Every day, I am forced to listen to my neighbor's dog howl and howl. He howls in the morning and he howls in the evening. I really should not be too surprised by his behavior because he is a hound dog after all. Still, isn't there anything else that he can find entertaining? I sometimes wonder if his owners knew about the temperament of hound dogs prior to buying their dog. Hindsight is 20/20, but would they have chosen another dog breed if they had some way of knowing just how loud their little puppy would grow up to be? Perhaps they would have considered other dog breeds and found bulldog puppy breeders. Even though I know they love their dog very much, I just don't see their particular breed of dog enjoying a life in the city.
I think some dog owners take the time to research the differences among dog breeds in order to make a responsible decision regarding which dog breed would fit best in their home. However, I also think that many pet purchases are made without a lot of premeditation. I grew up with a dog that was part poodle and part dachshund. My family and I loved our dog and when he passed away, we felt a need to fill the void he left in our house. We jumped at the chance to get Jack Russell Terrier that we saw and unfortunately, things just were not the same as they were with my first dog. Our new pet was extremely playful and rambunctious. She was digging holes to escape our fenced backyard. Even though I loved her, my parents were not so smitten and we ended up selling our dog to a farmer who lived outside of the city. It worked out I suppose because she had more open space to run which is what she was born to do; however, I missed her dearly.
Dogs have innate qualities that are passed down to them. Some are extremely good hunters and gatherers which can make them ideal companions for people who enjoy hunting. Others dogs are more tenderhearted do better in homes with young children than other dogs. Some dog breeds are extremely protective and can closely guard homes and people. In order to know which dog breed is the best for you and your family, you just simply need to research the temperaments of different dog breeds and select one that best matches you, your family, and your lifestyle. By doing this, you could be saving yourself from a lot of unnecessary stress and heartache.