How To Pick Your Ideal Family Companion Dog
By Chris Smith
Dogs have been with us, companions to mankind, for centuries. All those centuries we have been carefully breeding them to meet our greatest needs. The result is a broad array of different dogs, each breed or blend of breeds providing a slightly different set of traits depending on what type of work our ancestors were aiming for.
Some dogs make great herders, some great hunters. Some are brilliant trackers. Some, sadly, were bred to fight: to fight other dogs, to fight in wars, to fight wild animals. A very, very few were bred in ways that make them poor choices for a family dog, regardless of how great they may be for other circumstances.
When looking for the best family dogs for your home, the first thing to do is to think through carefully what you want and hope for from a dog. Many of the worst mistakes made are the result of picking good family dogs that are simply not good for your family.
Work through the realities of your life now and in the foreseeable future. Do you have small children now, or are you planning on having some in the next decade? Small children are almost never a good mix with the extremely tiny breeds of dog: you can immediately eliminate the entire class of toy dogs, and most miniatures, too.
Likewise rule out dogs that tend to be one-man dogs. Such dogs can become determined to "protect" the one person they bond with. That protection can prove very difficult, no matter who they have chosen. You don't want your dog protecting you from your six year old daughter. However you don't want the dog protecting your daughter from you if all you are doing is trying to give her a bath, or have a tickle fight on the living room floor! Dogs bred for attack can be similarly perilous.
There are many dogs, though, that have proven to be superb family pets. The entire group of hunting dogs, from spaniels to hounds and everything in between, has provided an enormous source of great family dogs. Terriers, likewise, can be staunch family dogs, if well trained and kept active. Some herding dogs reward their families, providing faithful love and affection for years...though occasionally the temptation to herd children in the back yard gets the better of them.
When you have an idea of what you are looking for begin the search. Unless you want to show your dog or breed him, a mixed breed from a shelter or rescue group may be a superb option for you, but if you are thinking of that as a choice be sure that the group allows you an "audition period" in which you can bring the dog to be checked by a vet, and when you can get a first sense of how the animal might fit into your home.
If you choose to purchase a dog from a breeder be sure the kennel and owner are recommended, and be sure they insist on your returning a pup if the match fails. A breeder who washes his hands of his own pups is a breeder in it for the money, not for the love of the breed or the best interests of the dogs or the clients. That again allows a safety net for you and the pup if things fail to work well.
There are many great breeds of dog. The best family dogs, though, are great not because they are one breed or another. They are great because they are fundamentally sound, sane animals, lovingly and sanely treated, and given top notch socialization and training to make sure they can live happily in a human home, with a human family. If you get those things right there are thousands of dogs who just may be good family dogs for you!
About the author
Chris Smith is a well respected dog trainer and long time owner of many dog breeds.
For further dog training and dog health care advice visit - Choosing A Dog Breed. from http://www.FreeArticlesAndContent.com
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