Please have your pet spayed or neutered

Pets can have many effects on peoples lives. They can be man's best friend, alert their owners of danger, put a smile on peoples' faces, add to the quality of life, help teach children responsibility of taking care of another life, and so much more. I would highly suggest keeping a pet, especially a dog or cat, to anyone, with any household. Before taking on a pet, however, there is ALWAYS research that needs to be done. Every animal has individual needs, qualities, diseases they are prone to, and general attitudes that may or may not suit every family.

There are some things to consider before adopting a pet. Most pets will be around for ten to twenty years, so think about your long term situation. A pet needs attention. They aren't made to sit out on a ten foot leash in the back yard; they need love and attention. I don't mean they need their own bedroom with silk sheets of gold. When looking at dogs, some breeds need even more exercise than others. Money is another problem, animals cost more than just food. The cost of veterinary care, toys, grooming, training, wear and tear on the house while training, and more adds up quick. And in the words of Bob Barker, "Don't forget to spay or neuter your pet". There is already enough unwanted pets going to shelters and being put down because the population is out of control. The RSPCA expected about 3,000 animals during the Christmas period; both because of population and unwanted Christmas gifts.

I found a neat little site that gives a survey to fill out, and it gives a list of dogs that might best suit you and your family. Seven out of eight of my results were variations of Doodles; meaning it is a breed mixed with a Poodle. I assume this is because I selected that I prefer a dog that is more allergy safe. I will have to do plenty more research of my own before buying a dog for my family. I rather enjoy Labradores myself; I'm not sure about the Labradoodle. It looks like their fur might need a bit more care. On the other hand, the Poodle is supposed to be the easiest breed to house train. I will have to see what I get if I leave out the allergen safe dog part on the survey. When taking this survey, it will ask if you have children under the age of five years. There are dogs with good tempers around children, but there are dogs also dogs that could be injured by a small child, just as a small child could be injured by the wrong dog. Here is a site with the 50 most common dog breeds. Just click on one and it gives an overview of that dog, including: Photograph, description, temperament, height, weight, health problems, living conditions, exercise, life expectancy, litter size (please don't plan on puppies), grooming, origin, group, and recognition.