It takes massive commitment to care for and raise a respectable dog, but the upside is so worth any of the hassle. Dogs bring happiness, joy, companionship and a ton of other happy feeling words.
And picking the right breed takes a lot of thought as there are many factors to consider, especially if it’s going to impact roommates, significant others, parents and family members.
Here’s a short guide and checklist on a few things to consider when choosing a dog breed:
age
size
coat length
shedding
activity level
trainability / intelligence
Age
Age plays a huge role in selecting a new dog. Do you want a cute little high maintenance, bouncy, teething puppy that will take years of training or an older dog that is low maintenance, a little more mellow, perhaps somewhat trained and set in his ways?
Size
A dog’s height and weight is usually unique to the breed. Of course interbreeding will get you hybrid dogs that might be a little smaller or bigger than a true breed. But when choosing a dog in general, size is so important because, depending on the size, it will be directly effected by your (also there’s) living space.
If you live in a small 2 story walk up apartment with no yard, it’s probably not a bad idea to get a german shepherd or great dane. Usually smaller more high maintenance confines favor a smaller dog. Both you and the dog will notice how small a place is with each other in it and it might cause some hassle.
Coat Length/Shedding
If you or a family member or roommate is allergic, a dog that sheds is probably not a good idea. You can find a list of Hypoallergenic breeds here.
Activity Level
Families who live in apartments are probably not suited to get a high energy dog with no space, however this can be solved if you are an active person. A high energy dog without a way to exercise will turn destructive.
Trainability / Intelligence
Dogs need to be trained. Plain and simple. If you will have the dog off leash, a smart, well-trained dog is a must.
Now that you have a pretty good idea of HOW to choose a dog, Now it’s time to choose a dog.
I know my breed of choice – labradors. There’s something about them; they were made to love!
But I love to use this tool to see different breeds and help my friends choose a breed.
Dog Breed Selector
What are your favorite dog breeds? Let me know in the comments below!
No Comments