Choosing the right dog breed for you

Article by Susan Koranki

It's always exciting to think about adding a new puppy to your family, and often difficult to resist buying on impulse. But this new pup will be with you for a long time and it's important to give some thought to choosing the right dog breed for your family, lifestyle or situation.

A bad choice, made on impulse or without proper thought, can mean your 'puppy love story' doesn't have a 'happy ever after' ending, and that's bad news for everyone.

All puppies are adorable, and they all have one thing in common - they grow up to be dogs! However, that's where the similarities end. Every dog breed belongs to the same species 'canis familiaris' (otherwise known as the domesticated dog), but there are over 400 different recognized breeds with more being added all the time.

The enormous diversity between dog breeds isn't just seen in the wide variety of size, shape and color. Domesticated dogs are divided into several different breed groups, depending upon the original purpose or role they were designed (quite literally!) to fulfil.

The dog breeds within each breed group (such as the Herding Group or the Working Group) share similar characteristics and inborn traits. Maybe a strong desire to herd anything that moves, extremely acute sense of smell or sight, the instinct to guard or protect their owners and property etc.

It pays to understand that, even within the same breed, individual dogs (and families or 'lines' of dogs) can vary quite significantly. To top it off, each puppy within a litter is a unique individual and won't have exactly the same looks or behavior as any of it's littermates!

So, you can see that choosing the right dog breed is not something to be taken lightly.

Now we've got that out of the way, here's the good news! Choosing the right dog breed, and deciding which would be the best fit for your family, is actually pretty straightforward. By asking yourself some simple questions, and answering honestly, you can eliminate the breeds that clearly don't fit your 'puppy profile' and choose from those that do! When choosing the right dog breed, here's the things you need to consider -

Your Activity Level If you're an outdoorsy, active kind of person, you need a dog who can keep up. Good choices include the energetic Border Collie, the Siberian Husky or German Shorthaired Pointer. If you're only moderately athletic you might prefer a Jack Russell Terrier or Labrador Retriever.

If you tend towards the couch potato school of athletics, a Beagle or English Bulldog might be perfect.

Whether You Have Children Children and puppies go together like strawberries and cream, but certain dog breeds are inherently better suited to a family with children than others.

Don't automatically expect a small dog to be great with kids. Although they're child-sized they're not toys and can be snappy and opinionated. Extra-large dogs, even if very gentle and loving, can accidentally hurt a small child by the sheer virtue of their size and strength. An enthusiastic welcome or overly loving approach can be overwhelming.

Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Dalmations, Miniature Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and English Staffordshire Bull Terriers are all good choices.

Your Home Whether you live in a city apartment or a rural ranch can have an impact on the breed of dog you choose.

In this case, choosing the right dog breed doesn't depend entirely on size, as big dogs can be lower-energy and more content to snooze all day than some smaller, highly strung 'energizer bunny' breeds.

Dogs from the herding or working groups, really need a job to do. They also require a lot of regular exercise. Some other breeds, such as a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Pekingese for example, are more likely to be perfectly happy with a short walk and a cuddle on the sofa.

What You Want From A Dog If you're hoping to join organized, dog-related activities such as obedience trials, agility competition, therapy work etc., choose an intelligent, trainable breed such as the German Shepherd, Border Collie, Golden Retriever or Standard Poodle.

Perhaps you just want a friend to watch the game with or snooze on the front porch swing. A Cocker Spaniel, Bichon Frise, Dachshund or Basset Hound might fit the bill perfectly.

NOTE: When you're thinking about choosing the right dog breed, don't forget to consider a mix-breed puppy, but do try to find out what breeds seem dominant in his make up. That will give you a rough idea of his character traits and inherited tendencies.

Mix breeds can sometimes be healthier and genetically stronger than purebreds, as they not subject to inbreeding or inherited illnesses or weaknesses. A dog of mixed heritage can most definitely make a wonderful, loving companion and is in no way inferior to his more 'titled' cousins.

If you do decide on a mix breed, please consider rescuing a homeless pup from a shelter or pound. The figures for homeless dogs in the US today are staggering - and heartbreaking - you can't help them all, but maybe you could make the difference in the life of just one!

About the Author

Find out more about choosing the right dog breed for you at http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com If you're a puppy parent, you'll enjoy all the free information and resources designed especially with you in mind.

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Choosing The Right Dog Breed For You

Article by Alex de la Cruz

There are possibly many thousands of dog breeds be that purebred or mixed bred. These dogs vary in size, shape, personality, and abilities. For the American Kennel Club, they only recognize 143 dog breeds. Since there are too many dog breeds to choose from, you might want to start a little research before making a choice of which dog breed is ideal for you. For sure there are many books in the library which has pictures and information about different dog breeds. With the information you will gather, you could narrow down your choices to a few breed. There are some questions you need to answer for yourself when choosing a dog breed.

Knowing the dog breed will help you determine the temperament of the dog. If it is a mixed bred dog, it may have a difference with the temperament of a pure bred one. This issue you have to know in choosing a dog breed especially when you have kids at home. You may consider a dog breed that is smaller and gentler if you have children at home. Your budget to buy the dog will also narrow down your choices by cost or price. A certain dog breed may be more costly in terms of maintenance such as food, medical care, and vaccinations than another breed.

If you can allocate a bigger budget for your dog, then perhaps you can afford to have a high-maintenance dog breed. You cannot just buy a dog out of whim without taking into consideration your financial resources because having a dog can be costly. If you are renting, you have to ensure the approval of your landlord. Bear in mind that with a dog in your house, you might be scorned by your dear neighbors in the building. Furthermore, the availability of space in your place is equally important as there are dog breeds that require a lot of exercise.

Many dogs may not be able to do well when given a limited space for them to loiter around. Some dog breed may be small, but don't be fooled. Jack Russell Terriers require a lot of exercise while there are bigger dogs that laze around all day long. If you have limited time to walk your dog, you can choose a dog breed that is smaller and less active. However, do your research of dog breeds carefully because the dog's size does not say it all. Aside from the space requirement, you have to consider the grooming requirements of your chosen dog breed.

Some dogs are very hairy while there are breeds that are not. You must brace yourself of the amount of dog hair to be shed in your house in this case. Know which dog breed shed a little hair and require less grooming if you have little extra time. As mentioned earlier, grooming your dogs will also require money. So, ask yourself if you have a budget for your dog's regular grooming. Regardless of what dog breed you will get, all dogs need to be trained in order to adapt to your lifestyle and not to disrupt with it. In this case, you really need to spend time and effort in training your dog if you want it to blend in your home.

There are just so many more to say in choosing a dog breed that suits you, your lifestyle, your house, and your budget. Just keep in mind the important items discussed in choosing a new addition in your family.

About the Author

The author of this article Alex De La Cruz is a Dog Trainer who has been successful with several dog training courses for many years. Alex decided to share his knowledge and tips through his website http://www.doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free newsletter and enjoy a healthy and submissive dog.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author's information and copyright must be included.

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