When you decide to add a new puppy to your household, it can be a challenge not to run out and fall in love with the first furbaby you see.! However, when it comes to choosing the right dog breed it pays to be patient and take a little time to pick the best fit for your family and lifestyle.
A bad choice, made on impulse or without proper thought, can mean your �puppy love story' doesn't have a �happy ever after' ending, and that's bad news for everyone.
All puppies are adorable, and they all have one thing in common � they grow up to be dogs! However, that's where the similarities end. Every dog breed belongs to the same species �canis familiaris' (otherwise known as the domesticated dog), but there are over 400 different recognized breeds with more being added all the time.
The enormous diversity between dog breeds isn't just seen in the wide variety of size, shape and color. Domesticated dogs are divided into several different breed groups, depending upon the original purpose or role they were designed (quite literally!) to fulfil.
The dog breeds within each breed group (such as the Herding Group or the Working Group) share similar characteristics and inborn traits. Maybe a strong desire to herd anything that moves, extremely acute sense of smell or sight, the instinct to guard or protect their owners and property etc.
It pays to understand that, even within the same breed, individual dogs (and families or 'lines' of dogs) can vary quite significantly. To top it off, each puppy within a litter is a unique individual and won't have exactly the same looks or behavior as any of it's littermates!
So, you can see that choosing the right dog breed is not something to be taken lightly.
Having said all that, there is good news! Choosing the right dog breed, and deciding which would be the best fit for your family, is actually pretty straightforward. By asking yourself some simple questions, and answering honestly, you can eliminate the breeds that clearly don't fit your �puppy profile' and choose from those that do! When choosing the right dog breed, here's the things you need to consider �
Your Activity Level If you're an outdoorsy, active kind of person, you need a dog who can keep up. Good choices include the energetic Border Collie, the Siberian Husky or German Shorthaired Pointer. If you're only moderately athletic you might prefer a Jack Russell Terrier or Labrador Retriever.
If you tend towards the couch potato school of athletics, a Beagle or English Bulldog might be perfect.
Whether You Have Children Children and puppies go together like strawberries and cream, but certain dog breeds are inherently better suited to a family with children than others.
Don't automatically expect a small dog to be great with kids. Although they're child-sized they're not toys and can be snappy and opinionated. Extra-large dogs, even if very gentle and loving, can accidentally hurt a small child by the sheer virtue of their size and strength. An enthusiastic welcome or overly loving approach can be overwhelming.
Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Dalmations, Miniature Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and English Staffordshire Bull Terriers are all good choices.
Your Home Whether you live in a city apartment or a rural ranch can have an impact on the breed of dog you choose.
In this case, choosing the right dog breed doesn't depend entirely on size, as big dogs can be lower-energy and more content to snooze all day than some smaller, highly strung �energizer bunny' breeds.
Dogs from the herding or working groups, really need a job to do. They also require a lot of regular exercise. Some other breeds, such as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Pekingese for example, are more likely to be perfectly happy with a short walk and a cuddle on the sofa.
What You Want From A Dog If you're hoping to join organized, dog-related activities such as obedience trials, agility competition, therapy work etc., choose an intelligent, trainable breed such as the German Shepherd, Border Collie, Golden Retriever or Standard Poodle.
Perhaps you just want a friend to watch the game with or snooze on the front porch swing. A Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Dachshund or Basset Hound might fit the bill perfectly.
NOTE: When you're thinking about choosing the right dog breed, don't forget to consider a mix-breed puppy, but do try to find out what breeds seem dominant in his make up. That will give you a rough idea of his character traits and inherited tendencies.
Mix breeds can sometimes be healthier and genetically stronger than purebreds, as they not subject to inbreeding or inherited illnesses or weaknesses. A dog of mixed heritage can most definitely make a wonderful, loving companion and is in no way inferior to his more �titled' cousins.
If you do decide on a mix breed, please consider rescuing a homeless pup from a shelter or pound. The figures for homeless dogs in the US today are staggering � and heartbreaking � you can't help them all, but maybe you could make the difference in the life of just one!
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Find out more about choosing the right dog breed for you at http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com
If you're a puppy parent, you'll enjoy all the free information and resources designed especially with you in mind.
Guide to Owning a Ragdoll Cat: Top Five Tips for Ragdoll Cat Breeders & Owners
In this article, I present five great tips for caring for your Ragdoll Cat. I hope you enjoy reading it and learn something new at the same time.
1. Always make time for your Ragdoll
Ragdoll Cats are notoriously sociable creatures and require a lot more attention than other breeds. It is important to make you spend time with your Ragdoll preferably every day. Without your interaction, they could quickly develop behavioural problems. You can give your cat the attention it needs by simply playing with them or grooming them.
2. Groom your Ragdoll at least once a week
Although Ragdoll Cat's require less grooming than other long-haired cats, it is important to groom them at least once a week. Not only will your cat have a beautifully groomed coat but it will also prevent the chances of your Ragdoll getting hairballs.
3. Don't let your Ragdoll outdoors alone
Ragdoll Cats should be either be kept indoors or be closely monitored if they are outdoors. Their gentle demeanour means that they will not defend themselves if attacked and they are at risk of contracting parasites.
4. Prevent scratching by covering the affected area with tin foil
Many Ragdoll Cat breeders and owners have problems with their cats clawing furniture and other objects around the home. An easy way to stop this is by wrapping tin foil around the object. Cats do not like the texture of the foil and cease scratching it.
5. Make sure your Ragdoll has plenty of toys to play with
One of the most rewarding aspects of owning a Ragdoll Cat is watching it play (and even joining in!). Playing is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for your Ragdoll. Not only does it provide fantastic exercise but allows cat and owner to bond, so it is important that your Ragdoll has plenty of toys to play with. Toys can either be bought from a pet store or found around the house. Something as mundane as a cardboard box or a large bottle top can provide hours of entertainment.
I hope these tips have been of use to you and I wish you many happy and enjoyable years with your Ragdoll Cat.
If you want to know more about Ragdoll Cats, I can highly recommend The Complete Ragdoll Cat Keepers Handbook by Drew Pilton. In it you will discover a plethora of "trade secrets" for looking after this amazing breed including training your Ragdoll, feeding your Ragdoll, understanding it's body language and professional grooming techniques. Written by Ragdoll experts, this book is essential reading for all serious Ragdoll cat and kitten breeders.
Guide to Owning a Ragdoll Cat: A Beginners Guide to Ragdoll Cats
In this article, I will give a brief overview of the Ragdoll Cat & Kitten for the benefit of animal-lovers considering buying and/or breeding this remarkable animal.
History
The original Ragdoll Cat Breeder was Anne Barker who created the breed in the 1960's and they were brought worldwide attention by Denny and Laura Dayton. Anne bred Ragdolls from predominately Persian and Burmese breeds that had desirable traits such as a large size, a placid demeanour and a fondness of being around humans.
Physical Description
Although they are large compared to other breeds (males are between 12-20lbs and females are between 10-15lb, on average), they are very gentle beings and are generally happy to be picked up by people. They have a muscular body with short legs, however because they are docile, they should not be left outside for prolonged periods - or at all - as they will not defend themselves if attacked. For this reason, Ragdoll Cat breeders will tell you it is very much an "indoor" cat. Ragdoll's have large blue eyes and rounded ears that tilt forward slightly.
Coat
The Ragdoll Cat is a medium-longhaired cat that are categorised into one of the following colors:
Seal - Fawn and dark brown
Chocolate - Ivory and chocolate brown
Blue - Pale gray and dark gray
Lilac - Frosty white and pinkish gray
They also have different patterns on their fur that Ragdoll cat breeders split into the following categories:
Colorpoint - Dark colored feet, ears, tail and face with a lighter body color and no white markings.
Mitted - Similar to a colorpoint but with white paws, chin, stomach and ruff.
Bi-color - Dark points on the ears and tail and light between the eyes. Dark points also on the back with a pink nose and pawpads.
Although it has a soft medium-long coat, a Ragdoll Cat will not require to be groomed constantly and it's fur will not matt or shed to excess.
Personality
As previously mentioned, Ragdoll Cats are sociable creatures so you must be able to give them attention and not leave them alone for long periods. They are also quiet and not particularly active. They make a loving companion that is easy to train and will got along with other cats.
Summary
I hope you now understand a little more about Ragdoll Cats and if you decide that the Ragdoll is right for you, you will discover it can be a highly rewarding experience.
If you want to know more about Ragdoll Cats, I can highly recommend The Complete Ragdoll Cat Keepers Handbook by Drew Pilton. In it you will discover a plethora of "trade secrets" for looking after this amazing breed including training your Ragdoll, feeding your Ragdoll, understanding it's body language and professional grooming techniques. Written by Ragdoll experts, this book is essential reading for all serious Ragdoll cat and kitten breeders.
