Benefits Of Small Dogs As Pets
Dogs bring many benefits to their owners. Dogs are an unequivicable source of companionship, they can significantly lower your stress levels, improve your blood pressure, provide unconditional love, lift your mood, and provide an excellent incentive to exercise more. Not only that, they can be a great way of meeting people whilst you’re both out for a walk. And if you’ve got kids, dogs can be excellent at teaching them about being responsible and aware of someone other than themselves.
One of the first questions you should consider if you want to purchase a new puppy is, should you get a large dog or small?
Of course, if you have a small yard or live in an apartment, the choice will be made for you. But even if you are blessed with a large backyard, there are a number of benefits to getting a small dog that are very relevant to certain circumstances.
For example, if you have pets or children, a smaller dog can feel less intimidating. Certainly, if you’d like your kids to learn to do things like walk the dog, then a small dog will be a lot easier for them to handle. There are always exceptions to the rule, however. Some [large dog breeds do make fantastic family pets, even better than some small breeds. Breeds like the Tibetan Spaniel dog breed, maltese, chihuahuas, and miniature poodles, and similar breeds, are not really suited to families with small children.
Or, if you are sick, older, or not particularly strong, getting a small dog is a more realistic option. Large dogs will be more difficult to physically handle. To illustrate, walking an excited, large dog on a leash might be near impossible if your dog becomes intent on chasing a car, or another dog. As well, there are going to be times when you may have to lift your canine friend. If no-one is around to assist you, this could be a issue, particularly when your dog ages. Will you be able to handle him to check his teeth, and be able to provide a strong pack structure by being the top dog.
Another factor to think about is that large dogs generally need more exercise, although a few smaller breeds also need a lot too. This is especially true of working dogs, no matter whether they are large or small, such as the border collie dog breed. Border collies have a lot of energy. They are very active and intelligent dogs. They have been – and still are – used to herd sheep and cattle, and consequently have particularly high stamina and endurance. As pets, they need mental and physical exercise. Two hours per day is a guide, although if you mentally stimulate them during that time, it will wear them out more quickly. So, for a person with a busy lifestyle, who’s unable to devote the time to your dog, a border collie or similar would be an inappropriate pet.
Small dog breeds that are recommended for families with children include English Cocker Spaniels, border terriers, bichon frise, Miniature English Bulldogs, Kerry Blue Terriers, Miniature Australian Bulldogs, Miniature Australian Shepherds, and boston terriers}. And small breeds like the French bulldog, which are happy and easygoing dogs that love their humans, and don’t need a lot of exercise, are best for the elderly. French bulldogs are even used in pet therapy in aged care homes.
Wokka – Australian Shepherd Puppy Training and Play