This is the first article in the series about educating yourself about DOG OWNERSHIP

Matching Your Dog’s Personality To You, Your Family And Your Lifestyle

Get The Right Doggie Breed That “FITS” With Who You Are.

Part 1 – Introduction

This guide is here to help answer some common questions asked by new pet owners. It will also assist prospective pet (dog) owners in better understanding and communicating with any dog they bring into their home by giving them a grounding in just what breed of dog they are best matched to. Of course, it won’t narrow you down to just one breed, but you will probably learn that you should be looking for a Doberman rather than a Labrador, (for example). It is all about matching your personality and (to a lesser extent) your lifestyle with the best breed of dog that suits.

My own dog ownership is a prime example of what I am trying to achieve for you, the reader. I have a “sight hound” breed. My wife and I have owned sight hounds all our married lives, and with a few other breeds mixed in. I’m talking 40+ years. (You can read our story here). The temperament of a sight hound is “not for everyone”. Some people describe them as cat dogs. A very short explanation is that they aren’t particularly friendly with every single human they meet, like for example a Labrador or a Staffie, (Staffordshire Bull Terrier), who are “in your face” friendly. Salukis affection to people they initially don’t know, grows with each occasion that they meet them. If they don’t get socialised by being exposed to the World and other people and dogs they can become quite aloof and shy. It’s not that they are in any way nasty, they just don’t particularly “love everybody” at first sight, they don’t “insist” on being friends with everyone they meet like many other breeds.

Of course there are breeds that are not in the sight hound group with similar characteristics. They may feel like being friendly on the day, but they might just as often ignore any approach by someone wanting to be friends. You also need to know that you DO NOT discipline or train a sight hound or a breed with similar characteristics the same way you would those other breeds. For one thing, they are an ancient lineage that were bred to think for themselves. They weren’t bred to obey every single demand from a human; they are not “slaves” to human commands. So I don’t expect absolute obedience to every command or directive I give my dog …. and that’s the way I like it. I know they are super intelligent and I know that obedience to a human “pack leader” does not define dog intelligence.   I could go on for several paragraphs but you get the picture. (You also might guess that I am passionate about sight hounds).

So the ultimate goal is to help in matching your dogs personality to you and yours.

There is nothing more tragic than seeing a dog abused or abandoned “to the backyard” by people who simply lacked the training and knowledge needed to create a good, working “part of the family” relationship with their animals because the dog they chose did not fit with the families personalities and lifestyle. Having the wrong breed can create a whole series of misconceptions about dog ownership.

There is nothing sadder than a even tempered dog living its life out in some backyard or backyard crate / pen only receiving any attention when it is feed time or to top up the water; all because the owners chose the wrong breed, a breed where you are not a match for your dog’s personality. It happens too many times and those quoted above are even luckier than some. Many a dog gets fed and watered irregularly or worse; forgotten by a thoughtless owner, ending up a rescue dog or even ending life with a cruel, lonely death.

For that reason, I’d like to take a moment to present you with a series of questions about dog ownership. These questions will help you decide if you really are ready to own a dog. If you already have a dog, these questions may shed light on whether you are matching your dog’s personality with yours in a scenario where things aren’t going the way you imagine they should have.

So please move on to Part 2 “ARE YOU READY TO BE A DOG OWNER?” for an “in-depth” think tank that should be an integral part of finding out whether you will be the right person to own a dog. BEFORE you continue on your journey towards matching your dogs personality to you and yours; finding that doggy breed personality that will endear you to your four legged companion for life is the most important aspect of being a dog owner.