Bring home the right pooch, the right friend

Abandonment and re-homing have become very common. Imagine the stress, tension and trauma a poor dog goes through when the family whom he considers his own abandons him..
Rashi Raghav and Rio
 
They say that adopting a dog is no lesser than a process of self-discovery, whereby you get to realize and identify traits and attributes of your lifestyle and personality that perhaps you would have never thought before. This is because choosing a dog is known to be a lot about getting home a pet whose personality and breed characteristics are compatible with your own personality and everyday routine. Any clash in the same leads to unhappiness of both the pooch and pet parent. Choosing a dog whose social personality is the kind that matches yours will make things a lot easier, a lot more comfortable and defi nitely a lot more fun. While a Beagle, Golden Retriever, Bearded Collie, German Shepherd, Brittany Spaniel or a Labrador would make for an ideal socially active and friendly pet to have, a Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, Giant Schnauzer and Pekingese are more socially reserved.
Suitable to family: If you have children at home, you can choose from children-friendly gentle and lovable breeds like Pug, English Cocker Spaniel, Boxer, Beagle, Basset Hound, Labrador, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever amongst others.
 
Be aware of maintenance costs: When you’ve set your heart on a particular breed, do spare a few thoughts to consider whether you’d be able to afford the upbringing costs of that breed. Keeping the purchase cost aside, every dog has his own needs of food, grooming and health care.
Choosing a breed whose monthly maintenance costs can meet your budget will keep you worry-free and ensure quality upbringing for your pet. Compatibility with multiple pets: If your household has more than one pet, adopt a breed who is known to enjoy company and get along well with other animals.
Bulldog, Retriever, Poodle, German Shepherd or a Doberman are some breeds who are known for their adaptive intelligence and therefore can make for a good choice in cases of multiple-pet household.
How active you are: Exercise or other forms of physical activity being an extremely important need of every dog, this is one responsibility that you as an owner cannot avoid.
However, what you can do is to make a choice between a breed who requires intense exercise on a daily basis and one who can do with a few rounds of leisure walking 3 to 4 times a day; depending on your lifestyle regime, personal levels of preference for activity and the amount of exercise you are willing to give your dog on a daily basis.
Size up your house: While this is one aspect that is not given as much signifi cance as it should be, the size of your house is an important factor in deciding what kind of dog you should get home. While small dogs can adjust well in both big houses as well as apartments, in case of larger breeds on the other hand, it is a must to provide them with open spaces to play and move about freely without feeling restrained and suffocated.
Adaptability to climate: A fact unknown to many is that the pure breeds who are largely popular amongst dog owners are of foreign origin and hence made by nature to feel suited and comfortable in a particular climate, which might be alien to Indian conditions. Densely coated dogs such as a St Bernard, Golden Retriever or Cocker Spaniel therefore, if not kept in an air conditioned environment for most of the day, will tend to produce symptoms of illness, depression and dullness.
E1K1 (Each one keep one): Give our great Indian dogs a home as they are best suited for our climatic conditions – do open your heart and home to them.
What is unfortunate is that hundreds of pet dogs worldwide are abandoned on roads and animal shelters with the excuse of them being ‘problem dogs.’ The truth however is that, while one dog might seem troublesome and uncompromising in one household, in the other he could get appreciated and rewarded for his ‘adorable’ behaviour and become everyone’s favourite pal. What come into play in both these situations are compatibility issues. Also it is important to remember theirs is never a bad dog but a pet parent who has been unable to understand the need of his dog and match them to his own.
So, when you do go out looking for that perfect, lovable pooch to bring home, don’t just go by the angelic looks, the majestic gait or the furry coat of the puppy. Or for that matter, not even by the wants of your child who insists on buying the same dog that his or her best friend has. Bring home a dog who matches your personality and your lifestyle and you’ll rejoice your decision for a long time.
Details on various aspects you need to consider for a few breeds available in India: