Dog Bark Collars

Choosing the right dog is a bit like choosing the right spouse; the only difference (at least for some of us) is that with dogs, you repeat the exercise every ten to fifteen years. If you choose only by size and looks, you might end up with the wrong dog in the wrong place, and a misfit can make your life miserable. It can be destructive, aggressive, noisy and a downright nuisance to you and to your neighbors.

Emotion, of course, has a great deal to do with how we choose our new pups. But if we are willing to be practical, there is a sensible series of questions we can first ask ourselves about how we live and what we want from our pets.

Start by making a list of both what you want from a dog, and equally important, what you can offer him. What type of housing do you live in? Do you have umpteen stairs and walls so thin that you always know what your neighbors are watching on television? If you do, then think twice about that cute little Dachshund you’ve always longed for. Dachshunds suffer from back problems and are robust barkers. In these circumstances, a Dachs could prove to be a disastrous choice.

Think about you and your family’s future plans. Will you be willing or able to provide your dog with the exercise he needs? A Pekinese might be happy to chase slugs in a back garden, but a terrier of similar size needs far more room. If you plan to keep active dogs you must also plan to make time available to exercise them. The age and activity level of the members of your household should be considered when selecting the perfect breed for you. Active people enjoy active dogs.

Consider too the amount of money you want to spend on food and remember here that cost is not always related to size. Large breeds of dogs like dobbermans, shepherds, setters and retrievers will eat almost anything. That means you can easily feed them cheaper but nutritious dog foods than you can sometimes feed smaller breeds. Small breeds like Yorkies can be real faddy eaters, you know.

The final decision to make before considering which specific breed is best for you and your family is whether to get a male or a female. Your previous experience will once more colour your decision but there are a few new statistical facts that are worth considering.