KOTA Territory NewsPicking out the perfect pet for your family

Picking out the perfect pet for your family

Teddy is the newest addition to the Vifquain family.

"He's cute and loveable and sometimes looks innocent, even when he actually did something bad", says Rhys Vifquain.

When Rhys' dog passed away, he wanted to fill the void left behind by his friend. But his parents wanted to do research first.

"There's a lot of little things we didn't want, a lot of drool because the kids make enough mess so there's a lot of little things but the main thing was the family and the kids," says Rhys' mom, Saboin Vifquain.

Veterinarian Penny Dye says finding the right fit is everything.

"If you're a high active family, you exercise a lot - go running a lot, then a high energy dog is ok because you can exercise them," says Dr. Dye.

"But if you're not that type of family and you have a busy schedule and only have short period of time to give attention to that puppy, then maybe a little more laid back quieter dog would be a better pick," adds Dye.

Doctor Dye says it's important for kids to understand how to interact with a dog. And Teddy is teaching the Vifquain kids about responsibility, especially Rhys.

"Rhys has the most responsibility out of all the kids, he's very good. But we all take turns taking him out, getting him water, checking his food," says Saboin.

After much discussion, the Vifquain's knew they wanted a big, active dog; but deciding on which breed was a tug of war.

"I wanted a poodle, because they're not too feisty, and they look nice when they're groomed, but mommy wanted another golden retriever. So we got a golden doodle, which is a poodle and golden retriever," says Rhys.

In the end, picking out a pet may be tough - but take the time to find the right one and you'll find a new furry family member.

Doctor Dye says the best time to socialize a puppy is when they are between eight and twelve weeks old.  Dye says during this time, keep them around people as much as possible and they will turn out to be a well socialized dog.