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Choosing the Right Dog for Your Needs
By Keesa Renee DuPre
Pounds and shelters are littered with affectionate, friendly dogs. Former owners bought them without thinking about whether this particular dog was right for their home situation, and the result is hundreds if not thousands of dogs are impounded annually, without cause.
This could mean a family with young children getting a border collie because they're so cute. Bad move! Border collies are bred to herd sheep. Even if the collie has never seen a sheep in its life, it still has that instinct. And if it can't herd sheep, it will herd the next best thing: your kids. This isn't a problem with older children; a little pushing, a little shove, and a lot of obedience training will take care of that. But young children can get knocked over by a border collie's attentions, and they can be frightened or even seriously hurt, depending on the situation.
Or take the rural family who decided to get an Old English Sheepdog. Either they spent hours a day picking sticks and leaves and sticky burrs out of his fur and bathed him regularly to get rid of the caked mud and dirt, or he turned shabby and mongrel-like overnight.
Know your location. Know your family and their needs. If possible, know everything you can about the dog, the breed, its temperament, its grooming needs, etc. A pet of any kind is a huge decision. Don't rush out and get the first cute puppy you find. Do you have young children? Be sure to pick a submissive dog, rather than an alpha-pack dog. (If you're getting a puppy, it's easy to tell which one they'll be when they grow up. Roll them gently onto their back, with your hand lightly placed over their chest between their front legs. The dog who can't stand to be on its back, who struggles and squirms and possibly even bites to get you to let him up, will be an alpha dog. Similarly, the dog who lies still or even wriggles a little looking for a scratch with be a submissive and gentle dog.)
Shelters are full of dogs who shouldn't be there. Make sure yours isn't one of them.
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