your new pet. When you do a little research ahead of time, the experience can be a good one indeed! You can gain a better understanding of your dog before he becomes a part of your family. When you have all of this important knowledge in advance, you can focus on enjoying many years together with your new pet.
Getting to Know Your Dog
No matter how much time you put into learning about the breed you have chosen, there is an additional point which you should consider: while there are many factors common to a particular breed, each dog is still an individual. You can gain a fair amount of understanding of what the breed is like, but getting to know your own dog means going a little further.
The best way to get to know your dog is with in-person visits before you make your final decision to adopt him. If the breeder you have chosen lives fairly close to you, or if you are able to travel, the time you put into this will be invaluable. When you can meet, visit, and spend time with a dog, you will be able to determine if he is the right “fit” for you.
Spending just a small amount of time in your dog’s company will help you to see what his personality and behavior are like. You may find that you and he are a good match immediately, that you grow to adore each other, or that there are clashes which prod you to decide that this is not the right dog for you. If you have the opportunity to do so, meeting and spending time with the dog before you adopt will be very beneficial to you both.
You may be considering a breeder who lives too far away to visit in person. In this situation, spending time with your dog before you adopt him may not be possible. You will have to rely on the breeder to supply the information you need. Although dog breeders are busy, a good breeder will be more than willing to communicate with you, and answer all of your questions. His goal is not only to find a good home for his dog, but to have a satisfied customer as well.
Asking questions about the dog’s habits and lifestyle helps you to see whether he is a good match for you. One example is to ask whether the dog has been raised in his breeder’s home, outdoors, or in a kennel.
This will let you know what kind of everyday environment the dog is familiar with, and whether the environment you plan for him is similar or different.
Another question to ask the breeder is how the dog interacts with people and other pets. A dog who has been taken care of in his breeder’s home may be used to being around children, adults, and other animals, while the dog who has been outdoors or in a kennel may not. The purpose of knowing these facts in advance is to help you in deciding whether the dog you are thinking about can easily adjust to your home situation, or whether it may produce undue difficulties.
The breeder should also be willing to discuss the dog’s habits with you. You may be planning to adopt a puppy, or an adult dog. Each of these age groups, or stages, come with assets and special concerns. For example, while a puppy can be expected to have “accidents” on the floor, the adult-aged dog should be completely trained. On the other hand, an adult-aged dog is already impacted by years of experiences which can affect his attitude and behavior, while a small puppy is waiting for experiences to shape his attitudes, behavior, and personality.
You want to know what your dog is really like before you bring him home. If there are negative aspects to your dog’s behavior and habits, knowing about them in advance helps you to prepare to cope with them. You may decide that this is the dog you have been looking for, or you could change your mind and continue your search elsewhere. Either way, the best time to learn about your dog is before you actually adopt him.
If you are able to make a choice, it is better to choose a breeder and dog whom you can meet prior to adopting. While it is possible to gain a great deal of information over the phone, through letters, or by communicating over the internet with the breeder, it is no match for spending time with your prospective new pet in person. This will give you the opportunity to see him in the environment he is familiar with, watch how he interacts with people, and observe him at play.
Whichever method is appropriate for your situation, the most essential point to keep in mind is to learn as much as you can about the dog you want to adopt before you agree to purchase him. It can help you to avoid making the mistake of getting a dog that is all wrong for you, and make the chances very good that you will find the dog who is the perfect match for you.
Originally posted 2022-12-09 13:47:44.
