Many
behavior and health problems
in pets can be prevented by
seeking guidance before obtaining
a new pet. Such a consultation
will help you select the best
pet for the household, but also
provide information on how to
prepare in advance for the new
arrival. Selection topics to
be discussed include the species,
breed, age, and sex of the pet,
where to obtain the pet and
how the kennel, breeder, and
pets can best be assessed. Advice
on preparing the home will include
housing, bedding, feeding, training,
exercise, scheduling and health
care requirements.
What
breed is best for my home and
family?
The
first decision is whether to
obtain a purebred or a mixed
breed. By selecting a mixed
breed from a pound, an abandoned
animal will be re-housed. Some
of the genetic problems associated
with inbreeding can be avoided
and the initial cost to acquire
the pet will be considerably
lower by obtaining a mixed breed.
However, the best way to predict
the behavioral and physical
attributes of an adult dog or
cat is to obtain a purebred
from known parentage. This is
particularly important when
selecting a puppy or kitten.
Unless the parents are known
it is extremely difficult to
predict the size, health, or
behavior that is likely to emerge
as the dog grows up. In contrast,
selecting an adult allows assessment
of the physical characteristics,
health and behavior of the animal.
If
a purebred is chosen, it should
be a breed whose physical and
behavioral characteristics best
suit the family. However, with
hundreds of breeds to choose
from and such a wide variation
of behavior types within a breed,
the most consistent selection
factor will be the physical
characteristics. Therefore first
select a few breeds that appeal
in physical appearance, including
coat type, size and shape. Also
consider that the lifespan,
since the giant breeds of dogs
live considerably shorter lives
than smaller breeds.
Before
the selection consultation,
visit dog shows to observe the
appearance of the adult dog
of each breed. Do some reading.
There are a variety of books,
CD ROMs and Internet sites that
can help to guide you through
the selection process. Some
books concentrate on the physical
characteristics, history of
the breed, or health concerns,
while others cover breed behavioral
characteristics, and how to
select individuals from a breeder,
shelter, or litter. Behavioral
factors to consider as you try
to decide upon a breed of dog
include activity level, exercise
requirements and any reported
behavior problems of the breed.
Perhaps the most important factor
to consider is the origin of
the breed as the traits and
behaviors for which the breed
has been bred and selected (herding,
protection, hunting, etc.) are
the most strongly inherited.
Once you have narrowed the selection
down to a few breeds, your veterinarian
can guide you regarding the
physical and behavioral problems
that you need to be aware of
for each breed.
At
what age should I obtain a pet?
Puppies
are most social from about 3
to 12 weeks of age. For the
first seven to eight weeks primary
socialization should be directed
to other puppies and littermates
to aid a puppy to develop healthy
social relationships with other
dogs. From seven weeks on, well
before the socialization period
ends, socialization should be
directed to people, new environments
and other pets. For these reasons,
the ideal time to select and
obtain a new puppy is at 7 to
8 weeks of age. This allows
adequate time to be in its new
home, and bond to its new family,
well before its primary socialization
period ends.
Since
the most receptive period for
kitten socialization is 3 to
9 weeks of age, a kitten should
either be obtained by 7 weeks
of age, or the new owners must
ensure that the kitten has had
adequate human contact prior
to 7 weeks of age. Don't
obtain a kitten much earlier
than 7 weeks since this deprives
it of social contact with its
mother and littermates.
Acquiring
an adult dog or cat can avoid
some of the problems of bringing
a new puppy or kitten into the
home. This is especially true
for dogs where the time and
commitment required to train
a puppy are considerable. Fulfilling
the play, feeding, elimination,
and exercise needs of a puppy
or kitten may be impractical
for a family who spends much
of the day away from home. On
the other hand, an adult dog
or cat that has had insufficient
or inappropriate training or
insufficient socialization may
have behavior problems that
are difficult to resolve. For
owners who are ready and able
to meet the demands of a growing
puppy or kitten, obtaining a
pet during its primary socialization
period is strongly recommended.
Should
I consider a male or female
pet?
In
dogs, males tend to be slightly
larger in stature than females
of the same breed and somewhat
more dominant. Castration of
male dogs reduces sexually dimorphic
behaviors such as mounting,
roaming, urine marking, and
aggression directed toward other
male dogs (see our handout ‘Neutering'
– canine). Castration
in cats reduces urine odor and
sexually dimorphic behavior
traits such as roaming, fighting,
and urine marking (by about
90%). See our handout ‘Neutering'
– feline.
Where
should I obtain my pet?
Perhaps
the most important reason to
obtain a pet from a breeder
or private home is to observe
the physical characteristics,
health and behavior of the parents.
Choose a breeder who is open
and willing to answer questions,
and who will allow you to tour
the kennel and meet the parents.
When a puppy or kitten is obtained
from a breeder or private home
you are also able to observe
the early environment and assess
the exposure to people that
the pet has had. A personal
relationship with the breeder
may be helpful should later
problems arise. Be certain to
ask your veterinarian to prepare
you with appropriate questions
for the breeder including eye
examinations, hip dysplasia
certification for the parents
and any other health or behavioral
problems to which the breed
may be prone. Dogs or cats acquired
from pet stores, puppy mills,
or shelters, may have received
insufficient early socialization,
are at higher risk for contracting
disease, and the parents cannot
be observed.
How
do I decide which pet to choose?
The
value and effectiveness of performing
assessment tests on young puppies
and kittens is highly debatable
since many behavior and health
problems do not emerge until
the pet matures. Perhaps the
best approach is a simple, common
sense evaluation. Dogs can be
observed and handled to determine
which ones are the most sociable,
playful, or affectionate. Those
with undesirable traits such
as shyness, or uncontrollable
biting may be less suitable.
Different puppy temperament
tests have been detailed in
the literature, but there is
no good available evidence that
they are predictive of future
behavior. What puppy testing
can do is identify problem areas
that may need attention from
an early age. Recent studies
have shown that assessment testing
may become increasingly more
accurate as the dog ages. With
the emergence of the fear period,
the end of the socialization
period, and emerging dominance
hierarchies each month, assessment
testing becomes increasingly
more accurate at predicting
adult behavior. In fact, one
advantage in selecting an adult
pet is that it might be possible
for a trained observer to be
able to accurately assess the
pet's temperament and
personality to determine what
behavior problems might arise.
For
cats, three personality types
have been identified: 1) sociable
2) timid and unfriendly or 3)
active and aggressive. Because
the socialization period for
litters ends earlier than in
dogs, early handling is extremely
important. Kitten assessment
tests can be a valuable tool
in determining the effects of
genetics, socialization and
early handling. If the cat tolerates
handling, lifting and petting
with little or no fear or resistance
it is likely to make a good
family pet. Fearful, timid,
hard to restrain or aggressive
cats should be avoided.
Selection
resources:
- Numerous
internet sites are available
that contain breed facts and
pictures and breed selection
guides. In addition, there
are often breed fancier sites
and breed organizations that
provide more detailed advice
on individual breeds, but
may be somewhat biased in
favor of the breed.
-
Internet sites: (breeds and
pet selection) e.g. waltham.com,
purina.com, ckc.ca, akc.org,
cfainc.org, dogs-in-canada.com
- Ackerman
L. The Genetic Connection.
AAHA Press, Lakewood, CO,
1999
-
American Kennel Club Complete
Dog Book. NY: Howell House,
1997
-
Baer N, Duno S. Choosing a
Dog. Your Guide to Picking
the Perfect Breed, NY, Berkley,
1995
-
Benjamin CL, The Chosen Puppy:
How to Select and Raise a
Puppy from an Arnimal Shelter,
Howell Book House, 1990
-
Caras R. The Roger Caras Dog
Book. M. Evans and Company,
NY, 1996
-
Clark RD, Stainer JR ed. Medical
and Genetic Aspects of Purebred
Dogs. (2nd edition), St. Simons,
GA: Forum Publications, 1994
-
Clark RD. Medical, Genetic,
and Behavioral Aspects of
Purebred Cats. St. Simons,
GA: Forum Publications, 1992
-
Coren S. Why We Love the Dogs
We Do: How to Find the Dog
that Matches Your Personality,
Firefly Books, 2000
- Hart
BL, Hart LA, The Perfect Puppy,
W. H. Freeman and Co., New
York, 1988
-
Kilcommons B, Wilson S. Paws
to Consider. Choosing the
Right Dog for you and your
family, NY, Warner Books,
1999
-
Lowell M, Your Purebred Puppy-A
Buyer's Guide. NY: Henry Holt,
1990
-
Lowell M, Your Purebred Kitten-A
Buyer's Guide. NY. Henry
Holt, 1995
- Tortora
D. The Right Dog for You.
NY: Simon & Schuster,
1983
This client
information sheet is based on
material written by Debra Horwitz,
DVM, DACVB and
Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB.
© Copyright 2002 Lifelearn
Inc. Used with permission under
license. March 11, 2004.
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