Your Dog Buying Guide

Start with this handy Dog Buying Guide if you're considering the purchase or adoption of a new puppy or adult dog. You'll want to make sure that you acquire a pet that is healthy and has the personality of a friend you'll cherish for a lifetime! Taking just a few minutes to review the pointers in this dog buying guide before going out and getting your heart set on some adorable pooch may save you the frustration and heartache that comes from choosing a dog that doesn't fit well into your lifestyle.

This dog buying guide is short to make it easy for you to see the most important things to look for when selecting your next furry friend. If you have other questions or concerns about your next dog or puppy, please contact me and I will do my best to help!

Dog Buying Guide Tip #1: Inspect the breeding/care facilities.

Your dog's early weeks and years can have a big impact on how he adjusts to living in your home. Try to find out as much as you can about his background before you bring him home. If you're buying him from a breeder, take the time to view the kennel facilities and meet the handlers and the dog's parents if possible.

If you're adopting a puppy, or dog, get as much information as you can from the shelter employees who may have taken a report or history when the dog came to the shelter and who may be able to tell you how the dog behaved in the pound or with his foster family while he was waiting for you to choose him! The shelter may also have a dog buying guide of their own with other helpful pointers, so be sure to ask for all the advice they're willing to give you!

If a dog has been neglected or abused (as is the case with many adopted "pound puppies") he may be shy or aggressive around people. You may find that certain things you didn't recognize at first set him off and make him crazy (such as screeching children, other dogs, large men, the hose, etc.) after you've taken him home with you.

If you get a dog from the animal shelter, try to find out as much as you can about his life experiences before reaching the adoption facility. If he is fairly young this will probably be less of a concern than an adult dog. Many adult dogs are returned to the pound because their owners didn't have time and resources to care for them properly or else because the dog had behavior problems.

Talk to the dog's caretakers at the shelter and find out as much as you can about his behavior since coming to them. Problems can range from difficulty with housetraining and submissive urination, to being hand shy, having unusual phobias, or even aggressive behavior or fear biting. An adult "problem" dog may not be an appropriate choice for a household with small children.

When you examine the dog's living quarters look to see how clean it is. Is the dog's excrement removed and cleaned up quickly and properly? Does he have the opportunity to relieve himself outdoors or in a designated "potty area" or is he wallowing in his own filth? Problems in this area can lead to difficulty with potty training later on.

Dog Buying Guide Tip #2: Find out if the dog is healthy.

Look into the dog's eyes and ears to detect any signs of unusual odor, discoloration, sensitivity or discharge. Ear mites produce a black, sticky substance which will make the dog's ears itch. Inspect his skin for rashes, hairless patches (possible signs of allergy and mange) and fleas, ticks or their droppings. Watch the dog walk and run to gauge his stride. Inspect his teeth to see if they line up correctly so he can chew his food. Look for plaque, and damaged teeth or gums. Also foul breath can be a sign of poor health. Doggy breath is fine, but it shouldn't be TERRIBLE.

Dog Buying Guide Tip #3: Introduce the dog to your family.

If the dog is meant to be around a variety of family members, give all parties a chance to get to know each other before bringing the dog home. Have them each read this dog buying guide so everyone can be on the lookout for warning signs or other problems.

Visiting the shelter or breeder several times before making an adoption decision is a wise choice. It gives the dog a chance to get to know you before coming home with you, and it gives your kids a chance to play with the dog and feel comfortable with him, as well as voice any unspoken fears about the size of the dog, his teeth and claws, etc. Also, with an adopted dog, some dogs may react differently around men, for example, than they do around women if they were abused by a man in the past. It's best to make sure that the dog himself is also comfortable with all members of your family.

Dog Buying Guide Tip #4: Test the dog's hearing and personality.

Some dogs (white-eared Dalmatians for example) have a propensity toward deafness. It's wise to test any dog's hearing before taking him home. While he is busy playing with something else, jingle your keys and call to him and see if he turns around.

Another hearing test/personality test is to drop something large (like a pot or pan) in the next room where the dog can't see it or feel the vibration and see how he reacts. He should definitely show that he HEARS the item and he should not react with excessive boldness or timidity. A good tempered dog will eventually go and investigate the item - sniffing it to find out more about the situation!

Dog Buying Guide Tip #5: Dominance Testing The Dog

WARNING: Do not try this with an adult dog. This is only safe with a puppy.

Try holding the puppy in your arms and talking to him softly. Then flip him onto his back and cradle him like a baby. A very dominant dog will fight and struggle and not submit to being put on his back (which is a submissive posture for dogs). A good tempered dog will struggle for a few seconds and then relax and submit. A very submissive/shy dog will flop onto his back willingly and not put up a fuss. You want to avoid a dog that is either very dominant or very submissive.

Dog Buying Guide Tip #6: Play with the dog.

Some folks, who haven't read this dog buying guide, will select their next dog by "letting the puppy choose them." They end up taking home the most brave and dominant puppy in the pack because it is generally these dogs who are boldest about stepping forward and investigating new people and things. While you want the dog to like you and be comfortable with you, you don't necessarily want a dominant dog, especially if you have kids in the household.

Instead of evaluating puppies while they're in a group of other dogs, take each pup away from his litter mates and play with him in a neutral territory. He should be friendly and eventually come up to sniff you.

He should not cower or shy away from you when you approach. Nor should he dominantly approach showing aggression or start barking or growling at you.

Dog Buying Guide Tip #7: Consider the Dog's Gender

Unless you are starting a breeding program (not recommended) I would suggest that you plan to neuter your dog when he or she is 6-12 months old. This can improve your pet's health and longevity, eliminate the hassle of dealing with aggressive/wandering males and female dogs in heat and, in the words of Bob Barker, it "helps control the pet population."

So, if your dog is neutered, his gender won't really make much of an impact on his performance as a pet. Males tend to be a little larger so they eat more. Females tend to be a little less dominant and more "family oriented." Both genders will serve as a fine "watch dog" alerting your family to visitors, exercising and playing sports, and loving you and your family.

Dog Buying Guide Tip #8: Consider the "type" of dog.

There are all sorts of dog breeds out there (over 100) and when you factor in mixed breeds and "Heinz 57" dogs (a little of everything) there are an overwhelming number of "types" to choose from.

It is beyond the scope of this dog buying guide to be able to evaluate every dog breed.

To simplify matters and help you figure out where to begin this process, do what I do and think of dogs as belonging to a couple of different categories. I divide them up into "types" like the American Kennel Club does. You don't have to get a purebred dog, although that will help you know what to expect from your pet. I have a "mixed breed" - a Goldador who is half Labrador Retriever and half Golden Retriever. She is a great dog... some folks swear that hybrid dogs are healthier, and it's true that many purebreds and "popular" breeds have been victim to over breeding (can you say "101 Dalmatians!" or Yo Quiero Taco Bell!") which tends to mean there are a lot of lower quality dogs on the market in addition to the well-bred ones.

You probably already have an opinion on whether or not you're going to go purebred or mixed breed, and I don't intend to use this dog buying guide to stump for one route over the other.

Either way you decide to go, find out as much as possible about your dog's lineage in order to have a better sense of what to expect from him in terms of size, behavior, coat, etc.

Sporting Dogs - There are many types of Retrievers in this group. Retrievers are good athletic souls who enjoy working with people. You'll also find Pointers and Setters.

Herding Dogs - These can be so funny to watch - they will herd groups of children, ducks, anything! They are usually very smart, require a great deal of exercise and are excellent at obedience training competitions.

Toy Dogs - Small and very domesticated... the perfect lap dog or apartment dog. Great for companions, some can be too fragile for rough housing with kids.

Working Dogs - These are draft animals and security dogs. They tend to be a little more aggressive in some cases. Some examples of popular dogs in this class are the Rotweiler, Doberman, Siberian Husky, Great Dane, and the Boxer.

Hounds - These hunting dogs were bred to find prey through their senses of sight and smell. They sometimes work in pairs or packs. Some, like Beagles, can be difficult to train because they are distracted by their desire to follow their noses. Others, like greyhounds, make fine pets, but have a high prey-drive around smaller animals like cats and rabbits which can make them difficult to take for a walk in areas where these creatures are plentiful.

Terriers - Terriers are known for their distinctive, feisty personalities. They are generally bred to hunt and kill vermin and can be very assertive and barky/snappish around other animals including dogs. If you intend to acquire a terrier who will be spending time around children, make sure you have him spend some time around kids before you take him home. Popular terriers are the Scottish Terrier (Scotty Dogs) and the West Highlight White Terrier ("Westies").

Nonsporting Group - This is a very varied group, so it's hard to make any generalities about them. (It's something of a catch-all). Dogs in this group are the Dalmatian, Lhasa Apso, Standard Poodle and Bulldogs.

If you enjoyed this Dog Buying Guide, you're sure to benefit from the Dog Lovers Digest, a free newsletter loaded with dog training tips, fun pet stories, and loads of great dog lovers gift ideas!