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Choosing a Breed: The Dog Breed that's Best for YOU There's a lot more to choosing a dog than swooning over a soulful pair of puppy eyes, as all the experts will tell you. Picking a breed of dog that's right for your lifestyle, preferences and habits is a crucial factor in the long-term happiness of your relationship with your dog. Not all dog breeds are suited for your individual home conditions. Researching which breed is best for your life situation will increase your chances of developing a mutually satisfying rapport with your new pet. Best Breeds There are no objective criteria as to what is the right breed of dog for you. Picking a breed has more to do with what you expect from a dog than anything else. Decide on the size and energy level your ideal dog should possess. Do you dream of a jogging partner or a couch-cuddling companion? Do you want to be able to pick up your pet or snuggle with him while standing? How much time you can devote to your dog will partially determine whether a more affectionate or more aloof type fits your lifestyle better. A purebred is preferred if you want to know what you're getting as far as the characteristics of the grown dog, while a mixed breed may be for you if you desire fewer harmful inbred genetic traits, such as hip dysplasia. Larger breeds incur more expenses for feeding and grooming. The best way to ensure a good fit is to ask yourself some serious questions before choosing a breed. Qualifying Questions Here's a list of some of the questions prospective dog owners should ask themselves when picking a breed: What kind of area do I live in? How much space do I have for a dog to run around? What is the size of my yard? Can I keep my dog secure on my property? Realistically, how much daily exercise can I give my dog? How many hours a week would the dog be home alone? How active am I? How energetic of a dog can I handle? What size dog do I prefer? Do I have younger/older children in the home? Do children frequently visit the house? Do any older people or invalids stay with me? How much money per week do I plan on spending to feed the dog? How much can I spend on other expenses? How much grooming will I give? What coat length do I prefer? What about shedding? Do I want the dog for a specific purpose, such as bird hunting, guarding the home, playing with children or companionship? Would I like a more independent or more protective type of dog? Do I need my dog to readily accept animals, i.e. other pets? General Guidelines Certain types of breeds are better suited to specific conditions. As you can see from the list of questions above, there are many factors that will go into a well-thought-out decision as to which breed fits you best. Apartment-dwellers often gravitate to smaller breeds, but the important factor to consider is actually how much exercise you're willing to give the dog. Although all dogs need some exercise, some larger breeds, such as St. Bernard's and Mastiffs, do well in small homes as long as they get a long walk or run in the park daily. Other large dogs, such as Dobermans, as well as some deceptively small dogs, like the Jack Russell terrier, will be miserable in an apartment if they are not heavily exercised. If a homeowner's yard is not securely fenced, sporting dogs will run away. These owners would be better off with a breed that likes to stay close to home. Hounds to Suit the Hobby If you plan on doing lots of jogging or hiking with your hound, get a high energy breed with endurance capabilities, like herding, working and sled dogs or scent hounds. For your dog's comfort, ensure that he has no joint problems and is short-coated. Avoid large, short-headed Bulls and Mastiff breeds and all dogs with very short legs. Some breeds need many hours of exercise a day, so if you can't see yourself devoting that much time to exercise don't buy a Dalmatian, pointer, retriever or any working or herding dog. Hunting breeds like Bassett Hounds or sighthounds like Greyhounds are fine with shorter exercise periods or twice-daily walks and actually enjoy lounging around with their owners. If you're a boating enthusiast, waterdogs such as retrievers or short-legged Corgis are what you seek. If gardening is your thing and you expect to allow your dog to share in its joys, an easy-going breed like a sighthound will work best. Avoid active dogs with burrowing in the breed history, such as terriers. Stay-at-home hobbyists should look into companion dog breeds such as Bulldogs. Fitting into the Family A family with children under the age of seven should gravitate toward medium to large dogs over the age of five months. Shun toy dogs (under 15 lbs.) like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians, whose bones can be easily broken by rough or clumsy handling and who tend to bite more readily than larger breeds, as well as young puppies that can teethe on and scratch a child. For loud, overzealous kids, family-friendly breeds with great personalities that are easy to train and care for are suggested. Collies, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Setters and Brittany and English Springer Spaniels are all excellent choices. Avoid Cocker Spaniels, which won't tolerate rough treatment or teasing, and most terriers, which will return aggressive behavior tit for tat. Frail or elderly people should stay far from burly, energetic adolescent dogs to protect fragile hips and wrists. If you or anyone in your household has respiratory issues or other health conditions such as arthritis or back problems, a small to medium-sized breed that requires minimal exercise might be suggested. Go for poodles or schnauzers if shedding is an issue. Beware of Newfoundlands and most other working breeds, as they are big shedders.

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