Darcie, as you know, is a little over 16 years old. She’s showing her age but she’s still in pretty good shape. I was thinking the other day about whether we could ever be lucky enough to have another Darcie in our lifetime and it struck me about how important a question that is for all pet lovers.
If we all made the right decisions (some of it is just plain dumb luck) we could dramatically increase the chances of finding the perfect dog. OK, none of them are perfect, but if we go through a logical process we can find the right dog for us.
And why is this so important? Well, just take a look at your local humane society or animal shelter. Most of the dogs and cats you see in shelters are there because of unmet or unrealistic expectations, behavior issues or just poor planning. We can definitely do something about that.
So let’s tackle this subject for the next week or so starting at the beginning with a process for figuring out what type of dog is best for you and your situation. After that we’ll discuss some tips for picking the right individual, making them a good citizen and finally what you really need to do each year to keep them healthy.
To figure out what type of dog is best for you and you particular situation you need to ask yourself some
questions. I think you should start with a blank piece of paper and write down some thoughts on why you want or need a dog in your life. Be honest with yourself. This is a big decision; one that will last for a decade or more.
There are a lot of good reasons. You’ve lost a pet to old age or something unavoidable and you just can’t bear the thought of a dog-less life. There are things that you love to do with that just go better with a dog. You love and need that unconditional acceptance from another sentient being and you love to reciprocate that same feeling.
Ask yourself a few more questions too. Where do I live? Am I in a mid town Manhattan high rise or a cattle ranch in Manhattan, Kansas? An Irish Wolf Hound may be suited best for the latter.
Do I have kids and how old are they? Young children under five can unintentionally injure small puppies, kittens and toy breeds. If the breed is high strung they may even injure the child. Younger kids under five may actually do better with bigger adult dogs with a patient temperament.
Don’t get a dog to teach the kids “responsibility.” That’s the parent’s job. Get them a lawn mower or a snow shovel instead. And remember, despite the pleas and cajoling of a very sincere ten year old, that dog is yours once they reach puberty, go off to college or get married. Claire has left Darcie with us 
three times, most recently as she went off to law school.
Should I get a mutt or a purebred? Should I get an adult or a puppy?
If you want a purebred dog make sure you have some experience with the breed. Do your research and meet with reputable breeders in your area. Ask your vet if they can recommend someone or go to the AKC breeder referral service. Make sure the breed temperament suits you. A Belgian Sheep Dog is a beautiful dog to look at, highly intelligent and trainable, but you’ll have to invest a lot of time socializing them. Remember what they were bred to do. They were bred to be guardians of the flock and they may just assume that you want them to guard you from your friends and neighbors.
I have a particular love of mutts, especially those found in reputable shelters. I can’t help but think that they somehow feel a lifetime of gratitude for anyone that springs them from captivity. And you get hybrid vigor to boot! You may not know exactly what they are going to look like as an adult if you get a puppy but with a little help and guess work you can come close.
And why not adopt an older dog? If you spend a little time with them, as most good shelters should allow, you’ll know pretty much what to expect when you get them home. Remember, a puppy is really cute and we’ll talk next time about some tips on predicting temperament, but they won’t grow up for at least two years. Think about teen age kids and you’ll know what I mean.
Even think about short hair VS long hair. And by the way, is there another human involved? Chris has a remarkable tolerance for wads of Darcie hair accumulating in the corners. I don’t. It pays to talk these things over with your significant other. You wouldn’t want to have to ask them to move out after all.
Once you’ve gone through this check list you are ready for the fun part, actually going out and looking for that perfect individual. This is really important too. And in our next post I’ll give you some tips on how to predict personality traits in puppies and adult dogs. It’s much easier to figure out dogs.
Imagine how much nicer life would be if it was that easy to pick a spouse, boy friend, girl friend or presidential candidate.
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