Do you have any favorite films that feature particular dog breeds? If so, add them to our newly started Dog Movie by Breed Guide. Click Easy Edit to add your favorites now!

Before the chihuahua movie shows in Sept. 2008 please be proactive and stop impulse purchases of chihuahuas. Or any dog based on a movie that you watch.

The decision to get a dog is not something to be taken lightly. An adorable puppy can tug at our heartstrings but, in the end, will require a significant investment of your time and money for a significant number of years.

Socializing and training a new puppy is time consuming and, occasionally, frustrating. It can increase the amount of stress on the family, and the dog, working to provide the constant supervision, socialization, and training that is necessary to successfully integrate a dog into a family environment. This is especially true if the primary caregiver(s) are working outside of the home and/or have young children, an elderly parent, or other persons and/or pets to care for.

This does not mean that it cannot be done. But, prospective dog owners often underestimate the investment of time, energy, and money, required. Additionally, depending upon what breed or mixed breed you ultimately select it may take some time to find the right breeder and/or the right puppy/dog. Reputable, ethical breeders do not breed frequently. And, they only breed when they have found a pair who has been proven to possess the health and temperaments required to insure, to the extent possible, healthy, well tempered, offspring.

Making this decision impulsively, can lead to frustration, disappointment, and eventually, may result in the surrender of the dog to a shelter or rescue. In the US, the tragic fact is that, millions of the dogs are prematurely euthanized, annually. And, most often, it is the owners, not the dogs, who are responsible for their premature deaths. Impulsive or poorly thought out decisions; the selection of a difficult or headstrong breed because it is 'popular' or you like how it looks; or, for that matter, any dog selected for looks rather than temperament, 'match' to your lifestyle, and your ability to provide proper care and environment; the lack of consideration of the lifestyle changes you may experience over the next 12 to 14 years; as well as the lack of proper socialization, training, physical activity, and attention -- these are all major contributors to the need for so many shelters and rescues. And, results, all too frequently, in premature euthanasia.

WHY DO YOU WANT A DOG?
The first question you should ask yourself, honestly is . . . Why do I (we) want a dog?

If your answer is: For my son/daughter/children . . . Trust me, this will be YOUR dog! After the 'honeymoon period', the kids may only play with the dog, occasionally. They may groan and grumble about any dog-related responsibilities, doing them, begrudgingly, only after significant prodding from you. As children's interests and activities change, over the years, their level of involvement with the dog will most likely be, inconsistent, at best. Additionally, your children, especially, young children, will need to be 'trained' in how to behave with the dog and will need to be supervised when with the dog.

For protection . . . I know some may disagree but, it is my opinion, that the only time is it a good idea to get a dog for the purpose of protection is in professional or agricultural situations and only when the owner/trainer is humane and knowledgeable of dog behavior and dominant dog training/handling. In all other situations - probably 99.9% - an alarm system, security fence, or other measures are much more appropriate and effective.

To breed puppies . . . If you've read the third paragraph of this piece and still feel this way, there is probably little I can offer to change your mind. But, just in case, let me restate the case a little more thoroughly. The breeding of dogs is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. If it is not your intention to remain responsible for all of your puppies for their entire lives, including being willing to take back and care for those who may find themselves homeless, do not enter into this endeavor. If you are planning on breeding for profit, understand that there are much easier, more profitable and ethical ways to make a buck. Dogs are living beings and dog breeding requires a significant investment of time, money, labor, knowledge, both academic and practical, patience, and emotional fortitude, to be done responsibly and humanely. Please visit a few of the shelter and rescue websites, or your local shelter, and witness the problem yourself. View the faces of the homeless dogs and talk to the volunteers and staff who, all too often, must take that 'final walk' with them.

Because Breed X is 'Cool', was in a movie you saw, is unique and exotic, is free/cheap, or other such nonsense . . . One of the WORSE reasons to get a dog, or any other animal, for that matter, is because of their physical appearance or popularity due to a movie, TV show, or other publicity. Often, these venues feature exotic, rare or unique breeds that are, in the overwhelming majority of pet situations, unsuitable as companions. This visibility may also draw out those 'breeders' whose primary motivation is profit versus health, temperament, structural soundness and the welfare of their dogs.

And, remember to incorporate the same thoughtful consideration on whether or not to get a dog, and which breed or mix, when your friend, coworker or relative offers you one of Fluffy's puppies. Dogs are never really 'free' or 'cheap' and, in reality, require significant financial, physical, time, and environmental resources.

At a minimum, none of these, or other such reasons, are sound selection factors for getting a dog and selecting a particular breed or mix. And, remember, if it is difficult for you to find information on a particular breed, or a breeder of the breed, it follows that you will most likely also have difficulty finding local support services that are familiar with the training, health care, and maintenance needs of that breed.

While there are a few breeds, especially exotic or rare breeds, which I would not recommend to people considering dog ownership, there are several shared traits and needs that are basic to all dogs. All require socialization, training, a secure, comfortable and safe environment, grooming and health maintenance, professional health care, a quality diet, companionship, attention, and love. All dogs are canines and think like canines. It is important that you educate yourself through books, training classes, etc., so that you will be able to interpret and understand their behavior and respond appropriately.
~Pampered Paw Gifts.com

Now Enjoy These Great Movies:

Anatolian Shepherd

Beagles

Shiloh	Underdog "Shoeshine/Underdog"

Bulldog

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban	Underdog

Chihuahua


Legally Blonde


Cocker Spaniel

Lady and the Tramp	Lady and the Tramp 2	Underdog "'Sweet' Polly Purebred"

Collie

Lassie

Dalmatians

101 Dalmatians	101 Dalmatians 2	102 Dalmatians

Dachshund

Where the Red Fern Grows

English Bulldog

The Game Plan (Spike)

Golden Retriever

Air Bud	Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey	Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Great Dane

Scooby-Doo	Scooby-Doo 2	Scooby-Doo and the Monster of Mexico

Jack Russell Terriers

My Dog Skip

Pugs

Men in Black (Frank the Pug)	The Adventures of Milo & Otis	Pocahontas (Percy)
Cat in the Hat

Saint Bernard

Beethoven	Beethoven's 2nd	Beethoven's 3rd
Beethoven's 4th

Siberian Huskies

Snow Dogs

Other Mutts and Mixes

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Fluffy)	Lady and the Tramp	The Three Musketeers (Goofy)
Lady and the Tramp 2	Bridge to Terabithia	Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

Various Breeds

Year of the Dog