Picking The Perfect Pooch

From furry shadows to loyal companions

Keeping a dog as a pet is a matter of unlimited joy. These furry beings give companionship, unending love, and a lot of amusement. Your pet will become your family’s center of attention in no-time and make your life so beautiful. But being a pet parent means a lot of responsibilities as well. So, before you bring home a pet, ask yourself a few questions like – can you commit to this responsibility, do you have time to take him for daily walks and exercise, are you ready to scoop the poop. Apart from these you need to also make yourself aware about the long-term costs of pet food, vet care, and other aspects of getting home a furry friend.

Bred for brilliance

Always choose a reliable source to bring your puppy home. If getting one from a recognized breeder check the certificate of lineage, and a vaccination record.

Give a dog your home and heart- Adopt! You can go to a shelter and give yourself a gift for life. Cross breeds are the offspring of two pure bred dogs and often combines the better traits of both the breeds. Random breed dogs are commonly known as mixed breed dogs. They are considered to be more robust and are less likely to inherit diseases and disabilities as compared to pure breeds.

Paws and reflect

You need to take into account a lot of factors like – coat type, gender, puppy characteristics etc. when bringing home a furry companion.

Coat type is a critical consideration when choosing a pet. Some breed coats require daily grooming, while for some long coat breeds bathing can be a chore as can be hair matting and keeping your pet’s hair off the furniture. Also, if someone at your home is allergic to fur, then you should consider a short hair breed.

Choosing between a male and a female pet can be difficult, but remember –

• Young unneutered male can be a nuisance when in hypersexual mode.
• Females go “on heat” twice a year and this demands extra vigilance. .

Puppy pursuit – the art of choosing the best pup as your pet

A pet is for life, and opting for a puppy could mean sharing the next 14 years with your pet. When bringing home a pup, the first and foremost thing to note is – the pup should be not less than eight weeks old. Here are some other things you should check-

• Lift the ear flaps to see if the ear is pink inside, with neither an unpleasant odour nor any sign of crusty or waxy discharge. Such deposits or discharges might indicate ear mites. Check that the ear flaps hang evenly. Slight head and ear shaking is normal, especially after waking.
• Hold the head still and check that the eyes are clear, bright, and free from any discharge stains around the facial hair. There should be no sign of redness, squinting, or inflammation. A puppy who tries to scratch his eyes may have an eye infection or irritation.
• To check the teeth and gums, gently part the lips. See that the gums and tongue are pink (or mottled with black pigment), and odour free. Gums should form a clean margin with the teeth. In most breeds (boxers being an exception), the teeth should generally meet perfectly in a scissor bite.
• Check for oily or flaky skin and make sure there are no lumps, cuts, or abrasions. The hair should be firm and not come out when you stroke it (healthy fur glistens and only comes out when moulting). Run your hand against the grain of the coat to help you spot any skin infections or parasites.
• The anal region under the tail should be clean and dry. There should be no inflammation, or sign of diarrhoea, dried faeces, or other discharge from genitals. Dragging the rear along the floor, or excess licking, can indicate an irritation caused by blocked anal glands.

Furry friends that fit your family

If you decide to bring home a mature dog, over six months old, do not just go on appearances. Before you bring him home, try to test his temperament by seeing if he seems willing to obey and to respond to commands, accepts being touched, is not hand shy or nervous in any way, and also does not bark at every opportunity.

One of the most commonly asked questions is – where should we buy a pet from? First, ask your vet for sources. Animal shelters in your city are another source. Also keep an eye on social media, or if your family or friends have a pet up for adoption.

As soon as you bring home your furry friend, make sure to take him to the vet for a thorough check-up. The vet will tell you about your pet’s diet, deworming and vaccination schedule, and yearly check-ups as well.

(Dr. Ankur Narad, BVSc & AH, MVSc, PhD, RGCN Pet Clinic, Bhopal)