I Want A Dog! How To Choose The Right Breed
Narrated from: Choosing a dogGetting a dog is an important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You are adding a new member to your household and you must make sure that things will work out. A dog is not something you can just return within the warranty period, nor throw in the trashcan.
There are more than 400 breeds of dog – and some of them could easily be taken for different species. To find the right dog for you or your family, you have to consider the lifestyle you have.
Energetic or easy-going dogs
There are breeds that are quite lively and require a lot of time for exercise and play. If you are an active person and like to go biking or jogging, then one of these would be the perfect dog for you! Energetic breeds generally include Border Collies, Dobermans, German Shepherds, English or Welsh Springer Spaniels, and etc.
On the other hand, if you don’t have time to give such a dog the necessary attention, it will probably build up a lot of excessive energy, which could lead to serious behavior problems and even health risks.
So, you might want to go with a more easy-going breed that just loves to hang out; Akitas, Standard Poodles, Basset Hounds, Beagles, Airedales, and so on.
The big, the small and the furry
Size is an important factor when picking a dog. Large dog breeds require a lot of space – even for wagging their tails! A St. Bernard might seem a cool idea, especially if you have watched all the “Beethoven” films, but a dog of that size would bring ruin to a small apartment. You should also consider the financial factor – the larger the dog, the more money its upkeep will cost you. Small dogs are more suited for urban conditions.
Of course, there is also the medium size group; the Corgi, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Samoyed, etc.
You should also consider the “coat” factor. Dogs can have smooth, short, medium or long hair. The longer the dog hair, the more time you have to spend grooming your pet, and the more cleaning you have to do after it sheds. So again, carefully consider if you have the time and the willingness to perform such activities.
Toy breeds
Toy breeds are perfect for people with less active lifestyles – and they are great for showing off! These dogs are usually quite small and adapt easily. They love daily walks, but wouldn’t lay ruin to your home – and small children just love to play with them. Well known toy breeds include the Shih Tzu, Pug, Japanese Chin, Pekingese, and of course, the Toy Poodle.
Noise and trouble – can you stand it?
You should be well aware of the levels of tolerance you could show towards your dog. Some breeds are notorious barkers – the Border Collie, Beagle, Poodle, and, surprisingly, many of the Toy group. If you pick such a dog, you must be sure that you can stand all the noise!
There are also some breeds then tend to do mischief when they are bored. Most of them are just hyperactive – the Jack Russell Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Collie… Of course, not all dogs should be put in one group – as much as with humans, individual personality plays an important role.
Character – a nanny or a guardian?
Different dog breeds are associated with different types of character. Some are lovable, gentle and careful with small children – the Newfoundland, Pug, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Keeshond, Golden Retriever, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bulldog…
Others are more brutal and ill-disposed to strangers. They could be quite valuable as guard dogs – or for fending off door-to-door marketers! Dog breeds known as good guard dogs include the Caucasian Shepherd, Argentinian Mastiff, Pyrenean Mountain Dog and Rottweiler.
Of course, some dogs can be nannies and guardians at the same time!
For those with allergies
Yes, you there, the one who always dreamt of having a dog but can’t stop sneezing when he is near one – there are dog breeds that are considered relatively safe for people with allergies as well! According to the American Kennel Club, some of the safest breeds are the Bedlington Terrier, Irish Water Spaniel, Maltese, Poodle, Portugese Water dog, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Mexican Hairless, Kerry Blue Terrier and Schnauzer.
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