Everywhere I go, people ask me questions about various pet-related issues.  A 4^th of July party over the weekend was no exception.  Someone asked my advice about what kind of puppy to buy for her family.  Neither she nor her husband had ever had a dog so this would be a new experience for them.  She said that a friend was breeding a Lab and was thinking about getting one of those puppies.  But then she went on to say that she didn’t want a dog that sheds.  And she was intending for the dog to be the responsibility of her two young children, ages 5 and 7.  Wow, what a set up for me to provide tons of information!

Her dog of choice, a Lab, is not the best choice for her family.  Labs shed a lot and most require a great deal of training and exercise.  And that’s a very big dog to expect young children to care for.  Without proper training, a Lab may knock down small children.  And even with proper training, a playful, energetic Lab can be difficult to handle.

We discussed the issue of shedding and the size of the dog a little more.  She began to see that a smaller or a medium-sized dog might be a better choice for them.  Some of us suggested maybe a Bichon Frise, a miniature Poodle, a Schnauzer, or a Yorkie.  And the woman piped in that she liked Cocker Spaniels or Cockapoos.  Yes! We were now getting somewhere!  I tried to impress upon her that mutts can be outstanding dogs.  And very fortunately, someone arrived at the party with their 6-month-old mixed-breed pup that they had rescued from a shelter.  The pup was so sweet and well-behaved, and everyone fell in love with him!  I couldn’t have timed it better.

Finally, of course I coached her about where to not to get a puppy (no pet stores, not from the Internet, and to watch out for private homes/farms) and encouraged her to visit her local shelter or go to Petfinder.com and fall in love with a homeless dog.