Seven steps to choosing your perfect dog.

Dogs are wonderful companions. I believe that every home should have at least one. But this only works if you have the right dog (and the right home). Owning a dog that doesn’t suit your family and your lifestyle is often worse than having no dog at all.

So how do you find the perfect dog for your family?  Try the Saxon K9 seven-step programme.

Step 1: Know yourself. Do you really have the time and patience to commit to a dog for the next ten to twenty years? Do you have, or can you acquire, the skills necessary to train and care for a dog? What type of personality are you? You need to know so you can choose a dog with a complimentary personality (or dogality).

Step 2: Be patient. People will often spend weeks researching a new car or washing machine but they’ll rush into buying a dog because they saw his picture in the paper or she was so cute in the pet shop window. A dog is not a car or a washing machine; a dog is a member of the family. As the only family member you get to choose, it’s important to take the time to make the right decision.

Step 3: Make a list of your favourite dog breeds. It doesn’t matter how long or short your list is. It doesn’t matter why you like certain breeds or dislike others. If it’s going to be a family dog, you should all make the list together because it’s important for the whole family to connect with the dog.

Step 4: Research. Once you have your short (or long) list, do some research and find out as much as you can about each of the breeds. Find out how much exercise grooming, training, food and care each needs. If any need more time or resources than you can commit, cross them off your list now. Find out the origin of each breed, expected lifespan and any genetic issues that may be common in those breeds. This information may affect your choice.

Step 5: Decide what you want to do with the dog. If you want to participate in particular activities with your dog, it’s best to get a dog that’s been bred or at least has an appropriate size and demeanour for that sort of work. For example, if you want a dog you can carry around in your handbag, don’t get a Rottweiler. If you want to compete at a high level with your dog, you may need to look for a dog from particular bloodlines. If any on your list are inappropriate, you can cross them off too.

Step 6: Decide if you want a puppy or a more mature dog. Puppies are cute and cuddly but they don’t stay small for long. They also need toilet training and a lot of work before they settle down. Mature dogs are often more settled and may already be trained but they may bring personality issues from their past lives.

Step 7: Do you want to rescue a dog or buy from a breeder? There are thousands of shelters around and most breeds have their own rescue organisations. Adopting a dog from a shelter is usually cheaper and will often save a dog’s life. If you want to buy a dog from a breeder, it’s a good idea to contact the breed club and get references. If someone is breeding dogs and is not associated with the breed organisation, there may be a reason.

Tips:
Do not go to a breeder or shelter until you know what you want and you’re ready to buy. Those puppy eyes can be too hard to resist and you may end up bringing home the wrong dog.
Speak to your chosen breeder or shelter staff and find out about their dogs. Let them help you to choose a dog with the right temperament for your family. They will know the dogs much better than you can and they should always want to bring the right people and dogs together. If you feel like they just want to offload any dog on you, look somewhere else.
All dogs will need some work from you. There is no such thing as a dog that doesn’t require training, exercise and stimulation. But, as with any quality investment, if you commit for the long term, your life will be greatly enriched.