Finding and planning for a family dog

Before bringing home a new dog, it would be wise to decide who will feed, drink and walk the dog, and where it will sleep. Who will keep track of the dog’s care, shots, and medications? Who will do the house training (good times)? What other rules should you tell family members about?

The Humane Society is an excellent place to pick up a “ransom.” For a flat fee (usually a fairly reasonable fee), you can insure a dog that has been spayed or neutered and received its first round of injections. You will also have the satisfaction of owning a dog that has been rescued.

The City Pound is another good place to go. The downside to this option is that the dog probably still needs all of his shots, fixed up and checked out by a vet. On the positive side, you will have saved an animal from almost certain death by injection.

There is usually some advantage to buying an animal through a classified ad, as the seller will usually know the breed, age, and character of the animal.

If I were buying a dog from the ads I would buy an older dog because they seem harder to locate. On the other hand, it would be difficult or impossible to buy a senior dog and not wonder about its mortality. I guess that just depends on your sensitivity level and what you’re looking for in an animal.

When considering breed, consider any experience you’ve had with particular breeds and any wisdom you may glean from other experienced dog owners. You can also search for breeds of interest online and talk to reputable dog breeders.

Consider how many children are in the home and how many children are frequent visitors. Would they try to saddle up a Great Dane, Rottweiler, or even your Poodle? Would they lay back and drool or try to shave Snoopy the puppy?

Are there elderly people in your house, or people with specific sensitivities or even mobility problems? Will they be able to get over a snorkel or stretch body?

Different breeds should be considered in relation to your family. Long or curly haired breeds (Chow-Chows, Spaniels, Poodles, Labradors, some Dachshund breeds, etc.) can be a hair nightmare. It gets dirty and ends up in heaps on your carpet, your furniture, and sometimes in your favorite silk drawers if you’re unwilling or unable to get the dogs brushed weekly.

Some people prefer a stray, thinking that strays, for the most part, don’t have the inbreeding-related problems that purebred dogs do. As an adult, I have always had Chow-Chows. I’ve had three of them, and since I lost two of them to cancer and the third had to have precancerous polyps removed, I don’t think I’ll ever have a purebred again. I now have a beautiful stray dog, and he is one of the smartest, cutest, most special dogs I have ever had. We are definitely “friends to the end!”

He is a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix with some shaggy Pancho eyebrows to indicate the presence of a Terrier. When people ask what kind of dog it is, I tell them I don’t know. Therefore, there!