It’s Me or the Dog: How to have the Perfect Pet. Victoria Stilwell

      Will you be able to spend enough time with your dog?

      Once they are past the puppy stage, most dogs can be left for between four and six hours without becoming distressed. If you work full-time and there is no one else at home to look after the dog, you are condemning an essentially social creature to a life of anxiety, boredom, and depression, unless you hire a dog-sitter or enroll your dog at a doggy day-care center.

      Dogs need regular exercise

      That means a couple of walks and a decent run every day. Cats exercise themselves. Dogs, however, should not be left to stray without human supervision.

      Dogs need training

      Even the most seemingly docile animal can become a monster without basic obedience training. You need time to do this, and plenty of patience.

      Dogs need stimulation

      Just like us, they get bored without challenges, fun, and games.

      Do you have children?

      Have you got a dog already, or another pet? Settling a new canine arrival within a family can sometimes be difficult, especially if not everyone in your household is as overjoyed as you are at the prospect.

      Which breed to choose?

      Once you have satisfied yourself that you are prepared to meet the challenges that a dog will bring into your life, the next question is, which dog? Humans have been selectively breeding dogs for centuries, accentuating certain innate characteristics or aspects of appearance. While all dogs are individuals, each breed tends to have certain traits in common. Some need more exercise than others; some require more grooming. Some breeds are naturally more protective; others are more sensitive to noise.

      The great advantage of choosing a purebred dog is that you will know to a certain extent what to expect. Use this to your advantage and do your research thoroughly beforehand. Read books and magazines, talk to breeders, and ask friends about their experiences with their dogs. Don’t choose a dog on the basis of its appearance or because the breed is in fashion. Many people who rushed out to get a cute little Dalmatian after seeing 101 black-and-white spotted puppies cavorting in a Disney film found themselves owning a dog with substantial needs for exercise. Dalmatians were originally bred as “carriage dogs”; that is to say, they were bred to run alongside carriages and scare off footpads and thieves. They need exercise – tons of it – and careful, confident handling.

      Choosing the right breed is choosing the breed that is right for your situation. If you want a laid-back, easygoing pet that will be a good companion for your children, a Terrier, which is a particularly active sort of dog, wouldn’t be the most sensible choice. Labradors and Retrievers, on the other hand, are naturally good-tempered and sociable, which makes them ideal for families with children. However, they do need a lot of exercise. If you are not prepared to devote considerable time to training and exercising, don’t choose a working dog such as a Border Collie, who will go crazy without sufficient stimulation. Greyhounds and Whippets, although bred to be very fast, paradoxically don’t require vast amounts of exercise. The guarding breeds, such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Chows, and Akitas, are intelligent and loyal, but they can be over-protective and tend to be one-person dogs. It is important to know that while taking breed characteristics into account, every dog within that breed is an individual with his own unique personality and temperament.

      Aspects to consider:

      Size

      How big will the dog grow? And how much will he eat?

      Noise

      Some breeds are naturally more inclined to bark and yap than others. Some breeds are more sensitive to noise.

      Activity level

      How much exercise does the dog require? Working breeds, bred to herd sheep, need serious workouts.

      Temperament

      Terriers are naturally bossy and tenacious. Spaniels, Setters, and Retrievers generally have friendly, affectionate natures.

      Coat

      How much time (or money) will you need to devote to grooming?

      Weaknesses

      Because of inbreeding, some breeds suffer from congenital problems. Dalmatians, for example, can have hearing problems. British bulldogs can suffer from breathing problems. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can have heart ailments.

      Mongrels

      Unlike acquiring a purebred dog, taking on a mongrel is necessarily more of a leap in the dark. Mongrels or crosses (dogs bred from two purebred parents) will have characteristics of different breeds in their makeup, and you may not be able to tell which characteristic will come to the fore. It may even be hard to gauge how large the dog will grow. The size of a puppy’s feet may give some indication of how big he will get, but that is not an infallible guide.

      On the plus side, many mongrels are good all-rounders. Many are particularly long-lived and, because they have a mixed gene pool, they are much less likely to suffer the congenital problems that result from inbreeding.

      Where to find a puppy

      Always acquire puppies from good, reputable sources. In the case of purebred animals, that means going direct to a breeder. No self-respecting dog-breeder would ever sell a litter to a pet store. My grandmother knew each of the Beagles she bred by name, and she took the trouble to visit them in their new homes.

      You can find a reputable breeder by seeking advice from a national organization, such as the Kennel Club, or by contacting a breed’s organization. Alternatively, you could ask for a recommendation from friends. You will know you have found a good breeder when he or she asks you more questions than you ask them. A good breeder will only sell a puppy to someone they think will treat him properly and give him the care that he needs. They’ll want to know if you will be home during the day, if you have a garden, if there’s a park nearby where you can exercise the dog. They’ll give you advice on training and diet. They may want to come and see you at home. Only when they’re satisfied that you will make a good dog-owner will they sell you the puppy.

      Mongrels and crossbred puppies, which are less sought after than purebreds, are less commonly found in pet stores, but it is just as inadvisable to acquire a mongrel in this way as it is a purebred pup. While the puppy may look cute and appealing, buying him from a pet store may leave you with an animal that has health problems or with one that has been affected by poor handling. Instead, look at advertisements in reputable magazines, or at the vet’s, and visit the puppy at home before you decide to take him home.