In Search of the Perfect Pet Owner
It is a beautiful day here in Nebraska. The snow is gone, the flowers are out and now we get to look forward to the lazy days of summer. Unfortunately there are no lazy days at Driftwood Kennels in the summer. When you are on vacation I am busy taking care of your dogs! As always we are happy to see them.
The last time I wrote this article, I promised that I would discuss the issues of picking a dog that fits your lifestyle. Picking the right breed for you is a daunting task. The choices between big ones, small ones, energetic ones, calm ones, mixed breeds, vs. pure breeds, is a confusing process. Unfortunately the typical person who buys a pet does so with very little research.
A partial list of the reasoning behind how the typical pet owner decides what kind of dog he/she wants might look like this.
I had a German Shepherd when I was growing up
and he was a great dog.
I like big dogs because I like to rough house.
I like big dogs because they are macho.
Little dogs are the best because they are so
cute.
I need a dog for protection.
I want a rescue dog because they deserve a
second chance.
I am an active person and I want a dog with a
lot of energy.
I need a dog that is sturdy and has a good
disposition so that she can survive living with my kids.
I like that breed because they are so ugly they
are cute.
I want a dog that doesn’t shed.
We don’t have much time for a dog so we want one
that can live outside.
I hunt occasionally so I want a dog that can
hunt.
My neighbor has one of those and they are a
great dog.
I saw one of those in an obedience show and he
was very smart and cool looking.
At face value these reasons sound plausible, but in actuality they should not be the primary reason for purchasing a particular breed of dog.
It is commonplace for these emotional choices for obtaining a breed are primary in the decision making process. While they can be part of the decision making process for purchasing a dog, they should not be the only one. Proper research into your life-style and breeds are important. Next time I will talk more about that, and get into some of this list and why some of these items should not be the only reason or purpose for purchasing a dog.
Mike
