Choosing the Right Dog

We are often mesmerized by the cuteness of a puppy. We even joke around to give a “puppy look” when we are asking for a favor from someone.  Most people’s perception of a puppy is linked to innocence. 

People interested in dogs are always fond of puppies. But it saddens me to have observed that they tend to be fond of the puppies while these are still young and are still cute because of their small size, but such fondness gradually diminish as the puppies get older. Puppies tend to become less cute as they grow, and become “kyuto-on” instead. (The word “kyuto-on” is a transliteration of “kuto-on”, which is Visayan for “with ticks.”)

Sometimes, I get to think that owning a dog is like courtship for most guys. The “sweetness” overload holds when the guy is still courting the girl or in the early part of the relationship. And then, little by little, the sweetness wanes off over time (unless the guy is a natural “Don Juan de Marco”). 

The challenge would be how to keep up the relationship in good balance and, as all relationships go, it is not likely to be always in an all-time high. It is imperative, therefore, that you choose a partner that you truly like or love in order to be able to sustain a good relationship. Perhaps, you need to list down the characteristics that you would prefer in a partner. It’s the same way in choosing the right dog for you.

Dogs have different types, and each type has characteristics that may truly amaze you once you get to know them. There are many considerations in choosing the right dog for you, but for now I will limit it to only the top consideration, based on my own experience.  (I’ll discuss the other considerations next time.)

First, it helps to ask: “Do I have the means?” If you are on a budget, owning big dogs is not a good idea. Bigger dogs would require bigger budget in terms of the dog food and supplements. Even worse, if they get sick, they also would need a higher quantity of the medicines as they are heavier. You may be able to think of several other considerations, but the financial aspect is a top issue. Like any relationships, it can break or make your relationship with your furry friend.

On another note, different dog breeds come at different market prices. You must look at how much you are willing to spend. If you cannot afford to buy dogs with breeds, perhaps you may want the mixed breeds or the “aspin,” the native dogs or “asong pinoy.” These dogs may not be pure breed, but they can be as intelligent and as lovable as the pure breeds.

If you have to discriminate between the pure breeds, the mixed breeds and “aspins,” it would be unfair to the latter group of dogs. In the same manner, as Filipinos we would not want to be compared with other nationalities as we believe we can also have equally good attributes as other nationalities have. So, it may be best to own mixed breeds or “aspins” if you are really not into the dog breeding business. These dogs will surely give you the same love and good company that you can expect from pure breeds.