How to Choose the Right Dog Breed

Did you know one surprising fact is that there are several hundred types of dog breed? With that large number of breeds to pick from, how do individuals manage to determine which dog breed is right for them? Luckily, you can narrow down the choices and discover the right dog breed by following a few basic steps.

First, consider your available space. Do you live in an apartment? If so, you will need to rule out big dogs. Consider the Toy dog breed group, such as Yorkshire Terriers, or some of the smaller dogs in the Terrier group, like the Miniature Schnauzer.

If you have children, you will need to consider the size of your dog, as well. Very small dogs, such as Chihuahuas or Maltese, can be very fragile and are often accidentally injured by young children.

On the other hand, a very large dog breed, such as Boxers or Saint Bernards, can be overly boisterous as puppies and can accidentally injure your child. Consider a medium sized dog breed, such as Fox Terriers or Lhasa Apsos, instead.

Next, reflect on how much exercise you can give your dog. If you have a home with a fenced yard, your dog will be able to get some exercise on his own. Nevertheless, dog breeds in the Sporting, Hound, and Herding groups are extremely high energy animals and you will need to have sufficient time to accommodate them with more intensive exercise.

Plan to take a lot of long walks with your dog or go for a daily romp in the park. After all, these dog breeds were bred to work hard and don't do well unless they have a job to do or a way to burn off surplus energy.

Finally, don't forget to consider grooming needs. Some types of dog breed only require a half hour or so of grooming a week, while others need to be groomed for an hour a day, such as the Cocker Spaniel. If you are short on time, don't buy a Cocker Spaniel Standard Poodle or a Maltese, unless, of course, you arrange to take your dog to a groom.

Dog breeds like Boston Terriers or Whippets are good choices for individuals who don't have time to do a lot of grooming.

Before you determine which dog breed you want, you will need to consider the age of the dog. Many people opt to buy a cuddly little puppy instead of an older dog. While puppies have not developed any bad habits, it will be up to the new owner to be certain that the puppy becomes housebroken and obedience trained.

Older dogs are often already housebroken and generally have some obedience training. They are also more liable to be less hyper and less destructive. Nevertheless, they can have behavioral problems or health problems that prompted the former owner to find them a new home.

Do you want to buy a puppy? If so, you will need to find a reputable dog breeder who has a litter of the dog breed you are interested in. Often, a good dog breeder will have a waiting list for puppies.

If you aren't the patient sort, you may be tempted to buy a puppy from a pet store. However, many pet store puppies come from puppy mills and have genetic health defects, bad temperaments, or other problems. It is almost always safest to buy a puppy straight from the breeder.

If you are interested in an older dog, you may want to visit your local dog rescue shelter or call a dog breed rescue. These groups evaluate the dogs' health and temperament before adopting them out.

Once you've narrowed down the dog breed choices and have decided which dog is right for you, don't get too relaxed. After all, you still have one more significant decision to make, what to name your new friend!