Welcome to the Family

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Welcome to the Family Pets are an important part of many families’ daily lives. Dogs are one of the top picks for many families because of their loyal and loving reputation. Prior to purchasing a dog a few of the many factors families must consider are financial, compatibility and space. Families who take these factors into consideration will be able to make better choices when selecting a dog. The breed and age of a dog are two determinant financial factors. The breed of a dog can factor in for cost differences with grooming, food, and medical care. For instance an Afghan hound has long hair which needs lots of attention. Mourtada writes, “The Afghan hound demands the skills of a professional hair-dresser. With long flowing hair -- which requires constant grooming -- the graceful and elegant Afghan can be said to resemble a woman” (77). Food costs vary depending on the size of the dog; larger dogs eat more food than smaller dogs. Also, in addition to routine medical costs, some breeds are genetically more prone to certain medical problems. More than twenty percent of Dalmatians are born hearing impaired, many of which are due to heredity defects (Hill 3B). Families will need to ensure they can financially care for a new dog before they bring one home. Every dog breed has certain characteristics that show their temperament, exercise needs, compatibility with other pets, and small children. Greyhounds are very active outdoors but placid inside, need a daily medium-length walk, and enjoy running off-lead (Cogdon 49). Greyhounds are better suited for adults and families with gentle children, are tolerant of other quiet dogs, but some chase cats or small pets (Cogdon 49). Whereas French bulldogs thrive on companionship and don’t like being left alone, this makes them more suitable for adults, families with older children, and the elderly (Cogdon 49).

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