Tips for finding a compatible canine

Animal psychologist and zoologist Mark Vette came to fame with global television show He also taught dogs to drive and fly, which turned him into something of a YouTube sensation.

His latest book is published to coincide with the forthcoming holiday season, when people often welcome new puppies into their lives.

Following is an extract:

Choosing your pup

If you are thinking of getting a pup, it is really important that you choose the right one for you, your family and your living environment, now and for the next 10 to 15 years. Being clear around your needs and wants in your choice of dog will make for a high level of compatibility and a harmonious relationship for a lifetime — like Hercules and me.

A mismatch of requirements — like Charles in the preface — can lead to much suffering and stress, for both owner and dog. Examples? A strong breed like a

Rottweiler or a German Shepherd matched with an elderly person who might not have recognised their reduced ability to manage the breed’s strength. Inexperienced owners who love the look and uniqueness of the ancient breeds, like the Huskies, but are not able to manage the breed’s natural inclination to independence, predatory behaviour and potential dominance.

So many Border Collies I have seen in clinic — dogs bred to run, work and herd sheep — can be driven so crazy by their urban lifestyles they become neurotic, anxious and snappy, barking along fence lines, desperate to chase even cars. Choose carefully!

I know, we have all been there: that reactive, emotional decision to immediately get that puppy, the cutest thing we have ever seen.

How can we help ourselves when our oxytocin levels are going through the roof? Nobody is immune. When you find yourself in that situation, draw a breath, pull out the list of questions below, and see whether this pup is truly a good match. It may save you lots of heartache down the road.

Let’s look at the steps involved when choosing a pup:

■ Consider your lifestyle and situation over the next 10-15 years.

■ Choose the attributes you want in a dog, to match that lifestyle.

■ Research the breed group and the specific breeds within it.

■ Choose the breed for you, matching attributes to the breed group.

■ Source your pup: decide where you will get your pup from (a breeder, rescue centre, retail, etc.).

■ Finally, choose an individual from within the breed or litter.

Let’s look at each of these in more depth:

Understanding your lifestyle and situation:

You need to thoroughly understand where you are at in your own life, and what you want of a pup/dog before you decide on the one you want. Your lifestyle needs will change across the course of your life, so the kind of dog you had in your teens might not be the kind of dog you get when you have a young family or as you head into retirement.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself and your family to help you:

■ Are you ready for the commitment of a pup right now?

■ Although the pup’s formative period is short, it is significant, so ask yourself whether the timing is right to be able to commit to your pup for those two months right now.

■ What is your life stage and lifestyle now and over the next 10-15 years?

■ Will your life support a dog over the next 10 to 15 years? That is, are there any likely dramatic changes coming up (e.g. new baby, retirement, children leaving home, merging of families, divorce, moving from a rural to an urban setting, or vice versa)? Think about how any of these might affect the type of dog you should choose.

■ What are your abilities to raise a pup and support a dog?

■ You don’t necessarily need the skills right now, but you do need to understand what you do and do not know, and whether you are willing to upskill yourself where you need to. Your level of abilities will also impact on what type of breed you might get, and whether you will consider an older rescue pup or dog.

■ Do you have the capacity to support a dog?

■ Do you have (or are willing to obtain) the time, space and financial capacity required to support a puppy intensively for those first two months, and then over the next 15 years?

■ Are you aligned in your approach? If not, can you reach agreement, or how will you manage the differences?

■ What do you want from a dog? — Are you looking for an exercise mate, a lapdog, someone to help guard your property and family, or just a lovely companion for your day-to-day life?