How To Choose Your Dog

So you've decided to grow your family. Chance meetings with dogs are on the increase. At the magazine stand a friendly pooch stares out of the pages at you. Late night reruns are suddenly awash with dogs - from Turner and Hooch to 101 Dalmatians! Even your friends are gushing about their new furred family addition! Your heart has been played and a dog it is. Now what? Where do you go to get a dog and how do you select one?

Your options are many and may be as simple as accepting a puppy as a gift from a friend who's just been blessed with a new litter. Chances are this is not going to be the case. Your choice should be governed by several considerations. Lets go over some of the logistics:

1. Have dogs always been part of your life? If so you can proceed with a slightly higher degree of certainty and comfort as to what you are looking for. More than likely you will want a dog of similar size, breed and temperament as the one you grew up with. If you've never owned a dog before, you may want to do some homework first.

2. Do you live in a house with a yard, a townhouse or a condominium? Although I have seen big dogs on city streets it is my opinion that they are best suited for a house with a yard. All dogs like to be played with but a big dog is best played with out in the yard where there is more room for him to romp around and run without having to be careful about furniture and furnishings. Small dogs on the other hand can play tug of war and other games in the house without disrupting your décor.

3. If the dog will be joining a family with young children you need to consider its temperament. It is no wonder that the Labrador and the Golden Retriever are a favored breed with families - they are at once protective, gentle and indulgent of small humans and incredibly forgiving of the prying and prodding of their tiny hands!

If on the other hand you and dog will form a family of two, you can opt for all kinds of other considerations. You probably have a breed in mind. If you want a purebred, go to a dog show or twol. Not only will you see some fine dogs of your preferred breed, but you can also compare them to other breeds of similar size. I remember when we were looking for a dog but were not sure whether we wanted a Rotweiler or a Weimeraner, we attended such a show and absolutely fell in love with an English Mastiff! I would never trade him! Ok. Big difference in size but it's a breed we would not have even thought of had we not seen one at a dog show.

4. Purebred or mutt? The advantage of a purebred is that you know what the puppy will grow up to look like and you know what its main characteristics are. A sheltie is a herding dog and very protective. A Shepherd or a Doberman make for good guard dogs. A mutt on the other hand, unless already grown, is more of a mystery. Of indeterminate breed(s), that cute little ball of fur may end up growing into quite a large dog with who knows what characteristics. A mutt, I have heard it said, is the true original dog - it is one of a kind, a true designer dog! A truly rare pedigree!

5. Breeder or the animal shelter? Definitely, if you have settled on a purebred, you want to get your puppy from a reputable breeder. There is probably a local breeder that you can visit. Your visit will tell you a lot about both the breeder and the dog you will bring home. Make sure the facilities are clean, the dogs well cared for and it would be good if you could have a reference or two.

Our animal shelters are overcrowded. Mostly mistakes, sometimes abandoned or just given up, these dogs make for excellent companions. Once again, if this dog is coming home to a family with young children, a puppy would probably be a better choice. If on the other hand, the children are older or its just you, an adult dog will give you just as much pleasure and joy. The advantage here is that it is probably already house trained and there are no surprises as to what it will look like when it is grown! Pound mutts come with a pedigree all their own and are much lighter on the wallet too!

Whatever your choice remember that this is a lifetime commitment. Bringing a dog into your life is not a spur of the moment decision. A dog is a life, it needs nurturing and loving, caring and giving. You'll be rewarded with sloppy kisses, adoration and unconditional love. Happiness is a two way street.

How to Choose Halloween Costumes For Your Own Pets

Having a pet to dress up for a Halloween costume could be exciting and sometimes an extra attention is required from his or her caring owner. Understanding your pet's mood and its lifestyle might help to choose appropriate pet Halloween costumes. To begin with your pick theme for this year, you could team up with your pet to go together for a fun filled evening for you and the guests that would come knocking on the door for the trick or treats.

If your pet is a female, there are hundreds of girly and funny costumes that would put smiles and giggles from people around you. You could pick a theme such as a French Maid Pet costume which includes a black dress with white lace trim and a matching hat. This outfit will make your canine cutie look very adorable with your matching costume. All you need is to measure the size of its chest and neck to fit with the dress perfectly. Sometimes, you might find that the standard pet sizes are based according to the dog breeds and the size of their necks. For example, an extra small will fit 7" to 10" neck or breeds that are similar in size to Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle dogs while a large size would normally fit 18" to 24" neck or breeds that are similar in size to Retriever, Boxer, Labrador, Dalmatian and Rottweiler.

If your pet is considered as an energetic, you are advised not to choose pet costumes that come with a veil, a wig or eyeglasses. This kind of adds on would usually make your pet not comfortable to wear the costume for too long. Another Halloween interesting costumes to choose are based from famous TV and movie characters such as Shrek, Superman, Batman, The Cat in The Hat, Zelda and the Star Wars Yoda.

To avoid your pets from overheating, you should consider the material made for a pet costume. Normally, you will find that it is made from 100% Polyester. For a fun and cool style, your pet could wear such an Aloha Hawaiian shirt and a floral lei. This outfit does look stunning for a male pet and would definitely receive many complements from the guests in the party or the people around you when you are strolling with your pet.

Although to dress up your pet for this coming Halloween might seem odd for the first time, the owner and the pet should learn to adjust to this temporary new look. Some pets will get on with an outfit immediately but others will never take to it. Therefore, the owner needs to study and understand his or her pet's body language in order to enjoy the fun and excitement of celebrating Halloween. Not to forget to capture the moment you have by taking some photos or videos that soon you could share with your friends and relatives.

Dalmatian Breeders - How to Choose the Right Guys!

Dalmatians have a quite distinct look and are great for the home. Previous breeders have come up with various characteristics for this species, including speed, strength and health. When searching for top Dalmatian breeders, there are some things you need to think about first.

How To Search For Dalmatian Breeders ("D.B.")

It's never a good idea to jump into buying a Dalmatian without taking a few considerations. Finding great D.B. really isn't a hard task. All you need are recommendations from a veterinarian, friend, dog show coordinator, or local breed club. Never buy a dog from a pet store, as good Dalmatian breeders generally do not sell through pet stores. Instead, go directly to a breeder or the place where the dogs were originally born and raised. You may do some research over the World Wide Web then go to a breeder afterwards.

How to Research On Dalmatian Breeders

When you've finally decided on a breeder, observe. You'd want to know if you're getting a Dalmatian that will be healthy and happy for the next several years. Make sure the breeder is a dependable one. Make a list of at least 3 potential Dalmatian breeders and see them one at a time. When meeting up with D.B., watch out for their real intention in selling their dogs.

Good D.B. will often ask you a million questions. The main reason for this is that they want to make sure if you'll be able to take care of their dog accordingly. You may be asked how long you work in a day, who else is living with you, if you often have guests that come over, how much you're willing to spend and how large your backyard is. These inquiries might sound intrusive, but they are actually good signs that you're speaking with a responsible breeder!

What To Ask Dalmatian Breeders

Now that you've chosen your top breeder, it's your turn to ask the questions. Your main inquiries should be about guarantees, back up plans, and affiliations. The most reliable breeders are more likely to give your dog lifetime guarantees. If you're unfortunately unable to care for your dog at any given time, good D.B. will also be able to take responsibility over your dog. Finally, an affiliation with some animal organization always gives a breeder more points.

Other Matters To Think About

Of course, you also need to consider how you're going to care for your new Dalmatian. Aside from your own preference in a dog, know what Dalmatians were bred for in the first place. They are very energetic, playful and friendly dogs.

Speaking of the characteristics mentioned above, you'd need to give your Dalmatian lots of exercise and therefore lots of space. The only thing about Dalmatians is that they can be stubborn and so will require sufficient training. Don't forget that these breeds shed a lot and may not be suitable for those with allergies. Dalmatian breeders would gladly give you the best Dalmatians they have, but just remember that some genetic conditions cannot always be predicted in any breed.

Whether dog shows are your expertise or you just want to share a happy life with your new Dalmatian, good breeders would be more than happy to tell you about Dalmatian show characteristics. You can easily find information on breed show characteristics online. Remember, Dalmatian breeders should care more about their dogs than money at the end of the day.