Purebred, Crossbreed or Mongrel  
The Six Groups of Dogs  
The Advantages of a Purebred Dog  
Crossbreeds and Mongrels  
Male vs. Female  
Large and Small Dogs  
Long-Haired and Short-Haired Dogs  
Puppy or Older Dog  
Some Pointers on Picking the Individual Dog  

SOME POINTERS ON PICKING THE INDIVIDUAL DOG

Avoid basing your selection of the puppy solely on his looks or appealing expression. Pick a dog that you like, but make sure he meets all of the requirements. Examine him carefully for a happy, perky and alert nature. He should be plump, but not potbellied. Stay away from the potbellied or shy puppy; it may mean trouble.

Here are some further suggestions:

Examine the puppy's eyes for any redness or discharge. A thick discharge from the eyes or nose may be a symptom of distemper or other serious illness.

The nose should be moist. A hot, dry nose is not necessarily an indication the pup is ill. Overheated rooms will cause a dog's nose to become cracked and dry. But beware of a discharge from the nose.

Examine the skin and hair. A healthy puppy's hair should be soft and glossy. The skin should be free from sores, rashes and parasites.

Hold the puppy up and examine his rectal area. Look for signs of diarrhea (damp or dried feces clinging to the rear end or legs). Diarrhea may mean internal parasites or intestinal disorder.

Look the puppy over for fleas, lice and ticks.

Be on the alert for any deformities in the feet or legs, especially enlarged bone joints that may indicate rickets.

Check the puppy's teeth. At three to four months of age, the pup still has his baby or temporary teeth. He begins to get his permanent teeth at about five months. Discolored or stained teeth may mean the puppy has been exposed to a virus disease.

Find out about the puppy's inoculations: what kind and when. Also inquire as to whether the pup was wormed and for what kind of worms.

Arrange to buy the puppy on a trial basis, say for two or three weeks. He may possibly be incubating a disease when you purchase him.

Be sure to obtain the necessary registration papers and signature of the breeder, if you buy a purebred dog.

Finally, inquire as to what the puppy has been eating, so that you can continue this diet for a week or so.

The decision to get a dog is a big step and one that may involve the entire family. Since children quickly fall in love with any puppy, it's wise to hold a family conference to decide what kind of puppy is best. And this conference should be held before going to the kennel, pet shop or humane shelter. This way, you will avoid having disappointed children and puppies.

Raising a puppy is a comparatively simple project, providing you make liberal use of patience and common sense. The young puppy cannot be expected to act like a grown dog; he needs direction and supervision. But the pup will quickly grow up and the period of close daily supervision becomes correspondingly shorter as the puppy matures. Naturally, raising a young puppy will cause some changes in your life and home. Whether these changes are pleasant or unpleasant depends largely on you and the regime you set for the puppy.