A DOG behaviorist has shared an important piece of advice with anyone looking to find their perfect puppy match.
Sue Ketland, who has over 30 years of experience with dog rescue, explained that finding a pet that matches their potential owner's lifestyle is "really important."
While working in rehoming, Ketland quickly realized that people often came in with a "preconceived idea about what breed they wanted based on appearance and not necessarily on their behaviors."
Ketland would ask why individual's were drawn to that specific breed, and their responses typically had to do with how "cute" a certain dog looked.
According to the dog match-maker, that sort of mindset is entirely incorrect when it comes to making a major life commitment.
Dog who 'always melts hearts' with his smile hopes to find a loving family
Ketland believes that it is important to evaluate the dog's unique personality and behavior before sending them home with a new owner, as she outlined in her piece for NewsWeek.
"When you're 100 percent sure that you have matched the perfect dog to the perfect home, that its requirements suited somebody's needs, it's lovely," she added.
The canine expert shedded some of her secrets to succesful dog-owner relationships.
NO DOG IS PERFECT
Ketland advises people to reduce their expectations when adding a new dog into the family.
"Every dog has individual personalities, characteristics and quirks," she claimed. "And dogs like to make you look stupid — it's just one of those things."
The expert shared her own personal story to help people understand that even highly-trained pups make mistakes.
Ketland's first Australian Shepard was highly-versed in training and competition. However, he still made some mistakes.
"I looked over, and my dog was running with a bag of sandwiches in his mouth which he had stolen from the fisherman," Ketland recalled, before admitting she hid in a bush out of embarrassment.
LISTEN TO YOUR PUP
Unfortunately, people often jump to conclusions about their pet's behavior. Ketland encourages owners to take a step back and consider where the behavior stems from.
"I think one of the most common misconceptions about their behavior in my experience is assuming that a dog who growls is bad," she explained.
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Ketland noted that there are some situation where a dog growling is a normal response, such as when a person approaches a dog that has a bone or reaches out to touch it quickly.
"But actually, a dog that growls is a really good dog, because he is saying: 'I'm in a really uncomfortable situation right now, and I would really prefer you to give me space,'" she suggested.
COMMIT TIME AND ENERGY
Depending on a dog's life expectancy, owners can expect to commit to over a decade of love, care, and training.
Ketland hopes that people understand how much emotional, physical, and financial responsibility dog ownership entails.
"For anybody who is thinking about getting a dog, my biggest piece of advice would just be to be sure you have got the time and the interest to commit to giving them the best quality of life possible," she concluded.
It's critical dog people realize that their lifestyles may have to evolve with the needs of their aging pup, she said.
