Selecting The Best Breed for Your Life Situation
Choosing a dog breed is, quite literally, a life changing decision. Make the wrong choice now and you could be setting yourself up for a world of trouble later on.
It is imperative that you choose a dog that is a good match for your lifestyle. You can start by answering the questions set out below.
1. How much space do you have?
Not all dogs need acres of space. in fact, provided they get regular exercise, most are quite happy with a small garden. Having said that, it should be obvious that some dogs need more room than others. Keeping a highly energetic dog, like an Airedale, or a Weimaraner, confined to a small apartment is just asking for trouble. You’ll very soon end up with a dog that is highly strung, destructive, and a real handful.
If you have limited space choose a more laid back breed instead. But remember, all dogs need at least some outdoor time, and regular exercise.
2. How much free time do you have?
Your number one responsibility as a dog owner is the well-being of your dog. Among other things, this includes daily walks and exercise. How long should they be exercised for? Well for most dogs, an hour per day will be sufficient. However, some breeds, particularly those from the herding, sporting and working groups, need even more than that. You’re looking at 2-3 hours per day to keep them satisfied.
Do you have what it takes to keep up with such an energetic dog? If not you may be better matched with a more relaxed companion, a Bulldog perhaps.Another consideration regarding time, is training. All dogs will benefit from at least some training. Some, like Poodles, Labs, and Golden Retrievers are relatively easy to train. Others, including most of the hound group, can be a real challenge.
3. What’s Your Activity Level?
If you love the active outdoor lifestyle, or if you have the kind of job where you can involve your dog, you’d probably do well with a dog that is a good match for your level of energy. You’ll probably want to choose a herding dog, or a working dog, like a Husky. These breeds love to work and really come into their own when given a job of work to do.
You may also want to consider a dog from the gun dog group, a Lab or Golden Retriever, perhaps. These dogs have bags of energy, and love to work, but they’re less demanding than other high energy breeds.
4. Do you have kids? How old are they?
It should be obvious that if you have children, you’ll want a dog that is good with children. Labradors and Golden Retrievers are renowned for their sweet natures, which explains the enduring popularity of these breeds.
Others that fit the bill are Beagles and Boxers who, despite their size, are known for their gentleness with children.Some breeds though, are not ideal around small children. Many toy breeds have a tendency to snap if provoked, while a large boisterous dog can easily knock a child over.
{Choosing a dog is an important decision and one that will impact on your life for the next 10-15 years. It is therefore advisable to make an informed decision. The questions above will get you started.|Choosing a dog is a big decision. What you do now will affect your life for the next 10 years and more, so choose wisely. Answer the questions above and you’ll be off to a good start.|Picking a dog is and important decision, and one you’ll want
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