We see so many celebrities these days with an adorable small dog tucked under one arm… it’s never a bad thing to take a moment to remember that the fluffy Fido is not a fashion accessory to be chosen for his looks alone.

Dogs do need a considerable amount of human care and attention, to begin with — even the adorable pocket-sized Pomeranium pups. But the second most important factor to consider, after the question of whether your lifestyle is really suited to dog ownership, is what breed of dog you should choose.

I’ve just been re-reading Stanley Coren’s brilliant book Why We Love the Dogs We Do (highly recommended) which matches human personality types, based on four different characteristics, with the personalities of different dog breed groups. It’s an excellent first step to figuring out what pooch will find a place in your heart — because not every breed of dog is the right dog for every individual.

Each kind of dog is quite different, even when their sizes are similar, as Pat Schraier explains…

Small Dogs – Different Breeds, Different Personalities

by Pat Schraier

Small dog breeds are great pets, but since their personalities are all different, it’s a good idea to look at their individual characteristics to see if they fit with your lifestyle.

Pomeranians:
Pomeranians developed from a much larger dog breed and seem to have retained the mellow character. They are good with children if they have been raised with them from puppyhood. They are playful and active. They tend to bark and require daily grooming.

Chihuahuas:
Chihuahuas are an interesting small breed. I have raised several herds – and that is a good word for a group of chihuahuas – and their temperment is a bit different from other small dogs. They can be very aggressive towards other dog breeds. I adopted one chihuahua who kept attacking a German Shepherd who finally bit her. After she got out of the hospital she went after him again. I ended up with her because she wasn’t going to quit attacking bigger dogs. Some chihuahuas will growl and nip at small children. Good points – chihuahuas are very loyal and affectionate. They don’t require as much exercise as other small breeds so they make ideal pets for apartment dwellers or older people. They are good with cats.

Boston Terrier:
Good with children and other animals, the Boston terrier is a good small dog for families. They are suitable for any lifestyle. They can be aggressive chewers. Their short coat is easy to keep clean.

Jack Russell Terrier:
This dog breed is only for the most active owners. They love to chase balls, can hop onto a table with ease and can be aggressive if not trained properly. Very intelligent and lively, they require a lot of attention and discipline.

Maltese:
This small dog breed can be very protective of its owner. It is not suitable for families with children because they are very fragile.

Shitzu or Shih tzu:
Good natured and non-aggressive, these friendly little dogs make great family pets. They require daily brushing but their hair is non-shedding. Good with other animals.

Bichon Frise:
These little dogs make good family pets. They are good with children as well as other animals. Very intelligent, easy to train and lively. Their coat doesn’t shred.

Dachshund:
Not a hound but a terrier bred to go after vermin, the breed is lively and affectionate. Good with family members but will become aggressive to children outside the family. They make good watchdogs and will bark frequently to alert their owners.

Pekinese:
Very fierce and loyal, these little dogs are not good around children or other animals. These are good dogs for the elderly. Their coats require a good deal of grooming.

Skye Terrier:
Great with children, okay with other dogs but not tolerant of cats. This unique breed makes a fine pet. Distrustful of strangers.

The next step after selecting a breed is to find a reputable breeder. To get more information, visit us at www.dog-match.com/small-dog-breeds.

About the author: Pat Schraier has not only owned chihuahuas but a cocker spaniel, a dachshund,a black lab,a boxer and a terrier mix. Visit the website www.dog-match.com for breed information, health care and other resources.

Our neighbours just got a new puppy, Toto, and brought him around this afternoon for a visit. Dogs are a vital part of our life, a constant source of joy. The cats are fabulous but I couldn’t be without at least one dog. The thing is, this particular couple may not have made a really good choice in adopting this particular dog.

Toto is their first dog — and he’s a Cairn Terrier, a breed that looks like a fluffy wee ornament but is actually a brave little hunter with a great deal of energy.

They are both very career-oriented people who work long hours at stressful jobs, and tend to crash when they finally get home for the evening.

Toto’s a cute little whirlwind of needle-sharp puppy teeth who needs a lot of entertainment, not to mention needing to go outside to pee at 2:30 a.m….

Maybe it’ll work out fine, and we wish them well — truly, we do.

But what’s really worrying is that Toto was an “impulse buy” for her new owners, who saw this adorable tiny bundle of fur looking at them with sad brown eyes from a pet store window.

Getting a dog, as Jason points out, is making a 10–15 year commitment to another living creature. That deserves a bit of thought and research and planning, doesn’t it? After all, a lot of marriages don’t last so long…

Getting a Dog

by Jason Hahn

Dogs are arguably one of the best companions that a human can find, so it goes without saying that getting one has probably crossed your mind at least once before. If you have gone beyond just thinking about it and have begun to seriously consider the option of getting a dog, then it is important to know what you will be getting into. It is very easy to see the appeal of owning a dog, but there are many responsibilities and commitments that are involved.

For one thing, owning a dog is a usually a 10–15 year commitment, since that is how long a typical dog will live. This means that your dog will be with you through whatever life stages you live through, including dating, marrying, and having children.

Along with this, having an adorable, friendly canine companion around you for so many years will inevitably lead to some attachment. No one likes to think about death, but sooner or later the reality of mortality will come into full view, and you should be prepared to deal with the loss. If you are married with children at the time of your loss, the pain will affect more people than just yourself.

Dogs, just like children, require a lot of your time and attention. Though they don’t need constant attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they do require you to spend at least a few hours a day to play around and exercise outside. Dogs that do not receive enough attention or care may develop behavioral issues.

Dogs will also be very affectionate and will want to be around you for much of the time you are at home. They will even sleep near you when they take naps and may even want to sleep in the same bed as you. Be prepared to take a firm stance on this if you do not want your dog to sleep in the same bed as you do.

On the other side of the coin, not all the time you spend with your dog will be fun. They require you to feed them, give them water, clean them, and pick up after them. Periodic visits to the vet are also something you should be prepared for. Whether it’s for a yearly checkup, an examination regarding an illness, or emergency visits, visits to the veterinarian will cost you some money.

After talking about all of the responsibility of owning a dog, it should also be noted that there is a great deal of comfort, joy, and fun that come with having a dog. They are not nicknamed “man’s best friend” for no reason. After experiencing the joys of having a dog, all of the responsibilities and commitments listed above pale in comparison and won’t even be burdensome when you realize who you are taking care of.

Jason Hahn
http://www.doggyjournal.com

The busy holiday season is the worst possible time to bring a new pup into the home, but it is a good time to plan for future pet ownership. Look at your home, your family, your lifestyle at its most stressful and try to envision how Rover might fit in. It’s a reality check that has saved many a cute pup from a trip to the animal shelter and perhaps euthanasia.

While you’re planning for a pup, Paw-Rescue.org is an excellent resource on Assessing Dogs at Shelters and Rescues, and has a lot to teach anyone thinking of adopting a dog — whether that adoption is from a shelter or rescue group, or through a reputable breeder. Some of the topics covered include:

• How to Assess Shelter Dogs
• What Testing Involves
• Questionable Temperaments ? Adapting to New Homes
• Young Puppy Temperament Assessment

This site is packed with sensible advice and some good solid basic information about what you can realistically expect from a shelter or rescue dog. For example:

Many dogs that are given up to animal shelters have never received training or guidance. Some never had the opportunity of a caring owner. Or the owner cared, but was ignorant about proper training and care of dogs, or had received misguided information. In any case, a multitude of given-up dogs are dismissed as ‘problem animals’ … when in reality, the problems can be corrected and avoided by applying current knowledge about canine care and management.

and

Responsiveness indicates that the puppy is probably pretty adaptive and has great ability to bond. A pup who seems very nervous or fearful may not be a good choice for a home with children or with a lot of activity. However, he may respond very well to gentle and consistent training suited to his personality. A dog who tends to be aloof even when faced with stimuli may be of an independent temperament, and might be stubborn when it comes time for training, but that’s not always the case. Again, keep in mind that these are generalizations, and puppy adopter will be in the key position to shape the pup’s behavior.

Paws-Rescue also gives you a select list of links to other topknotch resources, including Evaluating Temperament in a Potential Rescue Dog by M. Shirley Chong. See also Choosing the Right Dog from Canis Major — because you can never have too much information, when it comes to adding that “fur kid” to your family!