A few things to think about before deciding what type of dog is best for you.
Why do I want a dog? Do I intend to breed or show?
How much money do I want to spend? What kind of dog would suit my lifestyle?
Do I know how big the dog will get when fully grown?
Will I take the dog with me when I leave Kenya?
Do I know how much it will cost to ship a dog to another post and/or quarantine boarding?
Do I know how much grooming it will take to keep a coat clean and tangle free?
Do I know how much time, effort it takes to raise & train a puppy to adulthood?
Do I know how much it will cost to feed and take care of veterinary requirements?
Do I have enough time / energy for a dog with my family & work requirements?
Do I know what the dog was bred to do, if a purebreed? I.E. their jobs; herding, hunting, guarding, vermin hunters, companions etc. This will determine requirements for raising & training the breed of your choice.
Have I researched the various genetic problems associated with my breed of choice? Hip Dysplasia, Dermoid Sinus, Elbow Dysplasia, Epilepsy, PRA (Progressive Renal Atrophy) these are just a few health problems that can be genetic and passed to the puppies.
The East Africa Kennel Club (0734 650 213) www.EastAfricaKennelClub.com is a great place to seek guidance to find a pure breed dog in Kenya. The EAKC can tell you which breeders currently have properly registered litters available. Many dogs that are advertised on bulletin boards at the shopping malls are not properly papered to be registered or shown at the East Africa Kennel Club or eligible for export papers. Don’t be fooled by a fancy name either, DoberDanes or St Weilers are not breeds, just made up names for crossbreeds. If you buy a dog with a fancy name but no Official Registration Papers, you have an expensive shenzi (mutt) If papers are not important to you, then by all means go to the KSPCA (020 243 0318) (They also have a Facebook page now with adoptable dogs and cats) where they have many, many great dogs awaiting new homes. However, if you are willing to buy a pedigreed dog, please get your monies worth. A cheap dog is not cheap in the long term; a dog with the blue registration or Class 1 Registration (meaning they have been bred from parents that have been X-rayed for hip problems and scored well) will be far less likely to require expensive pain medication or hip surgery. A dog that comes from a long line of correctly tempermented dogs will be less likely to cause injury to a child or family member.
TheKennelClub.org.uk has a great website with a section for Breed Standards that will tell you a bit about the breeds you may be interested in. (temperament, size, grooming, and exercise requirements)
The American Kennel Club also has a great website www.akc.org with similar info on breeds and their requiements, and a great section on choosing a good breed match for you family.
