When you hear someone say that we don’t deserve dogs, it’s because of their trusting nature and immeasurable loyalty. Indeed, a dog can be your best friend for life, but for it to happen, you need to choose one whose personality is compatible with yours.
If you’re thinking about getting a new furry friend, you probably already have a particular dog breed in mind. But is it really the right one for you?
Our dog breed selector will help answer this question, so read it carefully. We will also answer some of the other burning questions about dog breeds, so stay tuned!
How To Pick The Right Dog – The Dog Breed Selector
While you might love all dogs, it doesn’t mean your personality is compatible with each dog breed. If you’ve ever owned a dog, you already know this.
As a new, future dog owner, you need to determine whether you’re ready to undertake certain responsibilities that some breeds bring. For example, are you willing to take on challenging temperaments of some dog breeds? It’s a yes or no question – there’s no in-between.
That’s why you need to consider a few things and follow the dog breed selector before you opt for a specific breed.
Size
If you live in a small apartment, consider getting a tiny Maltese poodle, a Yorkshire terrier, a loyal and energetic chihuahua, or perhaps a playful pomeranian.
On the other hand, if you want a large dog, perhaps consider the smart and fun-loving samoyed or the easy-to-train, loyal collie.
Activity level
If you’re an adrenaline junkie, you could find a best friend in an active, agile dog that needs high-level training, like a border collie, a greyhound, or an Australian shepherd. A dachshund-lab mix is another playful, fun-loving breed.
On the other hand, bulldogs, chow chows, basset hounds, and similar breeds are ideal for people that are less active and need a pet with the same energy level.
Family-friendly or not?
Make sure to select a dog breed based on what’s best for your family and their needs.
Do you have kids? If so, pick a breed whose temperament, size, and activity level are ideal for kids of all age. Labrador retrievers are exemplary dogs for kids. Their calm temperaments, lovable nature, and 10-12 years life expectancy make them your kid’s best friends for life. Interestingly enough, labrador retrievers were the most popular dog breed in 2019, so need we say more?
Golden retrievers, poodles, Newfoundlands, or beagles also make the top of the list of kid-friendly dogs.
Living situation
Another thing to regard would be your current living situation. Do you live in a house with a yard where your dog can play and run freely? Do you need a dog to protect your home? Or would you like a canine companion to keep in your flat where you don’t have much space?
German shepherd dogs or rottweilers are perfect house protectors as they like being in the open yard. Generally, large dog breeds such as Bernese mountain dogs or Belgian sheepdogs are ideal to keep in the backyard.
As for apartment life, perhaps consider getting a small dog that won’t mind living in a confined space. Basset hounds are perfect home pets; they’re kid-friendly dogs who are happy being indoors as their needs don’t involve high-level activity or training. Boston terriers also like indoor home life; they’re small in size, gentle and affectionate, so they are best for families with kids or the elderly, or any age group for that matter.
We can’t fail to mention bulldogs – their easy-going nature suits an inactive life in closed space. It doesn’t take much to make a bulldog happy; brief walks and naps in your lap make a bulldog your best friend for life.
How To Identify Your Dog’s Breed
Let’s say you have already taken a new puppy home, but maybe you’re not quite sure its breed. You don’t have to wait years for your puppy to get a certain age so you can figure out what group or dog breed it belongs – you can find it out a lot quicker.
The first thing you can do is browse some breeds on the Internet and see which one your dog resembles the most.
If this seems too complicated or not particularly helpful, your vet may know the answer. After all, they are the experts!
Now, your vet’s opinion doesn’t have to be 100% accurate if your dog is a mixed breed. Speaking of which, there are ways to find out your dog’s breed, even if it’s mixed. For instance, you can find a doggy DNA test. There are a few reputable DNA testing services that contain information on every dog breed. You can find out all about the breed of your dog in less than a week.
If you’re not keen on doing this, you can try the step-by-step mixed breed identifying process. Take a week or two, and carefully document your dog’s physical traits. The things you should cover include your dog’s:
- muzzle shape
- tail style
- ear type
- coat type
- coat color & pattern
- behavior
- miscellaneous (unique traits)
These should give you a comprehensive list of your dog’s traits so you can do a detailed Internet search and get a definitive yes or no answer to all the questions regarding your dog’s breed.