You can not choose a breed only because you like his physical aspect, the color or the length of his fur, or because one of your uncles had one that was so nice and gentle, that one would say it was nearly human. You can't choose a breed while thumbing through a book or looking at photos. Imagine choosing your spouse the same way, results would probably be similar. Don't trust dog stars you see on television. The wave of demand for these stars has disappointed a lot of people. When you think of the famous Milou, Bethoven, Rin tin tin, Lassie and others. The latest fade, the famous Dalmatians popularized by the Walt Disney movie
To choose the right breed requires research. We are first attracted by the appearance of a breed, as we are by a person.. As with people, common interests very often begin a healthy, friendly relationship. Before making your choice, examine your own lifestyle, your interests, your tastes, what you like or don't like in a dog, etc. These are the basics to guide your selection. Love at first sight is often short-lived, whereas relationships established on a strong basis are long lasting.
Here are some questions of interest to which you must answer before making your choice. They are a guide permitting you to keep to a minimum the number of breeds among which you should choose :
If you are a sportsman and that you want to do your daily jogging with your dog, opt for a sporty breed. You are a stay-at-home kind of person, then a calmer breed would suit you better. You travel a lot and want to take your dog with you, the size should guide you. You want a dog maybe with guard aptitudes, that would warn you if a stranger was approaching. Well, if you have a commerce at home or if you have people coming and going at your home, don't expect the dog to know the difference between friend or intruder. You want a hunter, orient your choice that way. Here again, what will guide you will be your good sense.
If you are looking for a dog who will spend his life outside without much ceremony or attention, please plant a tree. All breeders will tell you that dogs should be an integral part of your family. In this way, you will avoid behavioral problems. Anyway, the conscientious breeder, will refuse to sell you puppies if this is your intention.
The place you live, either a small apartment or in a house will definitely influence your choice . More important will be the space that you will make available to walk and run your dog. Also important will be the space that you will want to allow him in your house. If you are ready to share, a 21/2 with a Great Dane that decision is yours, as long as you give him the exercise he needs to make up for the small space in the apartment.
Remember, however, that you will not only have to put the dog outside to get his own exercise, but you must take him out yourself for his daily walks. Do not let yourself be influenced by the beauty of a tiny puppy, think about what size he will be as an adult !
Small breeds, rather shy, so-called " toy " dogs are recommended only for children having reached a certain maturity. These breeds are disturbed by the terseness and the lack of a young child's tact. It will influence their behavior, can provoke undesired reactions.
Evidently, everybody would want a breed of dog that doesn't lose his hair. With the exception of certain breeds of dogs that have hair referred to as woolen, that is to say that it grows constantly, all dogs are going to lose hair. Breeds whose hair grows constantly, on the other hand, necessitate a much more complex maintenance. You must brush the fur regularly to avoid snarls and knots. With these breeds you must make sure that the fleece is always trimmed and shaped. Some of these breeds having a definite cut patron, look very sweet, however, it may require the services of a professional groomer several times a year. The inherent costs for these services are to be considered.Most of the other breeds, especially short haired breeds, are going to lose their hair normally twice a year, during the spring and autumn molts. Nevertheless during the year they will lose some hair. Still other breeds will lose hair regularly and it can become disturbing to you. It is generally breeds with long and thick hair, they will require much more brushing. Then unless you are indeed indifferent to the vacuum cleaner and the brush, you should find out which breed has what type of fur.
The question that you will probably put to a breeder is : Is this a good breed for children? When you should be asking yourself: How will my children be with the dog ? You should pay as much attention to the education of your children towards the dog, as the education of your dog towards your children. A young dog that is well trained, will take his rank within the family (he should naturally be behind the children). He will then learn tolerance more easily, will accept to see his bowl of food removed from under his nose, etc. etc,
Some breeds are recognized as being better than others with children. Well here again there is no general rule, you should avoid the breeds recognized for their possessive temperament. The breeds either nervous or impatient, even some breeds of small dogs that look like trinkets can be impatient.
Contrary to popular myths, dogs and cats do, most of the time, get along. With good training, the dog eventually comes to consider the cat as part of the decor and ignores him almost completely.. However if your young child has a preference for a small rodent, such as a guinea pig that runs free in the house, you should reconsider your choice of breed if you opted for a terrier. Some terriers were developed especially to hunt rodents. So, whatever your choice, keep to it, but ask about its compatibility to competent people before getting an unwelcome surprise.
Although there is nothing impossible with good training, the fact of having experience in the domain will certainly facilitate your task with certain types. There are some obvious differences between the various breeds, even different types in a same breed, on the level of affinities in the training. Some breeds learn more quickly than others, some have a character more or less dominate, etc. The effort and time that you will have to dedicate to the training of your puppy will be in function of your choice of breed and individual. The rule of the three P's applies here to overcome most problems: PATIENCE - PERSERVERENCE - PRACTICE.....
Have you had a dog and disliked some of its characteristics? Does a friend or a relative have a dog that has bad habits that you really hate? Are there essential things that your dog must or must not have. Now is the time to ask yourself these questions. This will permit you to avoid many problems, either in selecting the right breed, or in learning to educate your animal appropriately.
The fact of already having a dog might influence your choice. Indeed, the 2 individuals should learn to cohabitate. Some breeds are very dominant and territorial, risking conformations sooner or later at the time of establishing the hierarchy. Some breeds are, on the other hand more tolerant. Again, every individual has a different character, you will need to evaluate all possibilities. Socialization and obedience are probably the two essential points in this case.
In general, males are bigger than females of the same breed. According to certain authors, they would also be more outgoing. Others think that females are more loving, more affectionate with children and stay more attached to the home. Whichever, remember that every animal has its own temperament. In order to avoid a lot of problems, an animal not intended for reproduction or conformation competitions should be sterilized. You will avoid the small mess that is caused by the cycle of female reproduction organs at least twice a year, dirtying the house and carpet during 2 to 3 weeks each time.
For males, problems are something else. A male not sterilized will have the tendency (per instinct) to head invariably toward all females in heat. It causes wandering, running away, etc. Can you see yourself becoming the person responsible for undesired births in the neighborhood? When one knows that a male can smell females in heat up to a distance of one kilometer, it is something to think about. With a male not sterilized, you will have to put up with the problems of unceasing marking of its territory. Of course, you will have to educate him so that he doesn't mark his territory in the house but .....Since it is proven, that the sterilization doesn't affect the development of the animal (not physically nor psychologically), why not take advantage of sterilization.
We already know that each animal has its own character. However, the advantage of the pure breed, is its predictability. Pure breed puppies are born with a more stationary gene stock and one can have a good idea of what that will be as an adult. Mixed breeds on the other hand are a surprise package and it is difficult to foresee what it will be like. It is generally acknowledged that in any given pure breed, one can foresee with more certainty what will be the temperament of the adult animal. It avoids a good deal of disappointments. One is also able to foresee what this cute puppy will look like (weight, type, color, etc.) once an adult. These advantages are unavailable with a mixed breed. You commit yourself toward the unknown even more if you haven't seen the parents. Will the dog take after the mom or the dad for its character, size, etc. Do you want to take this risk? The logical choice is: a pure breed puppy.
Several people not interested in doing competitions will require of the breeder a quality of show for their animal, thinking thus to have a better subject. 
Therefore, in Canada, by the law, all dogs sold as pure blood must inevitably be recorded at the Canadian Canine Club. It is also illegal for a breeder who sells a puppy as being pure blood to ask for a higher price because he is registered if the puppy comes from a registered litter. It is also the breeder's responsibility and not the buyer's to do the registration and to provide a certificate without additional expenses. Before a dog is recorded, there is a formality to fill, he must be identified. The 2 recognized methods for this is to put a microchip (implants or numeric fleas) and the tattoo. This formality is also the breeder's responsibility and it must be done by him without additional expense to the buyer.
You ask, why a registered dog, since you want neither to reproduce nor to do competition ? The advantages are numerous, you will have all the exact information known about your animal, date of birth, parents, color, name and address of the breeder etc. Besides, you will be assured that this animal is truly a pure breed and is a recognized breed in Canada. If you
lose or have your dog stolen, the permanent identification will permit you to either recover it or to identify it positively. If you decide at a later date, for any reason, to enter him in obedience or conformation competitions, you need this identification. It is also valid for the other disciplines offered by the such CKC, such as: (field trial) tracking, herding, lure shopping, flyball and sledding). If these activities came to interest you, impossible without the registration papers.
