Julia and Toshi

Fifteen years ago, I tried to buy a Pomeranian. You know the fuzzy five-pound dogs that look like little foxes?

I began calling breeders. And calling breeders. And calling breeders. After one year of trying, I finally gave up and got Beisha — the fabulous Portuguese Water Dog.

But back to Pomeranians.

I lost count of the breeders that I spoke to but their response was a variation on this theme: I can't sell you a dog. You have big dogs and they might hurt the little dog. At the time I wrote it off to over-protectiveness on the breeder's part.

After our beloved Portuguese Water Dog passed away, we wanted to welcome another dog but could not decide on a breed. My husband wanted a toy poodle; very smart dogs. I wanted — you guessed it — a Pomeranian.

We decided on a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Glory.

This decision did not come out of left field. We both wanted a much smaller dog. I did not want the time-consuming task of grooming a larger breed. Cavaliers are happy-go-lucky, easy going and friendly. We were aware that heart murmurs are prevalent in the breed.

Fast forward to 2010: It was discovered that my beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel developed a heart murmur. The cardiologist I take Glory to for her yearly checkup told me only 10 percent of the Cavaliers he sees under age 10 have a heart murmur. After the age of 10, the numbers increase to 90 percent!

Frequenting the dog shows often, I met a Pomeranian breeder with whom I had been in correspondence. By coincidence she had a male Pomeranian available. Toshi came to live with us.

Glory, as characteristic of her breed, is laid back and happy-go-lucky. Tosh was a ball of fire.

I found myself taking this little five-pound spitfire for a bike ride every morning before we went on our morning walk. Two walks a day plus a daily bike ride did not drain his energy. We enrolled in agility class — Synergy Agility with Deb Harrison.

You're probably wondering, "Why are you giving us all this background?"

Well, you are going to live with this dog for many years — it will be a member of your family — so you want to get the right match. When you are considering adopting or purchasing a dog, it is very important to match your energy level and lifestyle with the breed you choose.

Time to ask yourself some hard questions:

• Are you a high energy or low energy person?


• Are you a strong person (physically)


• Are you an older or younger person?


• Do you have kids ?


• Do you have cats or other pets?


• Do you entertain or have company over frequently?


• Do you live alone?

Let’s address each point:

Don’t get a Newfoundland if you are a runner. These dogs were not bred to run but to swim. They love cold weather and, as they were bred to live in cold weather, have a very thick oily coat that sheds water. They also shed enough to make a blanket, and if you don’t mind drooling, this the dog for you.

If you are not a physically strong person a boxer is not the dog for you. You say you are high energy. Good! This is a breed that can go all day. Can you? (I find that as I get older a strong, high-energy dog is not for me.)

If you have kids, you want to make sure the dog you choose is compatible with children. You'll want to keep allergies in mind, too. Please avoid the heartache that comes when a parent gets a dog that causes a child’s allergies to worsen. Have the child spend time with the breed you are considering adopting. Go to see many breeders or adoption agencies that have the type of dog you are considering.

When we adopted a retired racing greyhound, the dog was checked for compatibility to cats. The adoption group said, "Be warned. A kitty is fine in the house, but outside all bets are off." If the cat runs in front of this swift breed, the dog will always be the quicker one. Remember they were bred for speed. (They can run up to 45 miles an hour.)

A happy, laid back older dog is good in the presence of others — correct. A hyper dog, a nervous or aggressive dog have characteristics that require training. Are you willing to make that commitment?

People that live alone face a big challenge when sharing life with a canine. They must get their dogs out to be socialized. It is essential. Dogs that are not used to people coming and going can develop all sorts of unwanted behaviors.

Please don’t take the adopting of a dog lightly. We are responsible for the care and well-being of these animals. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself some hard questions. You’ll be happy you did before you bring in a new, four-legged family member.

Julia Levitt is the founder of In Harmony Dog Training (www.inharmonydogtraining.com) in Ann Arbor. She can be reached at julia@inharmonydogtraining.com or at 734-645-4707.