David Alderton - The Right Dog for You

David Alderton

with breed photography by Marc Henrie

HOW TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT BREED FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Just a glance at the line-up like the one below highlights the extraordinary diversity that exists within dog breeds. Dogs are universally possessed of boundless character and sharp intelligence, but every breed and every individual dog has its own unique appearance and traits, since they come in all manner of shapes, colours, patterns and sizes, with an array of different temperaments. Indeed, part of the enduring appeal of dogs is that many owners feels there is a particular breed for them. This book is a top-to-tail guide to picking your favourite pet, and a celebration of dog breeds and their diversity. It portrays more than 120 of the worlds most popular breeds in unparalleled detail, allowing you to admire at leisure or browse with a view to choosing your perfect pet.

You can quickly discover the types of breed that suit you. Firstly, they are arranged in order of size, starting with the smallest, and progressing to the largest, based on official judging standards for each breed. This will serve to give you a key insight into whether a breed potentially could fit easily into your home! Where two breeds are of identical size, the lighter one is listed first. Remember that the height of dogs (as with other livestock) is traditionally measured to the top of the shoulder, rather than to the top of the head, so they are always somewhat taller than indicated.

It is possible to gain a clear insight into the type of dog that is being portrayed, because each entry has its own group indicator as well, revealing whether it is a terrier or a toy breed for example. This is something else to bear in mind, as this is likely to impact directly on the personality and level of activity of a particular breed, influencing whether it may be suitable for your lifestyle.

There is also coverage of the most popular so-called designer breeds, which have grown significantly in numbers during the present century, although they cannot be shown in the same way as traditional breeds. In addition, every entry is accompanied by the essential information you require if you are looking for a pet. A silhouette graphic shows instantly how large a puppy will grow. The possible colour combinations for each breed are listed alongside grooming and exercise requirements. Key symbols reveal the needs of each breed, so that quick comparisons can easily be made.

Once you have narrowed down your search, you can study the detailed individual descriptions and learn more about the ancestry of a breed that interests you. It is only over the last 100 years or so that dogs have started to leave their working ancestries behind, with the majority now being kept as household companions. It is therefore important to be aware of the background of a particular breed, because this will still have a significant bearing on its temperament today, and on its behaviour as your pet.

Whether you want to browse through the wonderful world of dog breeds, pick a selection of breeds that you wish to consider as part of your family, or study the details of your chosen dog, The Right Dog for You will provide you with a comprehensive view.

Picking a purebred or indeed, a designer dog is a decision that needs to be considered very carefully, and it must never be rushed. You will be selecting a companion who, with luck, will be part of your daily life for well over a decade, so you need to be certain that you are making the right choice.

Never be tempted to select a dog purely on the basis of its looks, even if appearance is a good starting point for your deliberations. Delve into the ancestry of a breed that appeals to you, and you will gain the best insight into its personality. This is the ideal way to begin studying many vital considerations, such as how much exercise your new pet will need, and how easily your puppy can be trained. In this way, you can be sure of finding a pet to suit your lifestyle.

There are a number of key factors about your home life that will affect your choice. You must have enough time to care for your dogs needs on a daily basis. If you live in a small flat with no access to a garden and youre out at work all day, then you might need to think about a type of pet that is less demanding than a dog. Dogs must have enough space to exercise and they are highly social by nature, so they will not settle well if they are left alone for long periods, and they may even become destructive around the home when bored.

The size of a breed is, of course, a vital factor. Large dogs have correspondingly bigger appetites and also tend to have shorter lifespans. The grooming needs of the different breeds should also be a consideration. Smooth-coated dogs require relatively little grooming, whereas those with profuse coats will need daily combing and brushing to prevent their fur becoming matted, and some breeds will benefit from regular visits to a dog groomer. So you need to assess how much time you will have to devote to your pet before you make your choice, particularly as some breeds require much more exercise than others.

A puppy can be instantly irresistible, so it is essential that you balance first impressions with careful consideration of the time and care that will be required to give your dog a happy home.

The extremes in size in the dog world are illustrated here by a Great Dane towering over a Papillon. Keeping large dogs can be very demanding. Their dietary requirements are expensive, they need a much more spacious environment than their smaller relatives, and they are usually more demanding in terms of their care.

The cost of keeping a dog will have an impact on the family budget. You can minimize the cost by choosing a smaller dog and taking out a health insurance policy for your pet. Picking a short-haired dog will reduce the need to pay for professional grooming services.