Dogs
The Dogs belong to the canine family. Mostly dogs are kept as pets as they are loyal, friendly, loving and totally devoted towards the family. The dogs are either kept as companions or as working dogs by the humans from the time human beings have started settling down as farmers. In some places they are bred for consumption. Dogs have developed into large number of varied breeds having coats which are furry, plain or covered with long and curly hairs. Dogs can be found in varied colors like white, black, brown, tan, grey etc.
Decisions to be taken
Before thinking about how to choose a dog a person has to decide whether he and his family members are ready to accept one more member in the household? The other factors that must be kept in mind are, the financial ability, accommodation, capability to train and take proper care, availability of a vet near the residence, availability of time and other factors as the dog will require the same love, care and attention which is given to bring up a baby in the house.
How to choose a dog?
If all these matters are decided then the next step is to decide which breed of dog is required and for what purpose. Then it has to be decided whether the dog should be a male or a female. It is better to choose a puppy than a grown up dog as grown up dogs have developed some habits which may not be liked by all but puppies can be trained according to ones desire. Then find out about the place or the breeder from where a healthy pup can be bought. There are a few tips which should be kept in mind while choosing the pup. The pup’s coat should be free of ticks, it should not be sickly with a flowing nose or watery eyes, its coat should be clean and shiny, it is not deaf and the teeth should be white and firm and the gums should be pink.
Breeds
The breeds of the dogs are decided by the purpose for which they are bred. There are quite a number of breeds amongst which some belong to the pure breed and some are hybrid which means that they are the offspring of a father and a mother who are of separate breeds. The commonly found breeds are, working, non sporting, sporting, terriers, hounds, toy, herding and other types.
Family and Training
The family history of a dog is very important as that will decide the health and the temperament of the pup. It has to be verified that both the parents are healthy and not suffering from any disease that can be passed on genetically. The training can either be given by the family members or a professional trainer can be appointed for training the pup.
