pets | dogs
PETSDogsHow to Choose the Best Dog for You Choosing the best dog breed can sometimes make dog lovers feel conflicted. You may love large dogs but live in a small place or prefer smaller dogs but have young children at home. Most professional breeders and trainers recommend selecting a dog that compliments your lifestyle rather than just choosing a dog and trying to match your lifestyle to their requirements.Every dog is different but there are certain characteristic features of each dog breed. Mixed breeds may be more challenging to read since it can be uncertain which breed in the mix will have the most prominent characteristic traits. Although, there are those that make the argument that mixed breeds make the best pets as they are typically mellower. When selecting the perfect dog breed keep in mind the type of breed — each breed has its unique characteristic, both good and bad, and most have been specifically bred for a particular job. For example, selecting a dog from the sporting breed or hunting breed have inherent characteristics and may chase cats, birds or other pets. 
When selecting a dog bigger isn't necessarily better. Don't be fooled by a puppy's cute looks or size. Some breeds can be quite small as pups but become very large when they grow up. If you have a small apartment, common sense will tell you that a toy or miniature dog breed will work best. However if you prefer medium to larger size dogs be sure you have the proper living conditions in which to furnish your new pet. You won't do yourself or the dog any favors if you can't accommodate their basic needs. Know the breed and manage their care according to their specific concerns of health — For example, an overweight Dachshund can develop chronic back issues, Yorkies are prone to bad teeth, Golden Retrievers can develop hip dysplasia and cataracts. When you select a pet, it's a new member of the family, so it's for life, therefore it's important for you to consider all the health concerns related to the dog breed that you are considering and be prepared to treat them for it. Also, select your pet from a reputable breeder. Too often puppies are generated through "puppy mills" and are over bred making them susceptible to illness, degenerative diseases and even death. If you lead an active lifestyle then you'll want to select a dog that you can share that with. Dalmatians, Australian Sheppard's and Poodles are all consider high activity dogs; if you select a dog with high activity levels but don't meet their expectations they can get bored and possibly destructive. Dogs with lower levels of activity include the Bulldog and Basset Hound. Do you homework and choose a family pet that will fit into your lifestyle. If you have children at home or are planning to have them, it is best to pick child friendly breeds as some dogs are not good with children. The Bulldog, Beagle, Labrador Retriever and Siberian Husky are all child-friendly breeds with a minimum amount of training. Seek advice from breeders and vets to decide if the breed you're interested in is the best fit for you and your family. |
