Each and every dog has its own unique personality. And, with these unique personalities comes distinctive needs. It can be hard to determine which dog will best fit into your lifestyle and fit in with your own personality!
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Questions to consider before bringing a new dog to your home:
- Do you have children? If so, you will want a dog that is patient and playful.
- Do you live in a home with a big yard? If not, you will need to consider options of how your dog will get the exercise he needs, especially bigger breeds.
- Do you prefer big or small dogs?
Do you want a dog that is already house trained? Or do you want a puppy you can train yourself?
There are benefits to both! Puppies are special in the fact that you can raise them and train them from the very beginning. Older dogs are great, just for the fact that you do not have to go through the joys of house training! Either way it is important to know which you prefer.
Do you want a dog that is calm and relaxed or one that is playful and rambunctious?
This is important to know because if you want a dog that is playful and rambunctious, than you will need to be able to have the time to actually play with him and train him the rules. They cannot learn how to be good on their own!
They need guidance and a lot of love and patience. If you want a dog that is calm and a great dog to cuddle up with at the end of the day, than you will not want to get one of those playful, rambunctious ones. This will only lead to frustration and an unhappy life for you and your dog.
Now what?
After you decide what personality and size of dog you are looking for, then you need to decide what type of dog to get that are known to match the personality you are looking for in a dog. You will need to do your homework. Do not hastily make a decision without first doing as much research as you can on all of the different breeds. Of course, just because a breed is known for something, such as great with children, does not mean it is always the case.
Each dog is unique and you will have to determine the right dog by physically meeting the dog or puppy. However, you can get an idea of which breed to check into through your research and through the questions you have answered from above.
Choose the best type of dog for you among the different breeds of dogs available
Your dog breed-choosing task can be simplified by thoroughly researching the different breeds of dogs available. Dog owners who’ve bypassed this important step, obtained dogs based on how cute they looked, but shortly thereafter–and with great heartbreak–had to do away with them due to behavioral problems.
Avoid this grief and learn all you can about the various kinds of dogs available. Your education will reward you tenfold by helping you select a canine companion ideal for your lifestyle, environment and family situation.
Discover what dog personalities, behavioral characteristics and distinct appearances attract you most. To simplify your research, we have provided you with the seven common-known dog classes you can choose your dog from. A few sample breed types for each group have also been provided:
- The working group: Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Rottweiler, Boxer, Saint Bernard.
- The hound group: Bloodhoud, Borzoi, Greyhound, Basset, Beagle, Whippet, Saluki, Afghan Hound, Scottish Hound.
- The herding group: Shetland Sheepdog, Border Collie, Puli, Austrailian Cattle Dog, Welsh Corgis, German Shepherd.
- The terrier group: West Highland White Terrier, Scottish, Norfolk & Norwich Terriers, Cairn Terrier, Border Terrier.
- The non-sporting group: Chow Chow, Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Chinese Shar-Pei, Dalmatian, Bichon Frise, Minature Poodle.
- The toy group: Pug, Shih Tzu, Toy Poodle, Maltese, Pekingese, Chihuahua, Pomeranian.
- The sporting group: Vizsla, Pointer, Labrador Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Weimaraner.
Of course, there are many other sorts of dog not mentioned above that you should think about researching. You might even consider a mixed-breed dog. Though it could be hard to predict size, weight, and behavior for a mixed breed dog, however, most are charming and many are in need of a good home.
Adopting a mixed-breed dog is one best way to avoid inherited diseases prone to the purebreds. Remember do your homework before bringing puppy or dog home.
After doing your research it is time to find your dog
There are many places to find a dog. Shelters are a great place to get a dog, as many of these dogs are loveable and really need homes. And, usually you can get a dog for a lot less than going to a pet shop.
You could get your puppy from a house breeder. When choosing between a home breeder and a puppy mill or dog farm, it is highly recommended to stay away from the dog farms. Do your research on these types of places. Remember that many pet shops will get their dogs from puppy mills.
Once you have decided on where you want to go for your dog, you need to go and visit the puppy or dog. If you have children, it is a good idea to bring them along to see how the dog reacts with the children. If you decide on a puppy, and it is not time for him to come home, keep in touch and try to visit a couple more times to be sure he will be the perfect match for your home!
