So you are thinking of getting a new dog or puppy?

The pro's and con's to getting a puppy vs. an adult dog:

The good about adopting an adult dog is that you can have their behavior assessed and as an adult their personalities are usually settled. You can often find an adult dog that is already potty trained and sometimes they even know basic obedience. However, some adopted adult dogs come with baggage. They may not have had a good home or may have unstable personalities. Keep in mind that most dogs are surrendered to the shelter because of behavior problems and those problems may not be so apparent initially. If your willing to put in a little work you can often find a diamond in the ruff.

Adopting a dog or puppy can be a very rewarding experience, but it is one that requires extensive research. The best part about adopting is that you are saving a life and making right someone else's wrong. There are so many dogs in rescue you can usually find what you are looking for if you have a little bit of patience. I can't emphasize how important it is to do your research. Even though you might be adopting a mix breed dog they will still carry behavior characteristics of the breeds they are composed of. The other thing to consider is that the background of the dogs are rarely known and sometimes not portrayed accurately. Also, I find that shelter dogs are often assigned to the wrong breed or they will list a dog as a lab mix when it is a pitbull mix.

How to get started:

The very first thing you need to do when deciding to get a new dog!

You must do breed research. Many dog breeds have been bred to do certain jobs, which gives them certain behavioral attributes. For example German Shorthair Pointers where bred to point and flush birds, while the most terriers where bred to kill rodents.

The next thing you need to do is decide what behavior attributes your are seeking in your new dog?

Are you a couch potato, a long distance runner, or a fair weather walker? Do you mind barking or digging? Do you need to have a dog that is reliable off-leash? Do you mind shedding? Do you want a dog that is good with kids?

These are all questions that you need to explore. I often feel that some behavior problems that people complain about are often breed characteristics. For example the client who wanted a small quite dog and got a terrier. Terriers are know for their loud mouths. Or the family that wanted a big mellow dog and they adopted a Labrador that needed at least 2 hours of running a day. Sadly many of these dogs end up at the shelter.

The third thing you can do is consider enlisting the help a of a qualified trainer or behaviorist.

Many dog trainers and animal behaviorists offer counseling sessions to help guide you to a dog breed that will match your personality. Often they will go with you to the shelter or breeder to assess the dogs temperaments. Even puppies can be assessed. It is good to take a professional with you since they can often size up whether the breeder is reputable and if they are raising the puppies in a positive way.

Interested in having one of our trainers help guide you to the dog of your dreams?

We offer counseling session to help you find the perfect dog!

Sessions are one hour and cost $30.

We also offer evaluations of dogs and puppies you may be interested in adopting or buying.

Evaluations are $20 and last about 20-30 minutes. Travel charges apply outside the Pullman-Moscow area. Evaluations will assess if the dog has any major behavior issues and will also give you an idea of the requirements that a certain dog may have, such as exercise, grooming and health care. For puppies we can often give you a good idea whether they will be dominant, submissive or fearful. We prefer for puppies that the parents are on site.

Please call 509-595-1002 to schedule an appointment.