| Here's a simple and easy guide to choosing a dog. | | | | going to turn out either - until they become adults. So, |
| These are some of the things you should consider | | | | one of the pluses of choosing an adult dog from a |
| when choosing your puppy or adult dog to ensure you | | | | shelter is that you already know what you're going to |
| pick a best friend for life. | | | | get. If you choose a puppy, you will get him at 8 to 12 |
| Purebred, Crossbred or Mixed-Breed | | | | weeks of age - the time when he is ready to leave his |
| A purebred dog is a dog whose parents are both of | | | | mother - also the time when he is incredibly cute! He |
| the same breed. Humans create purebred dogs | | | | will need to be socialized. This means letting him spend |
| through selective breeding - inbreeding. Purebred dogs | | | | time with other dogs and pets and people. He will need |
| did not exist before humans manufactured them - a | | | | some basic obedience training -learning such |
| dog would simply breed with any other dog it chose, | | | | commands such as sit, stay, off, down and come. He |
| so there were no "purebreds", just a race of | | | | will also need to be housebroken so he doesn't |
| mixed-breed dogs. The advantage of choosing a | | | | eliminate inside. If you choose an adult dog, on the |
| purebred dog is that you can accurately determine his | | | | other hand, you can choose one who has already |
| size, shape, and personality. So, for example, if you | | | | been housebroken and had some obedience training. |
| were to choose a Poodle puppy you would know with | | | | Boy or Girl |
| certainty what he will look like when he gets older, his | | | | Male dogs are more dominant and aggressive to other |
| approximate size, that he will be intelligent, and easy to | | | | Male dogs. They will also urine-mark their territory. |
| train, and that he will hardly ever shed any hair. | | | | Other than that, male and female dogs are generally |
| A crossbred is the child of two different purebred | | | | very similar in the way they behave. |
| dogs. Crossbreds are also known as designer or | | | | Small, Medium, Large or X-Large |
| hybrid dogs. For example, if you cross a Labrador and | | | | Small dogs are a lot cheaper to keep and maintain. |
| a Poodle, you get what's known as a "Labradoodle". | | | | The cost of feeding a large or giant dog can be |
| A mixed-breed is the result of two random dogs who | | | | double or triple the price of feeding a small dog. Large |
| mate. Also known as mongrel, random-bred, or mutt. | | | | dogs also do larger poos and wees. Small dogs live a |
| For example, a mixed-breed is the result if a Purebred, | | | | lot longer than larger dogs. The average lifespan of a |
| such as a Poodle, and a Crossbred, such as a | | | | small Yorkshire Terrier is around 14 years. Whereas |
| Labradoodle mating. | | | | the average lifespan of a giant Bullmastiff dog is |
| Puppy or Adult | | | | around 9 years. Small breeds also reach their full size |
| You can choose between a puppy or an adult dog. A | | | | a lot quicker than large breed dogs. A small breed will |
| puppy is a blank page ready to be written. How he | | | | reach it's full size by about 5 months, whereas a giant |
| turns out is half up to you, and half up to his genetics. | | | | breed will take about 18 months to reach his full size. |
| With puppies, you don't know exactly how they're | | | | |