Getting a new dog is the best. Just ask my trainer friend who just got a 9 week goldendoodle puppy. We had been talking about puppies and puppy raising which led to the conversation of getting the dog that is right for your lifestyle. Then the biggest mistake to avoid when getting a dog. It is so exciting to bring home that new 4 legged bestie. Every thought, item bought for them and conversation had with someone about them before you even bring them home is so exciting.
I remember when I got my first dog, Abby. Before I found her I visited different rescues to see dogs, looked up what breed of dog worked for city life (at the time I lived in Boston). A puppy wouldn’t work with my lifestyle because I had roommates and I worked all day. So much research before I found her, which was in Iowa. That’s another story.
Getting the Right Dog for Your Lifestyle
When you are getting a new 4 legged member for your family, whether it’s your first dog or 10th. There are some very important questions to ask yourself before getting the dog from either the rescue or a reputable breeder:
- Age of the Dog . If you get a puppy you will have to dedicate a lot of time to training. House training, crate training, house proofing and basic training your puppy. I can help you with the training part but they take up a lot of time.
- Breed of the Dog. When I narrowed it down to Abby, a 3 yr old boston terrier. It was because of size, maintenance (no shedding) and her age. If you like to lounge around and want a lap dog, stay away from German Short Haired Pointers.
- Kids and other 4 legged members. Dogs can be taught and trained to coexist happily no matter what the breed. However, there are some dogs that are known to be “People” dogs. Or they may have other breed traits so to speak such as chasing or herding. If you want to get a 100lb dog but have some short ones in the house, that may be something to think about.
I hope you have found this helpful in finding your next 4 legged family member.
Wags, Allison
