Select your new dog with your lifestyle and living situation in mind. In addition to your new family member's personality, consider its temperament, size, and coat as well. Some breeds have traits that may be objectionable in certain circumstances, such as hyper excitability or a tendency to bark. Your veterinarian is a valuable resource and should be consulted before you acquire a pet of any kind.
Breed Selection
There are two types of dogs--purebred and mixed breed. The 124 recognized breeds are grouped into seven categories: hound, working, terrier, toy, sporting, non-sporting, and herding. There are thousands of mixed-breed combinations. Each purebred or mixed-breed dog has a unique personality. Dogs originally bred for a specific purpose tend to retain these characteristics. These dogs may require additional training and patience. Selecting a specific breed does not guarantee a particular behavior, but choosing offspring from animals with desirable temperaments does increase one's chances of getting the best pet. Mixed breeds can be as beautiful, intelligent, loving, and companionable as purebreds.Veterinarians, breed-specific books (usually available at libraries and pet stores), and dog shows are excellent sources of information about individual breed characteristics and needs.
Friend or Protector?
Most dogs, even tiny ones, bark when strangers approach their home or yard. This bark is usually enough to deter intruders. A pet should not be trained as an attack dog. Attack-trained dogs require special handling and knowledge to prevent accidental injury to people, including members of your own family.
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April Newsletter: The Benefits of Equine Therapy
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Therapy might offer the ideal solution for your horse's pain.
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March Newsletter: How Your Veterinarian Can Treat Corns in Horses
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Wondering what you can do about your horse's painful corns? Your equine veterinarian can help.
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February Newsletter: When Should Horses Be Vaccinated?
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Do you know when you need to vaccinate your horse?
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January Newsletter: How Often Should Horses Have Wellness Exams?
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Wondering how often your horse needs a wellness exam?
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December Newsletter: The Importance of Eye Exams for Horses
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Does your horse need an eye exam?
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November Newsletter: What are the Advantages for Clicker Training Horses?
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Thinking about clicker training your horse? Take a look at the benefits
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October Newsletter: How a Coggins Test Can Detect Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)
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Concerned about equine infectious anemia? A Coggins Test can help you ensure your horse is healthy.
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September Newsletter: The Importance of Parasite Control for Horses
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Need a little help protecting your horse from parasites?
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August Newsletter: The Importance of Wellness Exams for Senior Horses
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Wondering if your senior horse should have a wellness exam?
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July Newsletter: What Causes Nerve Damage in Horses?
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Wondering why your horse has nerve damage?
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June Newsletter: How Often Should You Groom Your Horse?
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Wondering when you should groom your horse?
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May Newsletter: Does Your Horse Have Arthritis?
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Are you worried that your horse may have arthritis?
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April Newsletter: The Importance of Shoes for Your Horse
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Could shoes help your horse?
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March Newsletter: The Facts about Foal Nutrition
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Do you know how to meet your foal's nutritional needs?
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February Newsletter: What Safe Changes You Can Make To Your Horse's Feed
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Do you need to switch your horse's diet?
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January Newsletter: Keep Your Horse Safe from Worsening Tendon and Ligament Injuries
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Worried that your horse's tendon or ligament injury may get worse?
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