Are you thinking about adding a pet dog to your family? Choosing the right breed is as essential and crucial as welcoming a new family member to the family.
Every dog deserves a loving family as we humans do. There’s no right or wrong dog breed; it’s just the one that suits your lifestyle.
While looking for the right breed to suit your lifestyle, several factors have to be considered, and many tests are available online such as choosing the suitable breed quiz or choosing the right breed test.
Some factors to look for in a dog breed are size, playfulness, activities and habits, adaptability, compatibility with other pets and children, and grooming care. Considering these factors can help in narrowing down the search work.
If you need help deciding where to start, try answering the questions below to help you choose the right breed of dog for your family.
- Which dogs are safest around kids?
- Is the size of the dog appropriate for the space I have?
- Which dogs will suit your lifestyle?
- If you already have a breed, will the other pet be compatible with it?
Choosing the right breed for your lifestyle doesn’t just mean that the dog should be good-looking or cute. As important as a dog breed that suits your needs, it’s also essential to consider the dog’s needs. Some of the characteristics one should look into while choosing the right breed dog are:
Characteristics to look for while choosing the right breed dog:
Being a prospective dog owner, look for the following features while choosing the right breed for your family:
Child Friendly:
Highly trainable dog breeds are the best choice if you have kids at home. The friendliest and most loving dog breed is Labrador Retriever. They are the most popular dog breeds, and for a good reason. They are playful, loving, protective, reliable, and patient. They are easy to train and are very intelligent.
Labradors are Black, chocolate, and yellow labs. They all share the same characteristics, i.e., strength, loyalty, and obedience, which makes this breed so popular.
Other child-friendly and family-oriented dog breeds are English Bulldog, Golden Retriever, Beagle, and Irish Setter.
Easy To Groom:
Most people prefer pets that are easy to groom and take care of. As most people have busy schedules and it’s challenging to keep your pet groomed all the time, an easy-to-groom is preferred. American Pit Bull terriers have short, tight coats that do not require almost any brushing needing only an occasional bath.
Other easy-to-groom dog breeds are Beagle, Boxer, Chihuahua, Greyhound, and Miniature Pinscher.
Dogs like Poodle and cocker spaniels have long coats and require daily maintenance. They need grooming sessions which is an additional financial burden.
Guarding breed:
When choosing the right breed for yourself, many people consider getting a breed that will work as a guarding breed. A guard dog is suitable for property protection, personal protection, and as a living doorbell when someone visits.
Guard dogs don’t have to be vicious or dangerous. They need proper training from a young age and will be ready to fight off an intruder. Atika is Japanese mountain dogs and is fiercely protective by nature. They guarded the Japanese Emperors during the middle ages. They have a large build. They should be trained early to differentiate between family, friends, and intruders.
Other Popular guarding breeds are Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso, Australian Shepherd, And Belgian Malinois.
Loyal Breed:
Dogs are famous for their loyalty, but some breeds are more popular for their loyalty than others. Loyalty is an inherited trait. However, no dog is untrainable. Dogs with loyalty traits should be trained from puppyhood so that this quality of theirs can be appropriately utilized and to maximum capacity. Labrador Retriever is one of the most loyal dogs breeds around. No doubt they are called “Retriever” for a reason. They always come back to you.
Other loyal breeds are Cavalier King Charles, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Border Collie, and Beagle.
Active breed:
You will need an active dog breed with great stamina if you enjoy an active lifestyle. Walking, hiking, jogging, playing, swimming, and biking with your dog can be great fun. Border Collies are popularly known as one of the most intelligent dogs.
Their energy levels are so high that a routine walk or jog around the park won’t satisfy their needs. They are top-of-the-line herders with a severe knack for training, agility, and tackling.
Other active breed dogs are Golden Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, and Poodles.
Hypoallergenic Breeds:
No dogs are 100% Hypoallergenic, but some have minimum allergic factors for people prone to dog allergies. Dander attached to dog hair is responsible for dog-related allergies. American Hairless Terriers have no hair, which means a lower allergen load. They are child friendly, energetic, and can accommodate small houses.
Afghan Hounds, Bedlington Terriers, Chinese crested, and Bichon fries are some hypoallergenic dog breeds.
Conclusion:
Many ways help you in finding the right breed. You can search on the internet, ask people who own the breed of your choice, or you can attend dog shows. Make a list of your requirements to help you choose the right breed for your family and lifestyle.
Although it may take a lot of effort and time to choose the right breed for your family, all this hard work will be worthwhile once you have selected the right breed to meet your needs. The most important thing is the connection between the dog and the owner.
Remember that different breeds have different traits, but it’s essential to understand that, like humans, dogs are individuals with specific habits and personalities.
Choose Wisely!
