Choosing the right breed for you...
The following two programmes can assist in the selection of your pet.

                                
Select-a-Dog                                           Select-a-Cat

BIG dog, brown dog, bright dog...             bad dog!

The bond between us and our animals can result in many benefits, both mental and physical. Pet ownership has been known to improve the health of people suffering from certain conditions, such as heart problems. The simple act of patting your pet can reduce your blood pressure. Pets provide loyal companionship, can help protect owners, provide an outlet for caring and nurturing particularly in those that live alone, can prompt us to exercise, allow us to meet people with similar interests, provide special services to those with disabilities, and they can certainly entertain us!

Unfortunately the benefits can sometimes be overshadowed by fundamental errors in the original selection of our pet. As veterinarians we see many cases of well intentioned but potentially disastrous combinations of owners and dog breeds. Unfortunately in this form of relationship, opposites most definitely do not attract. A poor decision will not only have detrimental effects on you as the owner, but also on the dog itself, other family members and pets, and possibly your neighbours as well.

Compatibility is the key to a lifelong stress free lifestyle with your pet.

Select-a-pet provides a guide to helping you choose a certain breed.  The programme compares your answers with the attributes of different dog types to give you a choice of breeds.

After you have used select-a-pet and obtained a breed list, it is advisable to consult with your veterinarian at this stage. Your veterinarian may make further suggestions to help narrow down your breed types even further. Once a decision has been made a pre-purchase examination of the new puppy by your veterinarian is strongly recommended. It is important to have this initial check up very soon (best on the same day!) after picking up the puppy. The bond between owners and their pets can develop very quickly and if problems are found, the decision to give the puppy back to the breeders can be very difficult. Luckily the majority of the puppies that we see as veterinarians, do not have defects that warrant reconsidering whether to purchase.

This visit is not only crucial for helping to detect any physical abnormalities in your puppy, but also provides an excellent opportunity for discussion on feeding, vaccination, home care, and advise on puppy training methods.

The combination of select-a-pet and your veterinarians advice, helps take the guesswork out of the selection process. This will hopefully ensure a partnership with your pet that fulfils (and possibly exceeds) your expectations.

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