Choosing the right dog Breed for My household

I’m excited to add one more dog to our household in 2021! I’ve been carefully selecting the right dog breed for us (over analyzing, for sure).

I’m composing this to:

Show exactly how important it is to carefully select any type of dog or puppy
Process my option (writing assists me do so)
Document my life with dogs

Choosing the right dog breed for us

In the last 3 months, I have spoken by email or phone with 9 different breeders, 3 shelters as well as 1 rescue group.

I’ve filled out their questionnaires, asked many of my own questions, weighed the pros & cons of each option, complied with them on Instagram as well as emailed past puppy buyers.

Talking with each one has been a positive experience.

After great deals as well as great deals of thinking, I decided I want a field-bred Labrador from a great breeder.

I truly enjoy working with breeders who like as well as support their breed as well as focus on:

temperament
Gezondheid
and the dogs’ capabilities to thrive doing their work.

I expect a great deal from my dogs.

I push them physically as we train for path marathons. We work difficult in agility. as well as now that I online in Montana (vs. San Diego), I plan to train my dogs for hunting.

I am excited about all of these training adventures. My heart is full when I’m working with my dogs. I like discovering together with them as well as watching what they can do.

The right dog breed is different for everyone

Choosing the right dog breed has been extremely difficult for me. I’ll only get to have so many dogs in my life; I want to select them wisely.

To be honest, I’m worried I’ll be tired with a Lab. They’re just so normal as well as everybody has one – for great reason, they’re nice dogs!

On the plus side, Labs are generally calmer as well as much easier to train than a weimaraner, my present dog. (Although “calm” is all relative. What’s “calm” for me may be “hyper” for somebody else)

Knowing what I want in a dog

Here’s what I’m looking for in my “perfect” dog. Of program there is no such thing as this imaginary perfect dog.

Long distance path running buddy. 3-4 miles most days as well as 10+ miles on some weekends. (once age appropriate)
Friendly with dogs, kids, cats as well as strangers.
Able to train for agility for fun as well as light competition.
Has an “off switch” in the home while I’m working, presuming I’ve done my part to provide exercise & training.
Calm at breweries, patios as well as during travel (with training).
Sticks close when hiking & running off leash (with training).
Able to train for hunting as a pastime as well as perhaps search tests.

And … it’s not all about ME. I likewise requirement to make sure that I’m providing the very best house for whatever type of dog I choose. I do feel I can provide a great house for any type of of the sporting breeds.

So … why not one more weimaraner?

You may wonder, why is she thinking about a lab vs. a higher-energy athlete like one more weimaraner?

It’s a tough option for me. however what it comes down to is I like my high-energy endurance athlete, Remy. however I don’t necessarily requirement two extremely high-energy dogs right now. (Perhaps at some point!) I definitely have vizslas, German shorthairs as well as Brittanys on my brain … however perhaps for the future.

Plus, Labs are athletic too

The lab breeder I’m working with breeds dogs for hunting. She tells me all of her dogs are extremely athletic as well as will make great running partners, even as much as 10 miles.

These Labs are calm in the home however have an intense working drive around birds as well as guns. They are clearly strong as well as quick in the field, extremely in shape as well as muscular. I will not have a fat Lab, I promise you that!

Still, I’m not persuaded I will be able to take a lab on 10-mile runs. I truly hope so, however it depends upon the dog. Either way, I’ll still have Remy for long-distance running.

Other benefits of the Labrador dog breed

Labs are (generally) simple to train. I view Labs as athletic dogs who do not necessarily requirement constant “busyness” like my weim.

I feel Labs are a great breed for my very first genuine gun dog as well as hunting companion. I am extremely excited to begin training a retriever for hunting.

My weimaraner Remy has prospective to be a hunting dog too, as well as I have just started to work with him with our regional NAVHDA group. however I am likewise thinking about training a hunting dog from the extremely beginning. It is a new experience for me.

Choosing the right dog breeD voor koud weer

Labs hebben een dikke vacht om ze te beschermen tegen de lange, harde winters van Montana. De enige maanden hadden we geen sneeuw in 2019 waren juli en augustus!

De jas van een lab beschermt haar eveneens tegen de zomerwarmte. We online bij 5.000 voet verhoging, dus de zon kan hier ook intens zijn. Om deze reden, evenals sinds alle hardlopen, gaan we met een geel lab versus chocolade of zwart.

En Labs zijn verre van perfect!

Een raszuivere Labrador Retriever kan veel dingen zijn … lage energie en zachte … overdreven opgewonden over speelgoed of stokken.

Ze zijn zowel sterk als de neiging om op mensen te springen, moeilijk aan de leiband te trekken, gaan neerstorten na een bal. Mijn lab mix ace klopte me een keer plat op mijn rug na een bal. Hij merkte het niet eens dat hij me sloeg! (Ik huilde.)

Labs werpen veel (zoals, veel) en zijn vatbaar voor gewrichtsproblemen. Ze zijn traag om psychologisch te rijpen, evenals jonge laboratoria worden helaas “hyper” door veel mensen geïdentificeerd. Dit label is correct.

Sommige laboratoria zijn net zo noten als een weim of een vizsla.

Maar elke hond is een persoon. Ik heb hier hierover over gecomponeerd.

Goede fokkers en genetica kunnen alleen zoveel doen.

Als hondenbezitters, is het net zoveel als wij om het allerbeste te doen met training, socialisatie, oefening, het ontdekken van de allerbeste dierenarts. Gezond voedsel voeden. WISE-opties maken om te spagen en castreren.

En natuurlijk, het nemen van de tijd om de juiste hond of puppy te selecteren voor onze huidige situatie. We hebben geluk dat we zoveel opties hebben.

Ik ben opgewonden voor onze volgende puppy. Ik kan niet wachten om haar tevreden te stellen! Het zal waarschijnlijk meer dan een jaar voordat onze puppy zelfs geboren is. Geweldige fokkers hebben vaak wachtvermeldingen van een aantal maanden of zelfs een jaar. Wanneer alles is bevestigd, houd ik je op de hoogte.

Remy zal zo opgewonden zijn om nog een hond rond te hebben. Hij houdt absoluut van andere honden, evenals hij deelden ons huis zo goed met zijn broer of zus raaf in januari.

Terwijl prachtige raaf niet de juiste hond voor ons was, assisteerde ze me precies hoe grote remy met een buddy is. Zowel als precies hoe al mijn tijd door besteedt hem (uren en uren) echt is afbetaald.

Believe it or not, Remy will really be a great function model! (Now that’s a frightening thought! Haha.)

I can’t wait on 2021!

If you’re willing, please share about the decision making (or lack thereof) when you selected your dog.

Let me understand in the comments! say thanks to you!

Lindsay (and Remy)

Gerelateerde berichten:

What great breeders as well as great rescues have in common
Reasons to buy a puppy from a breeder
How to piss off a Labrador owner
Best dog breeds for farms
How to select a puppy (Puppy in training blog)