This article is entitled...

The Personal Dog - Part II

by Tam Cordingley

Now that we know what a personal dog is, let's decide on a breed.

The first step is to honestly assess your lifestyle. Are you quiet or active, do you like to groom, do you mind shedding dogs, do you like the feel of long silky hair or a hard terrier coat?

Next decide what your idea of a companion is. Do you want a dog on your lap, in the car, and in your bed? If so, size is a consideration. Are you physically strong? Are you mentally mild or aggressive?

Now go to the library if you don't have a good dog book in your personal library. Or quicker and easier, go to All Breeds Gallery right here at TheDogPlace. Go through the photos, make a list of those that appeal to you esthetically. From that list go back through and rule out those of unsuitable size. Now your list is shorter. Go back to the list again and sort by coat type and preference. Now, back to the list again, hopefully it is much shorter by this time, and sort by original purpose of the breed.

Dogs tend to be what the breed was bred to do, this does not mean there are not exceptions, but simply that most malamutes will pull, most terriers will kill rats, most retrievers will carry things in their mouths.

The process for me was as follows. I am slightly past middle age, sort of smallish, and don't like to roughhouse. It has been my experience that dark dogs, like Border terriers, become invisible in the dark while white dogs are visible. Therefore they won't get stepped on.

I like short-haired or wire haired dogs, no Poms, Shelties, or Collies. The size I prefer is medium small. I prefer normal length legs. Now we have Beagles, Basenjis, Wire and Smooth Fox terriers, Bostons, Pugs, MinPins, Border terriers. I live in a hot climate and don't like air conditioning, so a smashed face dog wouldn't be the best choice. Cross off Bostons and Pugs. It would be better if the dog was either white or had white markings, off my list go Borders and MinPins. Now we are down to Wires, Smooths, Basenjis, and Beagles. I live on a farm and like the dog to be able to go with me off lead. Off go Beagles and Basenjis which are apt to go off hunting on their own. Now back to my original loves, Wires and Smooths. Wires get things caught in their furnishings so the final choice is a Smooth.

This choice made, I now have two lovely Smooth house dogs, in addition to the old dogs who also share the house, and am well pleased with the choice.