Selecting a Pet for You and Your Family: Part 1

PART 1

Did you know: Currently, about 8-10 million dogs and cats enter US shelters annually and approximately half of these are euthanized… that's 4-5 million dogs and cats euthanized each year!

Of the animals that arrive at the shelters, about one-third were relinquished directly by their owners. And of those 3 million pets, most were given up because of behavior problems and/or because the owners felt they didn't have enough time for the pet. These are typically young, healthy animals. Many of these situations could be prevented by taking a more scientific approach to adopting a new pet.

There are a variety of resources to help in the pet selection process. The first part of the process is to determine which species is the best match. Depending on a prospective pet owner’s lifestyle, the answer may be a cat, rabbit, dog, bird, goldfish-or, perhaps, none at all.  Some helpful links include Pet Choice, BestFriendsPDF, and for kids, EarthKids Pet Questions.

Basically, it’s a matter of matching the right pet to the owner's lifestyle and personality. It can be difficult to resist the impulse purchase or adoption of an adorable puppy or kitten, but serious research ahead of time can save lives (and many heartaches for the pet owners).

A busy couple who both work and live in a condominium may well find the Border Collie they acquired is just too much. Or the Doberman in a busy family that hasn't time for much training may end up out of control and running the family. One person may be thrilled with a Siamese cat while the other finds the constant "talking" drives them to distraction. The elderly couple living in an apartment may not be happy with the adorable, energetic Jack Russell, despite the dog's small size. On the other hand, a single man who runs frequently and who often goes camping may find the energetic  Border Collie a perfect companion, while the older sedentary couple may be thrilled with a Bichon Frise.

Of course, breeds only provide guidelines for typical personality traits and there are always exceptions. But it’s amazing how consistent certain personality traits are among many breeds.  The Chow Chow who likes strangers immediately is quite rare, but many Labs have never met a stranger. It's a rare Doberman that doesn't guard his home, but don't count on your Golden Retriever to do anything but direct the burglar to the treat jar! Yes, there are exceptions, but these typical breed traits can be invaluable in the selection process. 

This is one book that is very upfront about the pros and cons of certain breeds The Good, the Bad, and the Furry: Choosing the Dog That's Right for You and it's a fun read. Another other book on dog breeds is The Simple Guide to Choosing a Dog and one for dogs and cats is Canine and Feline 101: A Complete Guide for Selecting, Training, and Caring for Dogs and Cats. 

Some interesting web resources on dog breed traits include  VetStreet-Dog Breeds, Select Smart-Dogs, Iams - Dogs and for cats, try Vetstreet - Cat Breeds, Choosing a Cat Breed, and Animal Discovery - Cats.

So what about the mixed breed dog or puppy from the shelter?  What breeds are best for families with children? We’ll look at these questions soon. Thanks for reading!