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Choosing the right pet – dogs and cats
Pets can be a wonderful part of family life. However, it is very important to learn all you can about a particular species or breed prior to bringing it home. All pets have special needs. Many behavior and health problems can be prevented by seeking guidance from your veterinarian before obtaining a new pet and learning all you can about the needs of the animal you are considering. This kind of consultation will help you choose the best pet for your lifestyle, and will also help you prepare in advance for the new arrival. To find the right match for your family, it is important to think carefully about 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. Dr. Burt and Dr. Mears can advise you about the best way to prepare your home for the new pet, including housing, bedding, feeding, training, exercise, scheduling and health care requirements.
What breed is best for my family?
The first decision is whether to obtain a purebred or a mixed breed. There are many benefits to mixed breed pets; some of the genetic problems associated with purebreds can be avoided, and the initial cost of the pet will be much lower. However, the best way to predict the behavioral and physical attributes of an adult dog or cat is to obtain a pet with known parentage. This is particularly important when selecting a puppy or kitten. Unless the parents are known it is difficult to predict the size, health, or behavior that is likely to emerge as the pet grows up. In contrast, selecting an adult pet allows assessment of the physical characteristics, health and behavior of the animal.
If you choose a purebred dog or cat, it should be a breed whose physical and behavioral characteristics suit your family. Avoid the temptation to bring home that adorable puppy or kitten without thinking carefully about your ability to meet its needs. For example, if you are a "couch potato" or a person who spends long hours at work, an active large breed dog will not fit in well with your lifestyle. Remember, a frustrated pet whose needs are not being met can easily become a pet with health and behavior problems. With so many different breeds and personality types available, it makes sense to choose a pet carefully. We recommend that you select a few breeds that appeal to you in physical appearance (including coat type, size and shape), then spend time learning about the unique temperament, traits, and activity level expected with that type of dog. You should also think about the lifespan you hope for in your pet, since giant breeds of dogs live considerably shorter lives than smaller breeds (and “indoor” cats can be expected to live much longer than “outdoor” cats). You may wish to check out our Links page for information about individual breeds, and to see our Recommended Reading to learn more about training and caring for different kinds of pets.
Before the pet selection consultation with our veterinarians, it can be very helpful to visit dog shows to observe the appearance of the adult dog of each breed. Do as much reading as you can. 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 shelter, breed rescue organization, breeder, or litter. Internet searches can be helpful, but we aware that breed fanciers tend to see their breeds in very positive terms/may not stress the problems that can be associated with their breeds. 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.
What age should the pet be?
Puppies
Between the ages of 3 to 12 weeks of age, a critical period of puppy socialization takes place. For the first seven to eight weeks, the primary socialization should be directed to other puppies and littermates to aid a puppy in developing 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 approximately 8-10 weeks of age. This allows a puppy adequate time to bond to its new family before its primary socialization period ends. Our clinic occasionally has puppies or young dogs available for adoption.
Kittens
Similarly, kittens go through their most receptive period for socialization between 3 to 9 weeks of age. New owners should ensure that a kitten has had adequate human contact prior to 7 weeks of age. At the same time, you should not obtain a kitten much earlier than 7 weeks since this deprives it of the social contact with its mother and littermates which is necessary for your kitten to grow into a happy, well-adjusted adult cat. Our clinic occasionally has kittens available for adoption.
Adult Dogs and Cats
Acquiring a dog or cat as an adult 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. Alternatively, adult pets that have had training and/or positive socialization with humans in the past can become wonderful pets for your family. There are many appropriate adult cats and dogs (both purebreds and mixed breeds) available at animal shelters and breed rescue organizations. Our clinic also occasionally has adult pets available for adoption. Again, the key is choosing a pet whose temperament and needs suit your family. Spend time with the animal, and think realistically about your ability to make a lifetime commitment to it. The right pet is worth waiting for.
A word about senior dogs and cats:
These “senior citizens” can be a good fit for quiet households and those who would appreciate a loving, lower-energy pet. Although senior dogs and cats may have special health concerns (such as arthritis), they can be a wonderful match for the right family. Even better, when you adopt a senior dog or cat, you may well be saving it from an early death, since many shelters have only limited facilities for senior pets. If you are considering adopting an older pet, our veterinarians can help you assess its health status and understand its special needs.
Should I choose a male or female pet?
There are several issues to consider here. In dogs and cats, males tend to be slightly larger than females of the same breed and may be somewhat more dominant/aggressive. However, neutering of male dogs reduces troublesome behaviors such as mounting, roaming, urine marking, and aggression directed toward other male dogs (you may wish to see our Canine Neutering page). Similarly, neutering male cats reduces urine odor and male behavior traits such as roaming, fighting, and urine marking by about 90% (you may wish to see our Feline Neutering page). Female pets should also be spayed in order to prevent unwanted pups or kittens and to protect your pet against a variety of health problems. Your choice of a male or female pet may also depend upon other pets already in the home.
Where to find your pet
The most important reason to obtain a pet from a reputable breeder or private home is the opportunity you have to observe the physical characteristics, health and behavior of the parents. Choose a breeder who is open and willing to answer questions, who will disclose the health history of the parents, 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 in learning about your pet’s breed, working through training issues, or dealing with any problems that may arise in the future. 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. And don’t be surprised if a breeder wants to interview you prior to selling you a puppy or kitten—most reputable breeders have only a small number of puppies or kittens to find homes for each year, and they often care very much about insuring that puppies or kittens are placed in loving, permanent homes.
In general, the worst place to purchase a pet dog or cat is a pet store. Most pet stores rely upon “impulse buying” of puppies and kittens to make a profit, rather than offering consistently healthy, happy, and temperamentally sound animals. Dogs or cats purchased from pet stores often come from so-called “puppy/kitten mills”, where their parents may have been kept in cruel and unsanitary conditions. Pups or kittens born in these “mills” are often separated from their parents far too early (often as early as 3-4 weeks), resulting in many health problems and emotional/behavioral problems. Pet store puppies and kittens are often far more expensive than those available from reputable breeders, even thought they may not have received sufficient early socialization, are at higher risk for contracting disease, and their parents cannot be observed for health and temperament.
Our clinic occasionally has nice adult pets available for adoption.
How should I decide which pet to choose?
Puppies and Dogs
Much has been written about assessment tests for young puppies and kittens. The accuracy and value of these tests is debatable since many behavior and health problems do not emerge until the pet matures. The best approach is a simple, common sense evaluation. Observe, interact with, and handle puppies and dogs to determine which ones are the most sociable, playful, or affectionate. Those with traits such as shyness or uncontrollable biting may be more likely to have behavior problems as adults. Different puppy temperament tests have been detailed in the literature, but there is no good available evidence that they are actually predictive of future behavior. However, puppy testing can identify problem areas that may need attention from an early age, helping you to raise and train a well-adjusted and happy pet.
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, assessment testing becomes increasingly more accurate at predicting adult behavior. In fact, one advantage in selecting an adult pet is that it may be possible for a trained observer to accurately assess the pet’s temperament and personality to determine what behavior problems might arise. If you need assistance in evaluating a pet’s temperament, you can schedule a consultation with our veterinarians, or ask a knowledgeable friend or trainer to help you make a good choice.
Kittens and Cats
In cats, three basic personality types have been
identified:
1) sociable
2) timid and
unfriendly
3) active and
aggressive.
Because the socialization period for kittens ends earlier than in puppies, early handling by humans 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 kittens and cats are less likely to become affectionate pets.
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