A Piece of Advice

Remember that the right choice of a dog is the most important part of dog owning. This is because the dog will be constantly with you, and propinquity is truly the alchemist who turns dog dross into dog gold. Once the dog has become accepted as a member of your family the chances are you will want to keep him even though he is a misfit and doesn't live up to your expectations.

How pitiful it is to go into a pet shop, as I have often done, and see a person buy a ten dollar puppy, then go to the collar and toy counter and buy a bed, a collar, leash and toys perhaps, to the tune of $25. If you know dogs you know that person would have been better off to have spent the $25 on a better puppy, even if it meant no fancy gadgets and only a rope collar and a string for a leash.

The first choice is so extremely important that only mature judgement should be used in acquiring the dog. To let a child select a puppy by whim is the poorest possible way to buy it.