If you want a dog, you should be sure that no one in your home
dislikes dogs or is afraid of them. Some people can learn to
like dogs, but you and your pet will be much happier if it is
welcome in your household at once.
Dog breeds are like people. Some breeds are lively and quick.
Others are quiet and calm. And dogs come in all sizes, from
the extremely tiny Chihuahua to the stately Irish Wolfhound,
the tallest of all breeds. If you and your family like quiet
animals, you will find one of the sporting, hound, or working
breeds to be best. If you like action and spirit, a terrier
or toy dog will suit your better.
Large dogs need lots of room and exercise. If you live in a
small house or an apartment, it is better to choose one of the
smaller breeds. But if you live on a farm or in a large house
with plenty of room outside, you may safely decide to get a
large breed.
Some breeds shed a great deal of their coats twice a year. Others
like the Poodle and the Kerry Blue Terrier, shed very little
or hardly at all. Even dogs with long or rough coats can be
kept clean and free of loose hairs by daily brushing and combing.
Breeds with long ears, like the Basset Hound, or with hair over
their eyes, like the Old English Sheepdog, may need extra care.
When you decide on the breed that will best suit you, your family,
and your home, look in the classified advertising section of
your telephone book and newspaper for kennels that raise this
breed. Or ask veterinarian or a dog trainer for the names of
kennels raising the breed of your choice. Many breed clubs and
the American Kennel Club have lists of dog breeders that they
may recommend to you. Clean, well-managed pet shops are usually
safe places to buy a dog. It is a good idea to have a veterinarian
examine a new pet.
What should you pay for a good pedigreed and registered puppy?
The price will depend somewhat on the breed, the quality of
the dog’s parents, and the care and feeding its owner has given
it. A healthy, purebred puppy in one of the popular breeds may
cost from $125 to $300. Puppies of very large or rare breeds
are usually more expensive. If you want an older, trained dog
or a puppy of high quality that you could eventually show off
or breed, be prepared to pay even more. If you cannot afford
to buy a dog, you can get a nice mixed-breed puppy at humane
society or at any dog advocacy organization that keeps a kennel.
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