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Your Own Vet would like to welcome Tina Marconi, a guest writer. Tina Marconi is a Veterinary Technician and will be focusing on dog breeds for our website. She also runs a complementary website – vettech.org, a website for people looking to study to become veterinary technicians.

What Breed of Dog Would Suit Your Life?

So you’ve decided you want a dog for a pet, and now the only choice need to make is to select the dog that best suits your lifestyle and attitude. Some pet decisions are serendipitous, like if you know someone whose dog had a litter and you’re asked to pick a puppy from the lot, or if you inherit a dog from a friend or family member, or if you take in a stray dog that’s taken a fancy to you. Others however, depend on where you live, how much money you have, and how active your lifestyle is. So before you bring home your dog, ensure that your pet will be a good fit in your life and vice versa.

 

Pedigree dogs cost more initially and their upkeep can be higher

 

• Choose your breed according to your local climate conditions – some dogs are suited to live in hot climes while others require cold weather to feel comfortable. You can’t expect to raise a St. Bernard when you live in a tropical climate, just as you can’t expect a Doberman to thrive in Russia or Scandinavia. So choose a dog that’s suited to your local climate.
• Are you willing to spend time and effort in training your dog? Dogs must be trained to behave properly, they must be housebroken, and they must obey you so that there is order when they’re around strangers and in your home.
• Assess the amount of space you have at home – it makes no sense to bring in a large dog into a tiny apartment where they’re going to keep banging into your furniture.
• Some dogs require much more exercise than others, so choose these breeds only if you’re up to taking them out for their daily walks and spending time throwing them a ball or a Frisbee in the park.

Some terriers can be dominant and too rough for small children

• If you have kids at home, choose a breed that is friendly with children and not likely to attack them when they’re threatened or frightened.
• Ask yourself why you want a dog – some dogs make good companions, others make great guards, and yet others are more for decorative purposes and aesthetic appeal.
• Know if you can afford the dog – pedigree dogs cost more to buy and maintain; they require expert grooming and their food choices could be expensive. Also, larger dogs cost more to maintain because they eat more. You don’t want to get into debt on account of your pet.
• Do you want to breed the dog? If so, it’s best to invest in a pedigree so you can find buyers for their pups.

Border Collies are active dogs which need lots of exercise

No matter what breed of dog you bring home, it’s important to take good care of them, keep them well-groomed and well-fed, and take them to see the vet on a regular basis to ensure that they’re free of disease and in good health. Also, dogs are a responsibility, one you cannot shirk for at least the next 10 years – and unless you’re prepared for this, don’t bring one home as a pet.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Tina Marconi, she writes on the topic of online vet tech . She welcomes your comments at her email id: tinamarconi85[@]gmail[.]com.