What Breed of Dog is Right for Me

It is important to do your research on various breeds of dogs, before you choose the suitable one as a pet. Read on...
Many times we hear our kids pleading 'Can we bring home a dog, please, pretty please?'. And sometimes, a walk down the jogging lane makes us want a silent companion on four legs. After a lot debate in our minds, we finally decide it is time to get home a dog as pet. But, before we jump into our cars and drive over to the dog adoption center, there is one question that we all have to answer. What breed of dog is right for me and my family? Someone in the family would suggest a small dog would be great while maybe you feel a large dog will be better for protection. There are hundreds of qualities that you may think related to what breed of dog should I get. Not all dogs are Lassie's and bringing home a similar dog breed without understanding its requirements may prove to be disappointing.

What Breed of Dog Should I Get

You need to consider quite a few factors, before settling down for the right dog. Let us discuss some of these factors that will help you decide what breed of dog is right for you.

Space
When you wonder what dog is right for me, you need to consider the living space available with you. Do you live in an apartment with no yard? Or do you live in a house with a yard? Do you live in a country house or are you living in an urban dwelling. Once you take the space factor into consideration, then you should consider bring home the best dog breeds for families. There is no point in bringing home a large dog when you have living space for just 2 or 4 people. Or getting home a small dog breed when you have plenty of running space or access to a farm. The following are the top 10 dog breeds for apartment or small houses:
  1. Bichon Frise
  2. Chihuahua
  3. Poodle
  4. Pug
  5. Mastiff
  6. Greyhound
  7. Schipperke
  8. Great Dane
  9. French Bulldog
  10. Italian Greyhound
These are some of the best apartment dogs that you can bring home.

Size
The next important factor that you need to consider is the size of the dog. The bigger the dog, the more space and food he requires. Also the amount of dog exercises you need to give him increases. Larger dogs are difficult to travel along with whereas smaller dogs are more easily portable. If you have a large house, then probably, a large dog will work fine as a guard dog. Think twice before you select a dog breed based on his size factor.

Temperament
The most important factor when considering the best dog breeds for families is temperament. You need to decide whether you want a high energy dog or a low energy dog. Do you want a dog that is aggressive and proves to be a great hunting or guard dog? Are there children in your family? If yes then you need to think about dog breeds good with children. If you have lack of time on your hands, then you need to go for easy to train dogs. Are you living alone in an apartment? Then you should consider a one man dog, who is happy with just one person in the house. You should also consider dog barking. If you get home a yappy dog, your neighbors not appreciate the noise factor. You need to consider the dog's temperament as it will help make or break your relation with your dog.

Coat
The coat of the dog too should be taken into consideration when you wonder what breed of dog should I get. If you have plenty of time and money to spend on dog grooming, then you should consider long hair dogs. If you are a working individual and cannot spend hours brushing your dog's coat, then consider short hair dogs that remain matte free. Also, if there is someone in the house who is allergic to dogs, then you need to consider getting home a hypoallergenic dog breed.

These are a few factors that you should consider when thinking about the best breed for me. Do not just fall for the cutest dog breeds. You need to consider each dog and its dog behavior before getting home one. This will help you get the right companion, who will remain loyal to you and your family for life.
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Last Updated: 9/30/2011
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