Picking The Best Breed Of Dog To Suit Your Lifestyle

They say that eventually people begin to look like their dogs, and there may be a lot of truth in that. There is no question that a dog is the best companion a human can have. Both loving and loyal, no other animal, apart from maybe a horse, will give you the unconditional love of a dog. But then again it hard to fit a horse into an average family apartment.

So once that you have made the major decision to bring a dog into your family, then the next stage is to decide which type or even breed of dog to choose. Dogs were breed for different jobs. Traits for hunting, herding, digging, swimming, etc. were encouraged in different breeds over many, many years. Along with the different skills, can different temperaments, intelligence and activity needs. It's important to research the breeds as well as an individual dog when adding to your family. What activity level, and temperament are a match for your home? What breeds fit into that category?

Are you set on a puppy with their extra training needs, or would you consider adopting an older dog in need of a new home? You can choose a mixed breed "mutt" or you can go for a pedigree, one of the 140 breeds currently in circulation.

The next choice that you will probably have to make is; which sex will my dog be? And are you willing to reconsider that when you meet the right dog? Unless you have a championship line of pedigree dogs, a show champion, a working dog line that is in demand, you should consider spay or neutering your dog at around 6 months of age. This will help them be better citizens as well as help keep planned or unwanted litters out of the overflowing shelters.

Mutts can make great canine pets, are generally healthier, take a lot less looking after in most cases, and, hard though it may be to believe, are more intelligent than their pedigree cousins. Tragically, once a dog is a certified breed, the puppy mills start breeding indiscriminately as do those with a pet that they love, but have no knowledge of proper genetics. This leads to over-breeding, resulting in the weaker traits and health issues becoming more prominent in a breed. The biggest drawback is that adopting a mixed puppy is really like a shot in the dark. You can never really be sure what your puppy will grow into. You may get to see the mother, but you can never be really sure who the father is. One day that cute little puppy may grow into a much larger dog than you planned, their temperament may be much different than expected, etc.

The advantage of pedigree dogs, is that you more or less get what you see. Before making the decision, you should read as much as you can, about the various varieties, how they look and their personality. The dog you select should be one that closely fits your lifestyle. If you live in the countryside a dog that loves space to run around and will force you out on long healthy walks may well be for you. If you live in the city, a smaller lap dog may just what you need.

The size of the dog may or not be an issue. Generally size doesn't affect the dog's nature. Some of the biggest dogs are the most affectionate, and the littler they are sometimes the more outwardly aggressive they can appear to be.

The major question when acquiring a dog that the owner has to ask themselves is: Why am I doing this? What will I get from it? What will the dog get from it? What will be both get from being together?

After you have done all your research, and you are still unsure, a consultation with your local veterinarian might be a good idea. As they will be totally objective they will be able to give you good advice on which gender, type or breed most suits you. They may even point you in the direction of some good puppies or rescue groups that have the desired type of dog up for adoption.