Trying to adopt a dog isn’t as easy as some people make it out to be. You need to do a lot of research regarding what type of breed you want, will you be able to commit to looking after one according to your lifestyle, and will you be able to afford the expenses that come along with taking care of a dog?
Many people tend to decide too quickly when it comes to adopting a dog, and then realize later on that they’re unable to look after the dog either because they don’t know much about its breed or that they’re unable to find time to look after the dog.
There are many things that you need to look out for when it comes to adopting dogs. While choosing the right dog, it is critical to gather all the possible information from the dog breeder, such as verifying a Husky’s health warranties and guarantees, genetic testing, and the Husky breeder’s reputation.
Here are 5 tips that will help you in choosing the right dog for your home:
1) Grooming and Shedding
Many dog breeds tend to shed more fur than other dog breeds such as German Shepherds, Labradors, and Corgis. These dog breeds also require more attention from their owners in terms of grooming. You should make sure that you choose the best brush for your husky that is comfortable and easy to use on their fur.
If you’re allergic to animal furs and are unable to find time to clean up the fur that a dog sheds because of your tight schedule then it’s best to adopt dogs that are hypoallergenic and tend to shed less fur.
2) Age
Another important tip to keep in mind when looking for a dog is its age. A dog’s personality also depends on its age and changes along with it. Age is not a 100% guarantee that a dog will be well trained. Most adult dogs are already trained, well behaved, and have a calmer personality than those of younger dogs.
This way you won’t have to put in the work of having to train it especially if you have a very busy lifestyle. However, not all senior and adult-aged dogs are well trained. With a senior or adult dog, you will also have access to its medical history that can make it easier for you to take care of them and not worry about finding out later on if it has any allergies or other concerning health issues.
Adopting a puppy may seem like a lot of work but they offer a lot of benefits in the long run. While having a senior dog may be easy for you, there’s no guarantee it doesn’t have any bad or aggressive habits that need to be fixed, it would also take a lot of time for you to gain the trust of your dog.
Whereas with a puppy, you can shape its personality according to your liking and get rid of any bad habits through training. However, keep in mind that its personality might change as it grows older which won’t necessarily be a bad change.
3) Size
Dogs tend to be affected by living spaces more than you think. There are many incidents where dogs get overwhelmed by them based on their sizes. That’s why you should think very carefully about the size of a dog that you want and if it will be able to adapt to your living space. On top of that, you need to think about its expenses and whether you can afford them.
Getting a large dog while owning a one-bedroom apartment might not be the best idea, because it needs enough room to breathe and exercise but it’s not impossible for the dog to adapt to it. With enough patience and training your dog can get used to your home.
Some larger breeds may sleep 16-18 hours per day, yet a Tiny Yorkie may run a million miles per hour all day. However, their size will impact your compatibility and the dog’s happiness, such as it is also important to consider how you will bring them to the vet.
If you aren’t able to decide between these 2 sized dogs, then you could always choose a medium-sized dog. They’re considered very easy-going dogs because they’re a perfect balance of being calm and active, and they’re also able to adapt to large and small living spaces easily.
4) Breed
One of the first things that you need to focus on when looking for the right dog to adopt is breed. Every dog breed is different from the other based on looks, personality, etc. Many people only focus on how cute a specific dog breed looks and not what its personality is like and whether it’s compatible with their own.
This causes them to end up returning the dog to the place they adopted it from and traumatizing the dog. That’s why if you want a specific type of breed, then it’s important to find out crucial details about that breed. There are seven dog breed groups according to the American Kennel Club, they are:
5) Active Level
The final thing that you need to focus on before adopting a dog is that you try to see if it matches your active level. If you’re someone who has a very tight schedule and aren’t able to be as active as you want to, then it would be best for you to get a dog that has a similar active level such as Greyhounds and Basset hounds.
Families that have kids tend to be very active and have a lot of energy, so they would prefer having a dog that would match their own active levels such as a Siberian Husky or a Dalmatian.
Conclusion for Choosing the Right Dog
Adopting a dog is not as easy as it may seem, there are many things that you need to carefully consider and focus on. With the help of the above-mentioned points, you’ll be able to choose a dog that would stick with you for the rest of your life.
Keywords: dog breeds, akc breeder, siberian husky breeder, doberman pinscher breeder
