Selecting A Dog...

Does it really matter what breed I get?

While there is no hard and fast rule for picking the right dog for a family or individual, it is safe to say that picking a breed bred for the types of activities you have in mind for you and your dog makes a big difference. Many times people pick dogs based on the type of dog they may have grown up with or that the neighbor may have had. But as is so often the case, they may have grown up on a farm and had a farm dog that looked like a Border Collie or German Shepherd. This does not mean that either of these breeds is going to be a good dog for your current suburban family.

And while picking a breed that matches your lifestyle is a great first step, there is still the issue of picking the right individual! There is a tremendous amount of variation within a breed type. Picking the right puppy or dog from the right source can make all the difference. Ask yourself honestly how much time, energy and money you want to dedicate to dog ownership and your answers will help direct your search. If you are a mom with three small children, a high maintenance dog that is 80 pounds and lives to run and chase is probably not going to be a good choice. Even though you are in love with the idea of owning a high energy dog that would make you feel safe, be honest with yourself and fair to the dog and pick again.

Should I adopt a shelter dog?

A great source for a dog is the local shelter. Shelters are dedicated to placing their animals in good and permanent homes so they take great care in making sure each dog is a good fit with their new families. Many shelters, such as the Marquette County Humane Society are implementing programs that are designed to match specific adopters with specific dogs. There are a lot of terrific animals in shelters just waiting for permanent homes.

To keep adopted dogs in permanent homes, I provide a discount on training and consulting to owners who adopt from the shelter.