Choosing the Right Dog for You

There are more than 150 breeds of dogs all over the world. Each breed has a distinct set of characteristics and features, and lives well in particular environments. They say that pets eventually reflect the personality of their owner, with their inherent characteristics remaining intact.

Choosing the right dog for you will entail a little reflection on what kind of lifestyle you have, what kind of characteristics you look for in a dog, what kind of environment you live in and how much time you are willing to commit or dedicate to your pet. Remember that dogs generally want a certain level of attention and activity from their owners and not getting that attention might cause them to be lonely or even grumpy.

Retrievers, terriers, dachshunds, poodles, beagles, spaniels are just some of the most popular breeds that are owned as pets today. Before getting yourself a pet, it’s important that you get to know some of their characteristics, so that you don’t end up making a bad choice. Remember that dogs were bred to accomplish particular tasks and so even after several generations they still have some of those skills and adaptations that were deemed necessary to accomplish particular tasks.

For instance, are laid back and gentle whereas are noisy watchdogs, friendly…

Here then are some tips that will help in choosing the right dog for you:

1. Consider your own personality or need. If you like dogs that are intelligent, the Poodle, German Shepherd and Labrador Retriever are all good choices. If you want those that do not require a lot of exercise, consider getting a Chihuahua or Pekingnese. Dogs that are friendly include the Golden Retriever and Brittany Spaniel, whereas breeds that are best to have around small children include the Poodle, Beagle, Boxer, Pug and Labrador Retriever.
2. Consider the type of environment you’re living in. For instance, Shih Tzus, Pugs, Basset Hounds and Beagles could easily adapt to apartment living. Except for Shih Tzus, these breeds are safe to have around small children. Meanwhile if you live in the country, the Border Collie and Australian Shepherd are popularly good choices.
3. Consider how much space you have at home. Larger breeds need more space and usually need more exercise than their smaller counterparts.
4. Consider how much time you could spend caring for your dog. Puppies require more care and attention, so if you don’t have a lot of free time, get yourself an older dog, probably one that is at least already a year old.

Although these tips will surely be helpful in choosing the right dog for you, remember to still do a little research on your own before you get yourself a certain type of dog. Some dogs are particularly affectionate and friendly, while others are loyal, and still others serve as good guards and watchdogs.

The most popular breeds include:

1. The Labrador Retriever due to its friendliness, intelligence and suitability for family living;
2. The German Shepherd due to its strength, intelligence and love for exercise;
3. The Chihuahua for its small size, devotedness and playfulness;
4. The Pug due to its friendliness towards children and visitors; and robust enough that you won’t have to worry about it being harmed by your kids.

No matter which breed you choose, you need to keep in mind that keeping a dog is a big responsibility, and in the off chance that you end up choosing a breed that is slightly not suited for you, you have to make sure that you make the necessary adjustments for the dog, or make the necessary adjustments to find him a new home, while it’s still early and he still hasn’t settled in with you.