Finding your best friend

In the world we have two different types of people dog people and then come the rest. Dog people (more commonly known as dog lovers) are those people whose life is simply not complete unless they have a dog or two (or more). However, not all dog lovers are necessarily the appropriate dog owners but are people that have always had dogs so they continue to have them. Next you have the people that know exactly what it means and implies to actually own a dog and who know that you can't just simply walk the dog and feed it, you actually have to spend time with it and turn it into part of the family. Active families for example, really enjoy having active dogs such as Labradors or golden retrievers. Keep in mind that having a dog like these is a full time job.

If you have decided that you want to get a dog, you first need to ask yourself why it is you want it and what it is you want it for. Dogs are very versatile and intelligent; some are big, small, fat, thin, quiet and rough. Are you looking into getting a work dog, a guard dog, a hunting companion etc? Finding a dog is, believe it or not, similar to finding your soul mate.

Street dogs or mutts also have their charm and they have a lot to offer people who love dogs. In fact, many people believe that mutts are more "natural" than pure breeds since their genes have not been altered o isolated by man. The argument of the crossbreed remains strong, and mixes or mutts can live more than pure breeds can and they are usually a lot healthier and easier to take care of. If you are not interested in getting a mutt though, you need to ask yourself exactly what it is you want in your pure breed dog, do you want it to be strong, big, tall, thin, a guard, homey, be a companion?

There are so many different types of dogs to choose from in the world. Just remember that it's always best to get a dog when it is still a puppy because they are easier to train, and puppies listen to you when you talk to them. Any future dog owner will also have to look into the available time he or she has to actually dedicate to the dog as well as the living space the dog will actually have such as the size or the house or apartment, if you have a garden or a park nearby, the neighborhood, etc. and you also need to keep in mind that the rest of the family is going to have to share the house with the dog as well (if you live with your family or other people that is).

The puppy you choose in the end needs to be well socialized, have a good character and be well adapted to the human world. It's also important that a puppy be extroverted and not shy, this is one way a puppy shows us that it is healthy. The puppy's breeder needs to make sure the puppy answers any questions or doubts you the owner may have too. Make sure the puppy has been vaccinated and dewormed, this way the owner will be able to continue with the regular check ups and schedule the next vaccination date. Try to meet the parents of the puppy if possible, usually the at least the mother is around since she has most likely been taking care of the litter during six or eight weeks and that she might have a bit of a scruffy look. Some female dogs lose hair after they have had their litter, however her aspect shouldn't be cadaverous, and she shouldn't get nervous when people go and touch her puppies. Remember that some mothers are more protective than others and that this type of reaction can be a possible characteristic her puppies will pick up on.

It is not recommended to go after those cross mixes of pure breeds that we can sometimes find. These dogs often times turn out to be quite feisty and quite rascals. There are many different types crosses people have done to different breeds and these come in many different colors. However, a lot of the inherent problems can show up in these types of mixes.