Williams: Finding your dog

Every now and then something shocking happens to me.

I get a call from a prospective new puppy parent before he or she has even gotten the puppy. And occasionally I get a call from someone who asks my advice before they've even decided on a breed or type of dog. As a dog trainer and behavior consultant, more often than not I'm tasked with the challenge of helping people fix, or rather, manage their dog problems.

Usually I am presented with a dog that has been exhibiting problematic behaviors for quite some time, and then a catalyst of some sort, such as the dog attacking a person or another dog, soiling brand new carpet, destroying some other prized possession, or an unexpected citation from animal control for nuisance barking, occurs.

When this happens, the client is nearing desperation, and though the issues didn't occur overnight, there are expectations of eradicating then immediately. So when I get a call from people who are seeking to prevent problems before they ever occur, I am overjoyed.

With President and Mrs. Obama about to bring a new Portuguese Water Dog home in April, there undoubtedly will be others adding one to their household as well. Porties can be great dogs, but like all breeds, they may not be for everyone. According to American Kennel Club registration statistics, the Portuguese Water Dog was ranked number 62 out of 156 breeds in 2008. I fully expect and fear their popularity will greatly increase in 2009. While it's exciting to see people learn about new breeds, the type of dog you choose should never be driven by a fad or desire to follow a status quo. However, there are some very important factors that should be considered beforehand.

1) Size Many people do favor dogs of one size or another. Some of the things to ask ourselves are, what kind of living quarters do I have? Is there enough room for a large dog? Do you have a large fenced in yard, or would you need to walk your dog on leash? Larger dogs will need more space to maneuver around than smaller ones. Larger dogs will likely eat more as well, and will need larger collars, larger crates, larger everything. And just like sneakers, the larger sizes tend to cost a little more too.

2) Coat Type All dogs need basic grooming such as bathing, teeth brushing, ear cleaning, and nail clipping, but depending on the type of coat your dog has, more grooming may be needed. Long haired and some wiry coated breeds will need periodic clipping to tidy the coat, and often this will require the services of a professional groomer. That means added financial expense. On the other hand, while shorter, smooth coated breeds are generally lower maintenance, they are often major shedders, which will require more cleaning and vacuuming of your living space.

3) Activity Level I like to remind people that dogs were bred for very specific reasons, most often to assist man in some type of hunting, herding or guarding work. The toy breeds were the only dogs bred specifically for companionship and to be lap dogs, however that said, even toy breeds have terriers and hunting breeds in their backgrounds. Every dog can benefit from daily exercise, however each dog will have specific exercise needs based on heredity. While a casual walk around the block might be fine for your Bulldog or Pekingnese, it's just not going to cut it for your Labrador Retriever or English Springer Spaniel. If you're looking for a dog to go hiking with or participate in sporting events like agility and flyball, a Basset Hound or Mastiff might not be a good choice. By the same token, if your picture of the perfect dog is one that lays peacefully and quietly by the fireplace, a Jack Russell or Border Collie might not fit the bill.

4) Temperament In addition to physical differences, different breeds of dogs also have varying temperaments and personalities. Some breeds like Boston Terriers and Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers are happy-go-lucky and never know a stranger, while others like Chow Chows and Shiba Inus are aloof, one-person dogs. Some breeds like Bull Terriers and Coonhounds are strong-willed (sometimes confused with being stubborn) and resistant to change, while others like Australian Shepherds and Papillons are eager and happy workers. If your goal is to have a dog that enthusiastically greets every customer who comes into your office, you might want to steer clear of a Japanese Chin. Your dog is going to be your roommate for a long time, so whatever qualities you desire in a cohabitor, you should seek in your dog as well.

5) Gender Since there really are no major temperament differences between the genders within a specific breed, gender preferences are usually based on personal experience. For instance, I personally happen to prefer male dogs to females. I've found that I've been able to form a stronger, closer bond with my male dogs, and that has served us well in the performance events and therapy dog work we do. However, I have friends and colleagues who feel the exact opposite. The great equalizer is to have your dog spayed or neutered, and then gender differences all but disappear entirely.

Dogs are not seasonal or one size fits all creatures. They shouldn't be viewed like a pair of shoes or purse that can be changed with every outfit.

They are a life long commitment, and if you're lucky, that will last for at least 10-15+ years. That's longer than it takes to earn a college degree or become a doctor or lawyer, so the decision should not be taken lightly.

Remember you can easily return the shoes or purse you don't want, or even throw them away and just buy another pair. However, dogs are not disposable. They are living, breathing and loving creatures who depend on us to make the right decision and choose wisely.

Laurie Williams is a Stafford business owner who appeared on the TV show “Greatest American Dog” with her dog, Andrew. Reach her at onesmartpooch@aol.com.