The size of the dog you choose can depend on a number of factors. How big is your home? Do you have a yard? How big is your yard if you do have one? What size dog do you have an interest in taking home? Keep in mind that while that Golden Retriever is cute and sweet, he requires a lot more space to live than the Boston Terrier you're also considering.
Hair
When considering a dog, look around your home and consider if you would like your carpets and furniture covered in the fur of your dog. While many breeds of dogs, both long haired and short haired, don't shed overly much, just about every dog is going to shed a little bit. Keep that in mind and pick accordingly, as it could be the difference between you choosing a Saint Bernard and a Chihuahua.
Temperament
How do you want your dog to interact not only with you, but with strangers and other dogs? While there is no such thing as a bad dog, some breeds are more aggressive than others with a larger prey drive to hunt. If you have small children, or are around small children, keep in mind how the dog you select will interact with them. Again, there's no such thing as a "bad" dog, but some breeds are better suited to being around small children because of increased patience.
Overall Health
Keep in mind that dogs, just like people, do get sick. Some breeds, just like some people, are more prone to genetic defects and will require medical care as they get older. While you should always expect to keep your dog for its entire life, do some research and make sure you know what some of the common health issues are for the breed of dog you select. It helps to know if they'll just need bully sticks to help with their teeth and gums or hip replacement surgery.
Intelligence/Trainability
Some dogs are more easily trained then others. With some, a few dog treats along with some basic commands and they're ready to sit, lie down, and play dead. Others are going to require a bit more work to not only teach tricks, but to housebreak. While patience will be required to train any breed of dog, some breeds are just naturally more intelligent than others and will have a smaller learning curve than others. Keep in mind how much time you're willing to spend training your new dog to perform the way you want when selecting a breed.
Amount of Exercise Needed
Every dog needs to be walked, but different breeds will require more exercise than others. Keep in mind how often your dog will need to be walked just to use the bathroom versus how much they need to exercise for reasons of health. Having a backyard is great, but it's no substitute for a brisk walk and being played with. Figure in how much time your schedule will allow you to walk and play with your new dog when considering the perfect breed for you.
Purebred or Mixed Breed
The decision to give a home to a dog that is purebred or mixed breed is one of personal taste. While a purebred ensures you get the dog you're looking for with traits you're expecting, mixed breed dogs are often healthier than purebred dogs as they tend to receive the best traits of their different breeds.
While some mixed breeds are now being intentionally bred (like Labradoodles and Puggles), most mixed breeds aren't planned and often result in interesting mixes. If there isn't a specific breed you prefer, considering a mixed breed dog is a good way to find the traits from different breeds that you like all in one dog.
Give the Gift of a Home
No matter what dog you choose, there's nothing better than giving a home to a puppy or dog in need. Remember to stock up on dog treats, chews, food, and, of course, bully sticks to make your new dog feel right at home. Keep in mind that there are a number of different sites like PetFinder that can help you find the dog you're looking for. Always consider your local animal shelter before turning to a breeder, but above all, make sure you get the pet you want.
They are very active and loving dogs that work great in a family with or without children. You do need to be attentive to them because they always want to have company around them. In spite of this, this breed of dog is not for every pet owner. For one thing, these dogs are very independent and stubborn and therefore are a challenge when you start to train them. However, once you start using incentives, such as bits of food or treats, they are very anxious to please and will learn very quickly. They also love praise and petting with lots of hugs.
Because of the origins of their breeding, these dogs are naturals for digging holes. They were bred to hunt badgers in Germany and the name means `badger hound? For this reason, you cannot this dog loose in your flower bed or vegetable garden and if you do let it loose outside, make sure it is in an area where it won't matter if the dog digs holes.
It may not be a good idea to choose the Dachshund as your pet if you work all day and have to leave the dog alone. This is because when it is left on its own, it will whine constantly until you return home. However, if you do have a tape recording of your voice that will play over and over, this could alleviate the stress the dog is feeling because of the lack of companionship.
If you have small children, the Dachshund makes a wonderful pet once it is properly trained. If you haven't yet trained the dog to be around children, you should never leave it along with them.
Dachshunds do not like being teased and as a result will nip at a child that does tease it. These dogs also have fragile spines, so they do not hold up well to being handled in a rough manner. This is especially true if you have a miniature Dachshund.
Even when you have the dog house trained, you need to be prepared for accidents on your carpet or other flooring. They do not like going outside in cold temperatures for their potty needs and would just as soon use the rug on the living room floor. No matter how well trained the pet is, you will never find a Dachshund that will not go in the house at some time or another.
Since this breed of dog has a hunting instinct, it is not a good idea to have one in your home if you have smaller pets, such as a guinea pig, a hamster or even a small kitten. If you get a Dachshund and a kitten at the same time, you may have some success in teaching it to get along with this pet, but you always have to be on the lookout that it is not hunting the kitten as prey. A Dachshund is very intelligent and you have to set yourself up as the leader of the pack from day one. If not, the dog will rule your household.
Both Avrum Elmakis & Warren Wong are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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