How to Choose the Best Dog Breed for Your Lifestyle
Adding a new dog to your life is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many breeds to choose from! The American Kennel Club alone has 200 registered breeds, but that number doesn’t take into consideration the wide range of popular mixed-breed dogs (like the Goldendoodle) or the adventures of finding a great mutt at your local shelter.
Whether you are looking to get a dog from a breeder or to rescue one, it is important to know what you’re looking for in a dog so that both you and your dog have a happy life together! Here are some important things to consider when choosing the right dog breed for your lifestyle.
Living Situation
Chances are, you’re looking to fit a dog to your current housing circumstances and not the other way around. That alone can help you eliminate breeds that are not a good fit for you. If you live in an apartment, for instance, you should probably stick to smaller dogs. Large dogs typically need more room to move. Some apartment complexes also have restrictions for dog’s weight and size.
If your apartment has a fenced-in area for dogs or has some good walking paths, then you should be able to provide a smaller or mid-sized dog with good exercise and opportunities for off-leash play. Bored dogs can be destructive.
Work Life
It is possible to have a happy, healthy dog even if you work out of the house and no one will be home with the dog during the day, but that will take a bit of time and effort to achieve–especially if you want to get a puppy. Puppies need to be taken outside every few hours, even once they are house trained.
If you work away from home or do lots of travel for work, you’ll want to make sure you have the time when you aren’t at work to spend with your dog. Additionally, you’ll want to invest in some training or even a regular sitter or dog-walker for your dog so that they are happy and safe while you are away.
Energy Needs
Not all dogs require the same level of activity! While it is generally true that larger dogs tend to require more activity than smaller dogs, what a dog was bred to do contributes enormously to how much activity they are up for.
If you’re looking for a dog to join you on a hike, Beagles, Labs, Border Collies and Cairn Terriers are all fantastic options. If you’re hoping for a calm lap dog, try a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a Maltese, a Havanese, or a Yorkshire Terrier. Some larger breeds, like Greyhounds, can actually be good apartment dogs because they like to lounge. Your local rescue can also help direct you to a dog that will be a great fit for your lifestyle.
Grooming Needs
Proper grooming is essential to the health of many dogs. Some dogs require regular brushing and trips to the groomer in order to be healthy, while others are enormously low-maintenance. Likewise, some dogs shed while others don’t shed at all. All dogs need to have nails kept short, but some might need nail trimming less often because they walk a lot on hard surfaces. Keep in mind the time, effort, and financial investment you are willing to make to help keep your dog looking (and feeling) good.
Health Requirements
If you have friends or family members with allergies to pet dander, you may wish to prioritize dogs that are hypoallergenic. Additionally, if you have specific tasks you hope your dog will be able to perform as physical or emotional support, you may want to prioritize dogs that are particularly trainable and smart.
Likewise, knowing the health history of the breed or the individual dog can help you anticipate the kind of care your dog may require long-term. If your dog comes from a shelter, the shelter should be able to provide you with some information on the health history of your dog. You can also research trends among specific breeds.
Breed Temperament
Do you have any other pets in the house? What about children? Some dogs do really well with other animals or youngsters in the home while others find the situation stressful and may become aggressive or territorial. A shelter can likely give you an idea of how a dog will do in different situations.
Dogs can be trained out of bad behavior, but you can also research breeds that do well as family dogs and the like.
Train with Dog Training Elite
Just like humans, each dog will have its own unique personality and preferences. In order for you to have a positive relationship with your dog where they trust you to lead them and keep them safe, proper training is key. No matter what kind of dog you get, Dog Training Elite can help. Our training methods have helped thousands of dog owners learn how to manage the needs of their specific pets in their individual situations. In fact, our training is structured around your circumstances because we come to you! Contact us today to find out more about our training packages and request a training demo!
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