How to Choose a Dog

Picking the Right Breed of Dog

Sep 30, 2009

When choosing a new dog, several things need to be considered such as where the dog will be living and the type of family it will be living with.

The joyous time has arrived when it's time to pick out a dog. To find just the right new member of the family, many issues need to be thought about such as the size of the home, the amount of activity the dog needs, grooming requirements, members of the family, and the size and breed of the dog.

What Size Home is Good for a Dog?

Just about any size of home is good for a dog, as long as the right size and breed is matched to the home. For example, if living on a farm, a Bearded Collie, Australian Shepherd, Old English Sheepdog, and Shetland Sheepdog would be good choices as they love to work and make great herders. However, none of the above mentioned breeds would be good for apartment living.

Medium sized and large sized dogs do better living in a home that has some type of backyard where they can get their daily exercise. If cooped up in a small environment, they can tend to have behavioral problems. There are several breeds of dogs that do great living in an apartment including the Lhasa Apso, Bichon Frise, Dachshund, and Boston Terrier.

To learn more about dogs who are best suited for apartment living, please view the article Best Dogs for Apartments.

Dogs and Climate

When deciding on what kind of a dog to get, take into consideration the climate the dog will be living in. Dogs like the Akita, Great Pyrenees, and Newfoundland do fine in a colder climate, but have little tolerance to heat. On the other hand, breeds like the German Pinscher, Italian Greyhound, Manchester Terrier, and Chihuahua have a much higher tolerance to heat.

Reason for Getting a Dog

What is the purpose for getting a dog? If looking for a dog that will spend a lot of time in public around other people, a Golden Retriever and Beagle are good options as they are very people friendly. If wanting a dog that is good with children, a Labrador Retriever, Pug, English Setter, Poodle, and Golden Retriever are excellent choices. If the hope is to find a good guard dog, consider a German Shepherd, Puli, or Rottweiler.

How Much Exercise Does a Dog Need?

When selecting a dog, bear in mind that different breeds have different exercise requirements. Dogs like the Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, and Yorkshire Terrier can usually get all of the exercise they need running around and playing in the house. In contrast, breeds like the Brittany, German Shorthaired Pointer, and Irish Setter require a rigorous amount of exercise each day.

Grooming of a Dog

The Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Mastiff, Bull Terrier, and Miniature Pinscher are all breeds of dogs with minimum grooming requirements. Dogs like the Poodle, Bichon Frise, and Portuguese Water Dog, require frequent brushing. In addition, some breeds of dog need monthly clipping.

Does the amount that a dog sheds come into play when contemplating what kind of dog to get? Some dogs love to leave their furry calling cards all over the house, especially in shedding season. If excessive shedding is a problem, consider getting a non-shedding dog.

For information on dog breeds that don't shed, view the article Dogs That Don't Shed.

There are numerous factors to consider when picking out a new dog. Sometimes it can seem a little overwhelming, but, in the end it's best to consider all aspects so just the right dog is chosen for everyone.

The copyright of the article How to Choose a Dog in Dogs is owned by Janis Masyk-Jackson. Permission to republish How to Choose a Dog in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.