Why you should know about breed characteristics before getting a dog
Adding a dog to your family is a very important decision and one that deserves careful research and thought. Many people want to feel that magical moment when they first look into those soft puppy dog eyes and feel an instant connection. There’s nothing wrong with that feeling per say. What dog lover doesn’t want to find a great companion that’s the perfect fit? However, the sad truth is that what often happens when you have a dog just for feelings is that that moment is just a moment. When you bring your new friend Rory home, the daily grind takes its toll and suddenly you have a dog on your hands that doesn’t really fit well with your current lifestyle. There’s nothing insensitive about doing a little research before adopting a dog. In fact, knowing what you are looking for and what you can handle makes the moment of connection that much sweeter because you truly know that you have found a good partner to share your life with. You owe it to yourself and the dog to have a good idea of what you’re getting yourself into before you take Rory home.
Some main things to think about are the breed characteristics of your potential dog, even if you plan to get a mixed breed. While the best characteristics of each breed tend to come to the fore in mutts, these dogs can still exhibit strong breed traits, so it pays to be aware of what you’re getting. The characteristics of the breed have a great impact on the personality of the dog, and also on you and your life. Are you able to exercise a high drive breed? Can you handle a working breed that loves nothing more than to stare and bark at everything and get into your stuff? Will you be around often enough to give a dog in need the proper care?
An apartment means I need a small dog, right?
Some people will take their current living situation into account when adopting a dog. They think that a small dog is good for an apartment or condo, while a larger dog is better placed in a house with a garden. While determining a dog’s suitability based on size works in many cases, there are some small breeds that don’t really do so well in apartments. This is due, again, to the characteristics of the breed. For example, a Jack Russell terrier is a small dog, so it should work great in an apartment, right? Actually, the characteristics of the Jack Russell breed are not so suitable for living in an apartment or even in the city. These dogs have a strong hunting drive and require a great deal of attention from you, outdoor activity, exercise, and discipline to be good companions. They can be aggressive towards other dogs which can cause a lot of difficulties in a close environment like a city.
On the other hand, small dogs that adapt well to apartment life tend to be members of the ‘toy’ group of dogs. Some dogs in this group are easy-going and easy-going, and don’t require much exercise or, in some cases, excessive attention. If you live alone in an apartment or are getting older, a Chihuahua may be a good choice. While Chihuahuas certainly have negative traits (just like any breed) including being wary of other humans and dogs, they are very loyal to their owners and likely won’t cause injury if they jump on you to say hello.
If you have the space and your lifestyle allows it, a larger breed might be for you.
The working group of dog breeds, which includes Dobermans, Australian and German Shepherds, Huskies, and Rottweilers, require a lot of exercise and an understanding of their nature. Strong work tendencies exhibited in this group include working on poking a hole in your couch or chewing on a lamp cord while at work. Working dogs that have strong herding characteristics, such as border collies, are often unsuited for city life, whether in an apartment or house. These types of dogs generally require a lot of space to exercise, and you may find Rory trying to herd lawn furniture.
All of the aforementioned dog breeds and the many other breeds available have numerous great characteristics that make them warm and loving companions, especially with good training. Also, it is not an absolute certainty that a particular dog will not be a good companion for you if the main characteristics of Rory’s breed do not usually fit with your lifestyle or living situation. However, because incompatible dog-human relationships occur all too often, being aware of the exercise and attention requirements of dog breeds, and what your breed’s characteristics can mean for you and your life, will help. better to make a right decision that leads to that. Mystical connection of 15,000 years between dog and man.