My reply was too long for their site, so I’m putting it here. Â You might read it as if it were about making friends, or about choosing a long term partner — have fun.
It depends on what you want in a dog. It’s a lot of responsability, & it seems to me many folks don’t put as much time & energy into studying themselves & the canine options & all the changes a puppy/dog’ll entail as they put into buying a car. And the car isn’t another sentient being.
An old book by Daniel Tortora, PhD would help orient you. He offers a few self-study questions to help match the sort of person you are/kind of dog that you might fit well with.
to the distinctly different genetically engineered by us people Purposes
Different breeds and groups of breeds have been genetically engineered/selectively bred for Very different purposes & traits. If bred for job rather than beauty at Shows, you can expect a higher probability that the AKC or UKC breeds will have the traits they were bred for, though sex, socialization experiences and individual differences in temperament all interact with the emotional & training experiences a particular dog & particular person have together.
It’s a lot like having kids — general genetics sets certain limits & life experiences interacting with accidents & incidents of, especially, childhood years[ 2-3 years in a Big dog] turn out a unique individual every time. I do hope folks will gather lots information from experienced breeders & look long & deeply at themselves along the path toward canid companionship.
Patricia Mc Connell & pat Miller have published many well informed & informative books about doggie relations. Taking in a Shelter dog has lots of positive aspects, & these dogs very often have major physical &/or emotional problems that led to their being in the shelter. None the less, they often make fine pets — tho if you want specific traits, it’s more likely to find them built-in through selective breeding. And I damn sure don’t mean puppy mills or backyard breeders. bd