Which dog breed

So you have decided to get a dog, but you are not sure what dog breed to get.  Getting the right type of dog is just as important as deciding whether to get a dog.  Many people rushed into getting a Dalmatian after watching the movie only to discover real Dalmatians grow up to be much bigger and more energetic than the cartoon dogs.  Figuring out which dog breed is right for you require careful thinking.  Instead of being fixated on a particular breed because you think it’s cute or your friend has one, ask yourself the following questions and answer them truthfully.

Questions to ask yourself
Do you have space for a big dog? How much time will you spend on dog grooming? Do you have experience training a dog? How often will you exercise your dog? What temperament do you want your dog to show?

 

Which dog breed - Size

Big dogs cost more to pet.  Obviously, they eat more dog food and require bigger dog products like dog crates, dog collars, dog leashes and dog bowls, where the price tags of these items are proportional to their sizes.  Additionally, dog groomers, veterinary hospitals and dog boarding services will be more expensive too as they charge according to size as well.  Aside from the financial aspect, which dog breed to get depends on how much space you can provide a dog. 

Raising a Great Dane in a 400 square feet apartment that you share with your partner may not be the most comfortable experience.  Similarly, petting a Border Collie while suffering back problems would put too much strain on yourself or result in lack of exercise for the dog.  Think about your state of health when deciding which dog breed to get.  Someone with arthritis, back problems or elders living by themselves should consider choosing small dogs that require less exercise.  On the other hand, small dogs may be unsuitable for families with active children who can accidentally injure them.

Which dog breed - Coat type

Ask yourself how much time you willing to spend on dog grooming? Then find which dog breed matches your criteria.  All dogs need grooming, but some more than others.  Long-coated dogs needs to be brushed and combed daily.  Double coated dogs require daily brushing and raking to get rid of the loose hair in their undercoat.  If you are lazy or have bad grooming habits of your own, then go for short coated dogs.  But even those require weekly brushing and combing.

Another thing about coat type you should keep in mind is shedding.  Some dogs shed and others don’t.  Are you ok with hair all around the house during shedding season? And more importantly, do you or your family members have allergy problems? Choose a short coated dog if shedding will be a problem for you.  If you insist on getting a fluffy dog, find out which dog breed has long hair but little or no shedding (like the poodle).

Which dog breed - Training ease

For centuries, dogs were bred to do specific tasks.  Although this is no longer the case, different dog breeds still hold on to their different personalities.  Meaning some dog breeds are easy to teach, while others require rigorous training.  When thinking which dog breed to get, you should ask yourself how much experience you have with training dogs.  If this is your first dog, then choose a breed that is known for their trainability (like Golden Retriever).  On the other hand, trainability is less of an issue if you have raised several dogs before. Find out which dog breed fits your experience. 

The AKC recognizes over 150 dog breeds, which are divided into seven groups: sporting, hound, working, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding.  Generally speaking, the traits associated with each group are:

Group	Trainability	Examples
Terrier	Fiery, independent, hard to train	Bull  Terrier, Welsh Terrier
Hound	Independent, hard to train	Beagle, Bloodhound
Sporting	Easy to train, good with people	Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever
Herding	Intelligent, courageous, active, likes to be trained	German Shepherd, Border Collie
Working	Mixed	Siberian Husky, Rottweiler
Non-Sporting	Mixed	Dalmatian, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Lhasa Apo
Toy	Easy to train and control	Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Poodle

 

Which dog breed - Exercise needs

Just like humans, all dogs need exercise to stay healthy or happy.  Lack of exercise can lead to destructive behavior such as chewing and digging.  So when deciding which dog breed to get, realistically think about how active you or your family is.  Then narrow down your search by eliminating the dog breeds that require too much from you.  Keep in mind that large dogs no not necessarily need more exercise than small dogs.  Work dogs like Mastiff and Great Dane would rather stay at home than to go for a mile run.  In contrast, the smaller Schnauzer and Border Collie will need much more than a walk to keep them physically engaged. 

Which dog breed - Temperament

Just like with trainability, different dog breeds have different temperament. You should think about what kind of temperament you are looking for when deciding which dog breed to get. For example, you want to avoid getting a male Rottweiler if you have another male dog at home to prevent conflicts. Check out the list below for the behaviors associated with several common dog breeds. Think about what temperament you are comfortable with and find out which dog breed suits that requirement. Keep in mind that temperament can be generalized but there will always be differences between individual dogs.  A dog breeder will be able to offer you insights on an individual dog’s temperament by showing you his parents.

Loyal Companion	Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Saint Bernard, German Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdog
Loud and yappy	Terriers, Pomeranian, Yorkshire
Protective	German Shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, Mastiff, Great Dane
Mild	Huskies, Beagle, Dachshunds, Bloodhound, Greyhound, Samoyed, Newfoundland
Aggressive and domineering	Rottweiler, Doberman, Boxer, Akita, Komondor, Malamutes, Schnauzer, Pug, Bulldog, Chow Chow
Cute and friendly	Toy poodle, Maltese, Pekingese, Shih-Tzu