| Contact Us | About COMPANIONS FOR LIFE™ | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use |
PUREBREDS
Are You Committed?
As you begin searching either a humane society, animal shelter, or rescue group, or breeder, remember that many dogs there are many dogs returned because the owners never did the necessary research on that particular breed. It seems like more times than not, the new pet owner will wither buy, rescue, or adopt a pure bred dog based on the fact they thought it was "cute". The dog might have even looked like a dog they saw either on TV or in a movie. These are the wrong reasons buy or adopt a specific breed. Please make sure that you do all the necessary research before bringing a dog in your home. There is some great information in the links below, and the information comes from some top breeders. But first please read this page in it's entirety!
TIME
Am I committed to 15 years of loving and caring for this animal?
Remember that this is a lifelong commitment. Your are going to be commiting your life to being responsible for feeding, watering, and caring for this animal. If you have never owned a dog before, your dog will give you everything you give back and so much more!
Do I have the time right now to commit to a dog?
This is a real important question. A great example is I have a lot of friends that work in the Film and TV industry and as much as they love animals, there are so many of them that will not have a dog because of their lifestyle. They are gone for so much of the time, and know that to have a dog at this time would not be fair to the animal.
FAMILY & PETS
Do I have any other pets?
In general, males and females can be more compatible. If you have a female, you might want to think about getting a male. If you have a male you might think about bringing in a female.
Are the pets good with other animals?
Some pets simply do not like other animals. Although this is something that does not happen a lot, I have seen this on some occasions.
Do I have kids that are a little too young for a new dog?
If you have a few toddlers right now and you feel your "hands are a little full", my suggestion is to wait until your kids are a little older and you have more time. Remember, a new dog is going to take time.
Is my family ready for a dog?
Again, make sure that eveyone is ready for a new dog. If you are in a situation where you have just moved into a new home, just wait until you are all situated and in place before bringing a dog in the house.You want to avoid as much commotion as possible.
Is my home ready for a dog?
Take the opportunity to make sure that your home is ready for a dog. This means making sure that the backyard has a lock on it, and the yard is totally safe and secure. Make sure that if you do have slats in your fence, that there are no slats missing in the sections of the fence. As you are checking the slats, check for nails that might be sticking out too. Check the inside of your hosue too. You mayeven want to "childproof" some of the lower cupboard doors in areas the dog can get to.
PERSONALITY
What type of personality do I have?
This might not matter to you, but with some people they might be younger and a little more athletic and outgoing. So they might be looking for a dog that is athletic too.
Do I want a high strung dog?
Again, if you are a person that is high strung and very outgoing, you might be looking for that same type of dog. Certain breeds are more high strung than others.
Do I want a dog that is laid back?
If you are a person that is mellow or even older and looking for a dog, you might be looking for more of a quiet companion. Even a shy or reserved dog might do great for you! Certain breeds are more quiet and laid back.
The following information was supplied by either a breeder, professional dog trainer, or someone that was competent who could give you the best information about specific breeds. These are people who I have worked with during my career. In most cases, I have trained their dogs for commercials or print ads. They have each written a few sentences about important things they thought you should know about the breeds that they know best. To make it fun and interesting, I have included the name of the commercial or ad, and the year it was shot.
Just click on the size of breed:
 |