Best Pet Articles
Search

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Dog for Family Life

Web Search

Dog's come in all shapes and sizes - out of all the dogs you've ever met you've probably been more attracted to some breeds than others. Perhaps you had a dog when you were growing up and want the same breed for your children. But more needs to be determined than breed or size when choosing a family dog.

How do you choose? What do you need to know? Here are some questions you must ask when choosing a dog for family life:

How old are your children?

If your family is still young, especially if you still have preschoolers, it is prudent to consider whether your family should have a dog right now. Are you planning (or expecting) other children? Dogs require a fair amount of attention and if you have small children not only will you have less time to train or play with a dog, but you may have more difficulty trusting your dog or your children without your constant attention.

If you are still certain that you want a dog and you have the time, consider the training and age of the dog. Perhaps a well trained, older dog would be more suitable.

How much do you know about dogs?

Think taking care of a dog is a no-brainer? Well, if you have children you don't have the luxury of allowing your dog to train itself or wander the countryside. You must read or ask someone knowledgeable about the needs and training a dog requires.

If you're not up to the task you'll have to locate a trainer that will work with your dog as well as train you and your family how to deal with the dog. Many bad habits that dogs pick up come from lack of consistent training rather than the dog being troublesome.

Are you ready for the financial obligation?

To have a healthy dog you must plan for the costs of vet bills, vaccinations, flea and worm medication, grooming and training. Do you travel? Either you will need to arrange for care or pay for a dog sitter or kennel when you're away. Thinking of buying a large breed? Find out the food costs in advance - if your budget is already tight you may be shocked at the cost of food for large dogs.

Do YOU want a dog?

If your children are young then hopefully you recognize that you or your partner must be willing to handle the burden of day-to-day care such as feeding, walking, training and cleaning. But what if your children are older and capable of more responsibility? You still need to factor in that the dog may live 10-15 years or more (depending on breed). Who will take responsibility for the dog when the children go to college or get married?

Owning a dog has wonderful benefits that you and your children will enjoy. Research continues to show that individuals benefit emotional and physically from owning a pet. But there is more to owning a dog than selecting the prettiest or most popular breed.

Shannon Emmanuel is a freelancer writer and the author of 'How to Choose the Best Dog or Puppy for Your Children'. Get a free report at http://www.best-dog-breed-for-children.com


MORE RESOURCES:

City seeks to get more pets licensed
Storm Lake Pilot Tribune, IA - 4 hours ago
In efforts to get more pets in the City of Storm Lake properly licensed so they comply with City Code, the City Council is looking at passing an ordinance ...
Dog tags might help get strays home, veterinarian says Le Mars Daily Sentinel
all 2 news articles


Gothamist

Dozens of Pets Killed in Bronx Fire
Gothamist, NY - 3 hours ago
Yesterday's three-alarm fire at a Bronx strip mall destroyed a number of businesses, including a pet store. According to the Daily News, over "100 frantic ...


A Happy Pet for the Holidays: Natural Remedies to Treat Animals ...
MarketWatch - 8 hours ago
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass., Nov 20, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Does your pet misbehave when you leave the house? Whether you're entertaining or traveling for ...


Woman, pets evacuated in Northeast fire
KVIA, TX - 31 minutes ago
EL PASO, Texas -- A woman and nearly 20 pets, including ferrets, cats, dogs, birds and fish, were evacuated during a fire that nearly destroyed a home in ...
Morning fire causes extensive damage to Northeast home El Paso Times
all 3 news articles


Holiday feasts are not for pets
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - Nov 19, 2008
You’ll see our warnings about feeding repeatedly because around this time of year, every year, we see pets brought in with very preventable illnesses caused ...


Heartworm Disease Prevention Protects Pets, Wallets
MarketWatch - Nov 19, 2008
BATAVIA, Ill., Nov 19, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The American Heartworm Society strongly urges pet owners to continue year-round heartworm prevention ...


Officials offer amnesty for exotic pets Saturday
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL - 11 hours ago
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will conduct one of its "pet amnesty days" on Saturday at the Jacksonville Zoo. ...
FWC to hold Pet Amnesty Day at Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens Chipley Florida Online Newspaper - Foster Folly News
Jacksonville Journal Florida Times-Union
all 3 news articles


CNN

Long-distance puppy love
CNN - 3 hours ago
Although a freshman like Chen is still adjusting to college life away from pets, Stone has learned that students must learn to deal with missing their pets. ...
Dog-greeting tips to help avoid a bite Newsday
all 2 news articles


SICSA tree-lighting brings memories of pets
Times Community Newspapers of Greater Dayton, OH - 39 minutes ago
Remember a loved pet or person with a holiday light illuminating the trees outside of SICSA, 2600 Wilmington Pike, Kettering on Sunday, Dec. ...


Social Networking for Richmond Pet Lovers: Because 'Pets are Local'
Emediawire (press release), WA - 9 hours ago
It's Richmond's version of "MySpace for Pets." This Richmond-based site is part of a growing trend of niche social networking sites that target interest ...

Pets - Google News

home | site map | SubArticle
© 2008