Picking the right dog for you

Dec 2

When we think about adding a new dog into our home, we often either want the same type of dog we have had before, or we look for a new breed. When deciding what breed of dog to get, whether from a breeder, shelter or rescue, its always best to look at our current life situation, and lifestyle. While every dog is different, breeds tend to have some normal baseline behaviors and temperament that are wise to consider before diving head first into a breed. Keep in mind, there is no perfect dog, and every dog will require training and management. However, weighing the attributes of certain breeds, how they compare to your lifestyle, and how much you can realistically work on or manage will help you find a better fit for you.

Who is in your household?
Take account of family members, their age, if you have other dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, or are you on a farm with livestock. If you have very young children, a dog that is very large, or tends to herd may not be the best choice. If you have elderly people in the home you may want a dog that is less energetic or too large that they will knock them over. When considering animals, any small animals, or cats may trigger the prey drive in a dog, so finding a dog that has a lower prey drive would be a better fit.
How active are you now?
If you are not very active presently, I wouldn’t recommend getting an active dog in the hopes it will help you become more active. Go off of how active are you are now. Some dogs are highly active and need a lot of physical exercise. If they don’t get enough of it then we tend to start seeing behavioral issues begin to pop up, and vice versa. If you are very active and you get a dog that is not you may find that they have a shorter fuse and don’t tolerate as much because they are tired and may also cause health issues. There is always a sweet spot, but going on the complete opposite spectrum of where you are now can lead to issues later on.
Can you handle a lot of shedding and grooming needs?
One would assume, when you have a dog you should expect shedding. You’d be surprised at how often I have heard this be a surprise to people and lead to regret later on. Some people don’t do well with lots of dog hair in their home and don’t have the energy or ability to clean frequently. Some breeds shed less than others, and drool less than others so keep that in mind while searching for a new dog. Also consider how much grooming a dog may need. Some dogs need minimal brushing, while others such as poodles can develop mats in their fur if it goes uncared for which can in turn cause skin irritation and extra expenses. So ask yourself, can you take the time to care for a needy coat, or can you afford to take them to a groomer regularly?
Is anyone allergic in your home?
People are allergic to different things when it comes to dogs. It could be dander, the fur, and other factors. No dog is 100% hypoallergenic, however, some dogs produce less dander, and shed less which can help minimize allergic reactions. If you have someone who tends to have allergic reactions to dogs check with a health care provider to determine the extent of the allergy, what they are allergic to, if there is medication they can take, or if a dog is even a good choice.
What type of home/ How much space do you have?
Considering your home, and space is important when looking at breeds. If you live in an apartment, you may want a less vocal dog so you don’t upset your neighbors. You will also have to find alternatives to giving your dog physical activity since you won’t have a large space/yard to do physically enriching games. Larger dogs usually need more room, while we can adjust things to help offset this, it is something to consider. You may have to be more active and take your dog out more to use the restroom or get physical exercise. Are you able and willing to?
How much time can you dedicate to your dog?
Tagging onto my previous point, realistically how much time can you dedicate to your dog? Some breeds need more exercise and enrichment, and need consistent training more so than others. If you are never home, but your dog needs to go out how will you work around that? Can you meet the physical and mental enrichment needs of your dog if you are only home to sleep? Sometimes we think about it and say it will be easy, and fine. But I challenge you to be honest with yourself and your time. Not providing the time for our dog can create problem behaviors that will be even harder to handle later on down the line.
How do you want to incorporate your dog into your life?
Some people enjoy hiking, jogging, hunting, etc. and want to have a dog that will be able to be involved in their hobbies, and lifestyle. If you are a jogger, you probably won’t be able to take a short legged Corgi, or Frenchie with breathing problems. Consider the physical attributes and health of some dogs as well. Some dogs may have a hard time with harder physical activity, and it may put more strain on their bodies, even if they are larger breeds. If you are a hunter you may want a Labrador Retriever, a German Shorthaired Pointer, or Beagle depending on what you hunt. If you are hoping your dog can go with you on travels, you may want a breed that is more resiliant and adaptable to changes, and maybe on the small-medium side for ease of travel.
what size dog do you want?
Pretty obvious, if you want a small dog you get a small dog right? Sometimes we get it stuck in our head that we only want a large dog, or small dog. However, depending on your lifestyle and situation a certain size may be more challenging. If you have back problems, you may not want to go with a tiny Yorki, a medium dog may be a good middle ground. Or if you want a very large dog but live in a studio and aren’t able to dedicate a lot of time to your dog, maybe a calm dog on the smaller-medium side is better, or a cat. Size trips a lot of people up, I have a love for large dogs, but I have loved a lot of little dogs in my life that came into my life randomly. If you can get past aesthetic, maybe looking at a size you may not have considered will benefit you more. Or be able to make the necessary accommodations for the size you choose.
Will you have a lot of people in and out of your home?
Some dog breeds tend to be friendly with everyone, so its much easier to have people in your home. However, some breeds are bred to guard and protect. With these breeds it may be more difficult to bring strangers or guests into your home and may require more work to get them comfortable with it. Breeds like the Cane Corso and Great Pyrenees tend to be more prone to guarding. While this may not always be the case, it may be difficult if you tend to have lots of people in your home. Or you have kids that bring their friends over a lot.
have you owned a dog before?
Its kind of that thing where if you don’t have experience no one will hire you but how can you get experience if no one will hire you. When it comes to dogs however, some are better for beginners than others. As a new dog owner, problem behaviors trip us up. Mouthing, nipping at ankles, getting on counters, chewing, barking, jumping, reactivity, the list goes on. While every dog may exhibit problem behaviors, unless you have worked through them before it can be hard to handle with some dogs. Dobermans for example are awesome, cool dogs, that require a lot of exercise and training. They are prone to more energetic behaviors that can be overwhelming and hard to get under control for a beginner. Some dogs also are harder to train, they may be more independent or aloof and can be an added challenge for new dog owners. Usually, dogs that require more of their owner than others tend to be on the more difficult side. However, if you are aware of the breed and their needs and do your research, I mean lots and lots of research and preparation, even a hard dog breed can work for a new dog owner.

Curious what breed may suit you best? Try our breed quiz for fun and see your results!

Conclusion

Know your breeds, and know your lifestyle. Every dog deserves a home and to be loved. But picking the right dog for you and your life over aesthetic will go so much further for the quality of your life and your dogs. If you have your heart set on a specific breed, do your research, know what they may need, what behaviors that may come up, and prepare yourself as best as possible to meet those needs. Lots of people get breeds because its the fad at the time, Huskies with Game of Thrones, Belgium Malinois from K9 military movies, etc. When people aren’t prepared it can sometimes end with dogs being surrendered to shelters. Even going to a shelter or rescue, they will have some idea of the breed, especially if its a breed specific rescue. These considerations apply no matter where you get your dog. So study up, you may find a rare gem of a dog that fits your life amazingly.

Happy training!