Find the Best Dog Breed for Your Lifestyle

Are you searching for a four-legged friend? Before you select a dog breed, you first need to know where in your life the dog will fit.  Do you have time to walk the dog every morning for an hour? Do you need a dog that is good with kids?  These are important points to consider before rushing off to buy a puppy only to find out that the dog you selected yaps all the time–and you’ve got cranky neighbors.

Consider Several Factors for Your Pup

To help you sort through all the info, here’s a five-step guide for finding the perfect pup:

1. Think About Your Children
Whatever breed you choose, keep in mind that caring for a dog involves the same amount of commitment as taking care of a young child. Both kids and dogs require constant supervision to keep them from hurting one another. Perhaps the best reward with this combination is that your child will have a best friend to grow up with, and they will learn how to love and care for animals.

Generally, homes with toddlers should not get very small dogs. A child may seriously injure a smaller dog since young kids don’t always understand how fragile dogs can be. Moreover, a toddler might try to pull on, hug tightly, ride, or even accidentally step on a dog. Therefore, the dog has to be able to stand up to the adventures of a toddler. This is not an easy task.

You should also be careful when selecting large or medium size dogs with a toddler in the household for the exact opposite reason. When choosing a large breed, be sure to get one that is gentle, and always seek obedience training for the dog immediately so your child doesn’t become a chair or chew toy. Many dogs, especially working breeds, inherently know not to jump on small kids. Nonetheless, training is still necessary.

2. Consider Exercise and Energy Levels
Most dogs are excitable and love to play. But the dogs’ level of activity should match your personality and lifestyle. Do you love spending time outdoors hiking, swimming, or tossing a ball? Do you run or walk at least three times a week? If so, you should consider getting an active dog who can enjoy these activities with you. But instead of three times per week, you can expect to increase your runs to five! There are many great ways to keep an athletic dog occupied, but to start you need to have an energetic personality to match. Do you love to sit by the fire and read a good book? Or are you a movie buff who spends hours in front of the tv? If that’s the case, then you need to choose a pooch that is going to be the perfect foot warmer and couch buddy.

3. Size Up Your Pooch
Many potential owners make a common mistake in assuming that a dog’s size directly reflects her activity level. This is not always the case! Smaller dogs can be very active, while large dog breeds are often the award-winning couch potatoes. Aside from the activity level, it’s also important to consider your size as well as the size of your home.

For example, if you live in a ninth-floor apartment, you may be better off with a small breed; big dogs have loud footsteps (and big poop). On the other hand, if you own a single family home, you won’t have downstairs neighbors and you can hire someone to pick up the big poop if it makes you gag.

If you are a smaller person, remember that big dogs are heavier, so it won’t be easy to force them to do what they are not interested in doing (getting into that huge crate, for instance). If this describes you, then proper obedience training will be critical.

Finally, remember that big dogs generally shed more, eat more, and cost more in medical expenses (medications are usually prescribed according to size and weight).

On the flipside, if you are bigger person and want a small dog, remember that smaller dogs can be easily hurt if they are stepped on. To make matters worse, they often run around right under your feet, so if you have two left feet, maybe a little dog isn’t for you.

4. Remember That You Cough and Sneeze
If you have allergies, then consider your breed very carefully. Technically, there’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog (even if the President thinks there is). There are, however, low-shedding dogs that cause fewer problems for allergy sufferers. And keep in mind, if you are severely allergic to grass, pollen, or dust, your dog will likely play (and roll around in) all of these substances regularly. This means that you’ll need a safe play spot for your pooch that is free of these allergens. We recommend a good doggy day care, a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner, and plenty of baths. Also make sure the dog doesn’t sleep in your bed—instead get her a comfortable dog bed. That is, if you can resist her cute begging eyes.

5. Don’t Forget the Animal Shelter
Before we discuss animal shelters, remember one cardinal rule: Never, ever, ever purchase your dog from a pet store or puppy mill! No reputable dog breeder will sell their animals to a pet store for retail distribution.

Okay, you’ve been warned! Now back to business…

Adopting a shelter dog is a huge step. Most of them are mixed-breeds, so you don’t always know what personality you’re getting. Nonetheless, you can still make an educated guess. The best part is, you’re most likely saving a dog’s life!

When selecting a dog from a shelter, ask about the type of medical treatment the dog has received. Make sure she’s up to date on vaccinations and is heartworm negative. Never adopt a dog that is currently sick because they may need special care; as a first time dog owner, you probably don’t have the necessary knowledge to care for them right now.

Observe the dog’s behavior inside the shelter. Do they jump around or bark incessantly? Are they quiet? These are clues to the dog’s personality. If she’s jumping out of the cage, then chances are she’ll be that way at home. She might even be a master escape artist when it comes to the confinement of your backyard. But it’s also important to remember that many dogs are severely stressed in shelters, so they might be totally different once relaxed in your comfy home.