A few days ago, I was mingling with strangers when a heartless friend introduced me as “someone who knows a lot about dogs.” Naturally, one of the strangers was thinking about getting a dog. I took a sip of my coke, looked at the inquiring face staring expectantly at me and thought, “Here we go again.”
Smiling, I inquired what kind of dog he was thinking about. For the next twenty minutes, he talked about the family Lab that had been an integral part of his childhood. “I want my kids to have a dog like I grew up with. He was great. Of course, I’m divorced and only have the kids on the weekend.” I then casually asked if he remembered who took care of the family dog. He gave me a what-does-it-matter look and said, “My mom.” I asked if his childhood dog was physical and active. “Oh yeah!” he exclaimed. Our Lab would play ball for hours and hours and wanted to go everywhere we did.”
Still smiling, I said, “Well then you want an active dog that loves to play ball and go on long walks.”
“Well, sure … on the weekends, with the kids.”
After countless conversation like this one, I have learned to cut to the chase. I looked right at him and said, “Well, if we can convince your mom to move in with you, and find a Lab that only wants to play ball on the weekend, we will have found the perfect dog for you and your children.”
I don’t think I offered the kind of help he was looking for, and yet, if he heard me at all, I offered the kind of help he needed to hear.
The average life expectancy for a dog is 12.8 years. There is a big chance the dog you bring home will live with you longer than your kids will. One of the most important questions to consider when deciding what type of dog you want to bring into your home and heart is, “What is this dog bred to do?”
A Labrador Retriever lives happily-ever-after in a family that is prepared for a large, boisterous, energetic dog that retrieves everything that’s not nailed down. A Lab is not going to be happy only playing with the kids on the weekend and being left alone for long periods of time. A Lab is going to want to be your best friend even when you go to the bathroom.
An older couple shared with me that they were considering buying a Portuguese Water Dog. Curious, I asked, “What do you like about a Portuguese Water Dog?”
“Well, our last dog shed a lot and we were looking for a dog that didn’t shed.” Okay, that makes sense, I thought, as I waited for them to continue. We stood looking at each other awkwardly for a few seconds before they added, “They shed hardly at all.”
“What else do you know about the Portuguese Water Dog?” I inquired, having pretty good idea of the answer.
“President Obama’s family has one.” Yeah, well rumor has it that the Obama family had to hire three staff members and a full-time trainer to provide Bo with enough training and exercise to turn him into first dog material. The Portuguese Water Dog is a working dog. Their historical purpose was to assist the Portuguese fisherman to do a day’s worth of work. This translates to, “If you don’t want a very active dog, consider a different breed.” The couple considering the Portie was more inclined towards cruises, car rides, and parking spots close to the entrance of the places they were driving to. I smiled and shared with them that a Bichon Frise is another breed that “sheds hardly at all” but needs a more moderate level of activity. Bichon Frises were bred to be companion dogs, and well, Barbara Streisand owns a Bichon Frise!
Dog breeds are not interchangeable. Dogs are bred to do a specific job. Today, few dogs do the jobs they were bred to do, but they still harbor the skills that made them successful in their original careers. There is a right breed for every family, and making the right match is important.
Profiling before contracting to provide a forever-after-home for the pup of your dreams is encouraged. Take some time and research dog breeds. If you are considering adopting from a shelter, you have a better chance of a good match if you have in mind “something like a Lab” or “some kind of terrier. “
There is a breed of dog for everyone. With a little effort, you can find the right breed of dog for your lifestyle, fall in love, and provide a forever home for. The End. Research is your friend.
Best of luck!

I highly recommend a goldendoodle. This hybrid dog is one of the healthiest dogs, and the most intelligent of all dogs. I love mine, she is so sweet. And so intelligent that she is easy to train. There is the kind of intelligent where you are so smart, that you use it to cause problems and be rebellious. That's my mom’s Duke the lab. But my Maggie wants to please you.

We took Maggie on a trip to Tulsa to see my aunt. My mom really needed this special face soap, so on the drive up we stopped at the mall. So she dropped me off at Cheesecake Factory and I sat on the porch with her and a drink. There were many people sitting there eating. The person next to me had a juicy steak. She just sat down, then laid down, and bothered no one. I didn't have to tell her to leave anyone alone or not to beg once.

She’s this good all the time. We got her trained as an inside dog in about a week. She was incredibly easy to house break. When she comes in from the backyard, all she does is lay on her blanket or pillow, or ‘vacuum’ the kitchen crumbs. She sniffs the trash, we say ‘No Maggie.’ And she backs off, with an I'm sorry look.

But she’s just the sweetest dog. She'll stick by your side and give you cuddles but if you want her to go away she will too. She does want to play, and it's always very gentle.

She’s great with kids. My little brother was tugging on a fox with her, and she accidentally poked his arm with her tooth, and she backed off and said sorry with her expression and always played more gentle. There was this random kid in a stroller who was like, “Doggie come here!” But then had second thoughts and freaked out and screamed in Maggie’s face when she got close. Many dogs would have barked, or even been aggressive. Maggie just flattened her ears, stepped away, and continued on her walk. She learns manners quickly and wants to have manners. I highly recommend any size goldendoodle as a beginners dog.

Allow me to give you some perspective from my own experience as a person who has been researching dog breeds almost daily now for the past several months, since I’m getting my first one next spring.

There is no general dog breed that you should avoid. Here’s why -

The most important thing when choosing a breed is

Don’t pick one just because you think it’s cute, or because it’s cool and popular.

Dog shelters are packed with such poor animals that were acquired by their former owners because that breed was in vogue. Like some piece of clothing or jewelry.

This is a living thing. Not some smartphone that you can upgrade or change if you don’t like it. There is no way in hell as far as I’m concerned that a man should abandon his dog, unless he himself were starving. And even in that case, I would give it half of whatever is in my plate.

Now when I started out, my favorite breeds in order of preference were - Rottweiler, German Shepherd and Siberian Husky.

Why? Because I love intelligent and powerful dogs. I just do.

Outside of beagles, there is no small breed that I particularly like.

Then I started to add in filters one by one based on my limitations and circumstances as a single working guy -

1. Can’t have one that barks, howls or bays a lot - I live in big cities in an apartment. So no beagles or any hounds. I’ll get evicted. Needless to say, I won't even consider a choke collar, I simply consider those as cruel and have no intention of subjecting my dog to electric shocks anymore than I would like to be.
2. Can’t have one that requires a lot of exercise - Can’t spare more than an hour for walks. So out went the“working breeds” - all three of my big favorites. Plus any terriers. This one was the hardest to take!
3. Can’t have any aggressive breeds - I rent and most won’t take breeds like pit bulls or doberman pinschers
4. Can’t have one that would have a lot of separation anxiety - I live alone and have a day job. That cleaned out Labradors and Retrievers.
5. Can’t have a small cute fluffy one - I just don’t like them very much.
6. Don’t care for dogs with totally compressed faces or are skin and bones- Pugs, French Bulldogs, greyhounds just look straight up ugly to me. It’s entirely a subjective thing.

You see what happened right there?

There are hundreds of breeds of dogs, but once I applied all of those key filters, I was literally left with just two . Two!

1. Great Danes.
2. Mastiffs.

I did a ton of research on both. I finally picked the mastiff - they are protective, bred as the quintessential guard dog and I like that. Because I walk the streets at night in big cities and while I’m not small at 6′1″ and 190 lbs, I don’t want a dog that’ll just bark and not do much else. Both breeds are imposing in size, but while a Dane has a fearsome bark, it isn’t a guard dog, but with a mastiff it’s the exact opposite. They’re silent and calm couch potatoes but go after their owner and they’re dangerous like you won’t believe, transformed into hounds from hell with a size and bite twice as powerful as that of a German Shepherd.

They’re big and powerful yet very affectionate, low energy, they don’t bark, and can be left alone for four to five hours at a time. The perfect dog breed - for ME.

So I finally am getting a bull mastiff. Yes it is a stubborn breed but I’m betting on the fact that I’m up to the task as a guy with a strong and if need be, stern personality and ability to discipline one right from the start. I’ll put in the time and effort consistently , because the last thing you want is an unruly 130 pound mastiff, let alone an aggressive one!

But this breed that’s right for me might not be to the taste and conditions of another, and vice versa.

It depends on your specific circumstances, your personality.

Pick one wisely after thorough research.

This is about the dog, about a living thing that will be devoted to you like a child and will have to be taken care of like a child! And it is downright cruel and vain to buy a dog as some kind of showpiece.

One more thing if you’re a guy -

Whatever you may do, please for god’s sake, don’t get a breed just because you think it’ll be a chick magnet!

Now that’s just downright pathetic. I’ve lost count of how many guys say that to me shamelessly. No thank you. Not to brag but I do just fine with the opposite sex on my own. I’m looking for a loving companion, not some kind of chick bait or cute accessory. It's an intelligent, passionate, living feeling animal. Not a pair of Cole Haan shoes.

So choose carefully and choose with consideration for the dog.

This is as much about its life and happiness as it is about your own.

It’s not hard.

99.999% of all dogs are incredible and quickly integrate into your family. Before long, life without them would be unthinkable.

I’ve had a few dogs during my life, my family have dogs and every single one of them is perfect.

The two I’ve had as an adult were just a case of - We’ll have that one!! Both have been irreplaceable.

Jess, a Staffordshire Bullterrier was brought home when my children were very young (2000). She loved them very much. She would go upstairs with them at bedtime and sit on the landing outside their bedrooms. Possibly guarding them, possibly lying above the heating pipes for warmth :o)

Jess died at 13 but she set the benchmark for dogs in my view. An absolutely brilliant companion.

We still have Sam, an 8 year old Brown Labrador. He was handed to us by the breeder we bought him from as a puppy. We think he was given to us because he has a broken tail (it leans to the left and only half-wags). He was the runt who may well have been left behind by cash paying, prospective dog owners.

My wife and I would have chosen him because of his tail.

He is the best decision we have made as a couple.

Regardless what breed - or mix - you choose, there are some things to remember if you want a pet: not a working dog, a PET:

1 - don’t choose the “pick” of the litter, the most enthusiastic, agile, friendly pup, walking and climbing all over others to welcome you. That’s the most obvious emotional choice, however, you’ll have a super energetic, hyper dog, and your life will be a true roller coaster for the first years - or all his years.

2 - don’t choose the dog that growls or picks on other puppies. He’s not “brave”. You’ll have a bully. You’ll need to break fights, avoid any normal dog interaction before he’s fully trained, and work hard, TOO hard to keep him social: sometimes you will be able to, sometimes you won’t, and it’s heart breaking.

3 - don’t choose the puppy that is sitting in a corner with sad eyes, pushed by the rest of them. He’s most probably fearful temperament, and fear is the main reason of aggression in dogs. While he can melt your heart, it’s one of the most difficult dogs to have, ever. As a new owner, leave that pup for someone with experience. Same - sometimes humans will be able to grow his confidence, sometimes they won’t be.

Some other things to have in mind: the runt can grow up to be the biggest pup in the litter. Same, the largest pup will not necessarily be the largest dog. Their paws and parents size can give you a rough idea what to expect, but be prepared for surprises. a “fat” puppy is not necessarily fat: it hasn’t probably been de-wormed well, or at all. Their coats also change. Sometimes, dramatically. Be sure you want THAT one no matter how he’s gonna evolve in time. He will also love YOU no matter what will happen to you during the next 10 -15 years. Choose carefully. He will become as extension of your soul before you’ll know it.

Avoid the English Bulldog. They will ruin your life.

This dog will cause you to fall in love with it. You will begin to ignore your friends bc you will soon discover that this dog is a better person than your friends.

Your family will become increasingly jealous with how much attention you pay to this animal. They might try to have you committed as they believe your bond with this dog is a sign of mental issues.

Your social life will cease to exist when you realize a night with this fat bastard is the best party in town.

Get rid of your cell phone. No one will want to talk to you any longer bc every conversation is just you laughing at your english bulldog.

Facebook? Say bye to your friends. Constant pics of your bully will drive them away. Better join a bulldog facebook group.

Relationships? If he or she can stand playing second fiddle to your pudgy canine they might survive. Likely not.

And finally, your career. Unless it is a pet friendly environment you might be missing a lot of work.

This is what the English Bulldog will do to your life. I would give anything to get it back. I miss you Ruger:(

The best dogs we have ever had were rescue dogs. Our first dog was a Welsh Springer Spaniel. The pound thought he was a bassett. Not sure where they got that idea, as he ended up being 56 pounds.

Anyway, the way my husband picked him out was kind of genius. He was watching all the dogs in their crates. They were all going nuts. Buster (the one that we got) was just chillin’. He even had another dog in the crate with him that was bouncing off walls, but not Buster. He was laid back, but his tail was going a mile a minute.

So, I was at home while my husband and 2 kids were picking him out. He brings home the 6 month old dog and said I get to name him. We’re in the back yard and the dog is no dummy. He knows it’s up to me. He runs straight to me without looking at anyone else, almost knocks me down, and starts licking me all over my face.

Well, what do you say to that but ““yes”?

From that day on, he was mine. I mean mine. The kids helped walk him, and my daughter adored him. He let her play dress-up, al, her friends just loved him, but at night, he slept right by my side of the bed and never left.

He was the best. All of our rescue dogs have been incredible.

my buster. rip 🙏

There is no such dog, except perhaps a stuffed toy one.

Many people are under the impression that a complete novice can just pick up a dog from a shelter, take it home and Bob’s your uncle. Well, permit me to disabuse you of this flawed logic because that is the absolute worst scenario imaginable. Here is why: the dog has probably had an owner before the neophyte gets hold of it and has either learned certain rules and commands, or if the previous owner was as stupid as some people I know, it has learned nothing at all. If not, the tyro has to do the training him/herself with absolutely no idea where to start. How do you house-train an new puppy? Ask Quora? I bet you will end up with a bunch of conflicting opinions, all wrong! Training or retraining such animals is far beyond the capabilities of the rookie, no matter what species or breed it is.

My suggestion to the would-be first-time dog owner is “get some experience”. You may be able to volunteer at a shelter or other such animal rescue establishment and learn as much as you can about the type of creature you want to adopt. Then don’t expect the people on Quora to know what dog would be best for you: do your own research, because everyone has a bias toward certain breeds. I personally prefer huge dogs: nothing smaller than a Labrador retriever, but you may live in a cubbyhole that even a chihuahua would find too cramped.

As my wife and I owned a shop that was attached to our house, at least one of us, but usually both, was with or dogs every minute of every hour of every day, all year long. They were the most well-behaved, well-adjusted dogs you would ever have the pleasure to meet. However, most people have to leave their dogs alone for long hours as they commuted to work, do their daily grind and then return many hours later. Under these circumstances, you’re tired when you get back home and Rover needs to get out there and gallop off his pent-up energy. Are you really up to it?

Some dogs are extremely active and require a great deal of exercise. Others become frustrated when left alone, resulting in them barking and howling and upsetting the neighbours or taking out their resentment of their abandonment by shredding everything you own.

Think very carefully before taking on such a responsibility. It’s not like having a kid that you can just palm of on one of the grandmothers or desert at a day care centre.

Didn’t get much say in the matter. Stopped by the pound one weekend just to see what they had and this little goofball said “Hi! I live with you now!”

Who could say No to that face?

10 years later he still knows he’s a looker…

There are many different dog breeds to choose from, and it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. However, if you're looking for a good, active, and friendly breed, here are just a few of the best:

- Labrador Retriever

- Golden Retriever

- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

- Beagle

- Boston Terrier

These breeds are all great choices for families and individuals alike. If you're looking for a friendly and active dog, any one of these breeds would be a great option.

Based on owning four Labradors the last 25 years I would say Labradors are one of the best. These dogs are super adaptable to families and are not hard to train. They are people pleasers and love their owners. They will bark at a stranger but probably just lick him if he comes in the house. There are very few negatives to the breed. They are going to shed and they need plenty of exercise. The positives are that you will have a devoted friend for life.

Read, study, visit. Go to your library and get out a book of all the dog breeds. If you can, find one that details their temperment, health needs/concerns, exercise requirements, grooming requirements, and lifestyle needs (i.e., not appropriate for an apartment, or better if not living in hot conditions year round). I had never owned a dog so I was looking for the kind of dog that wanted to do what I wanted it to do instead of the other way around. I ended up with a wonderful labrador retriever. Smart, willing to be trained, fun to play with, good with kids and other animals, did have some exercise needs (we walked him twice a day and my husband also trained him to “heel” along side my husband’s bicycle). Grooming was simple and we could bathe at home but never mastered nail clipping and ended up taking him to professionals for periodic baths and nail trims. Loved retrieving on land and water. Now, if you are living a more sedentary life, a lab is not for you. Look for a dog with fewer activity needs. Be prepared for whatever dog you get to shed. We also have had collies (one smooth-coated or short hair collie and one rough or long-haired). The book says they shed twice a year. I think they meant “major” sheds. My husband is convinced they meant the dogs shed twice a year, each time for six months! Hope this helps, but do your research. If you are thinking of a specific breed, find someone who owns one and ask to meet the dog and talk to the owner. It may be worth paying for an appointment with the local veternarian to talk about breeds he/she thinks would suit you.

I have old fashioned Miniature Poodles, which are scarce in the States. They still hunt and are great in obedience and agility competition. If you read the breed standard it says ‘strong and muscular’, don’t laugh. Most “breeders” are breeding for light weight, small chest, no muscle.

Half-brother to two of mine.

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when picking the right breed of dog.

You need to evaluate your lifestyle. How much time and energy are you willing to invest in a dog? How active are you outdoors and how much of that activity do you want your dog to participate in? How much time do you spend at home? Are there other people living in the house that you also need to take into consideration? How much time would the dog spend home alone? How much yard space do you have for exercise? How much experience do you have with dogs and with training?

Consider the types of activities you want to do with your dog. Do you want a snuggle buddy on the couch? Do you want to get into agility training? Search & rescue? Do you want a dog that will play with the kids all day? A dog that you can take hiking?

Consider your financial situation. How much can you afford to spend up front on a dog? How about for monthly maintenance? What about for emergencies?

Is there a particular breed or size dog that you’re interested in and wondering if it would work in your situation?

Once you’ve thought all this through, there are great resources like the AKC website that give a rundown on temperament, energy levels, grooming requirements, usual size & weight, etc for most purebred breeds. Find a few breeds that fit into as many categories on your list as possible and then start reading up on them. If you’re looking for a purebred dog, the AKC also has a list of reputable breeders for each breed so you can start looking into potential breeders. If you’re looking for a rescue, you’ll have an idea of what kind of dog or mix of dog that may work for you.

A few things to consider when deciding if you should go purebred or mixed breed. Purebred dogs generally cost more up front, but you have a better idea of what to expect in size, temperament, and energy requirements as your puppy grows up. Mixed breed dogs can be less expensive to get unless you fall for one of the “designer breeds” that are now flooding the puppy market. Any breed not recognized by the AKC is most likely not an actual purebred dog and shouldn’t be billed as such or cost nearly as much. There are a lot of breeders, particularly in the US, that are selling mutts as purebred designer dogs. Doodle mixes are some of the most popular. Keep in mind that these are still mixed breed dogs! You will not know until they’re full grown how much of each breed’s characteristics they will display. You won’t even necessarily know for sure how big they’re going to get. Mutts are often less prone to genetic diseases that are passed along in some purebred lines, however.

Small dogs will usually cost less in food an medications than large breed dogs because most medications are based on weight and, obviously, small dogs eat less. Small dogs are more prone to certain health problems like dental disease, whereas large breed dogs are more prone to things like hip displaysia - of course that varies with breed and individual dog as well.v

If you go the breeder route, make sure to thoroughly research the breeder. You want to make sure that you’re actually getting the breed you’re paying for. You’ll want a breeder that screens for genetic diseases and is breeding to improve the line so that you get a dog with the least likely chance of health problems later on. Meet the puppies parents, get in touch with owners of other puppies from that breeder, get a vet reference, and make sure that you’re provided with pedigree, AKC registration paperwork, health records, and test results when you get the puppy. A responsible breeder will be willing to take back one of their puppies if there’s a serious problem or if you just can’t keep them anymore for any reason. Often, there is a wait list for good breeders, but they’re worth the wait!

If you go the rescue route, find a shelter or rescue that has a behaviorist on staff. Set a meeting with them and bring your list with you. Be honest about your experience level, what you think you want in a dog, and your lifestyle. A good shelter behaviorist has evaluated every dog in that shelter and knows their personalities. They can usually offer suggestions for several available dogs that fit your requirements and capabilities and then let you meet them and evaluate the dog’s responses to you.

Mutts. Mutts tend to be healthier than purebreds, and I've rarely met a mutt that didn't have a great personality to boot. Want a small dog? There's a mutt for you! Want a medium dog? There's a mutt for you! Want a large dog? There's a mutt for you!

No, but really, mutts are great. That's not to say purebreds aren't -- I've had purebreds and I've had mutts, and I've loved them all. But there's nothing quite like adopting a mutt from a shelter or rescue and having him/her love you forever for seeing past the fact that they don't have any fancy papers or couldn't be sold by unscrupulous backyard breeders as puppies for $350 each.

Aside from breed, though, I recommend a rescue (from either a shelter or a rescue organization). There are millions of mutts and purebreds all over the country who need homes and who will be loyal members of the family if you give them one. Also, without knowing more about your situation, it's difficult to suggest one breed over another. (i.e. Are you active? Are you a couch potato? Do you have a big backyard? Do you live in a tiny apartment? Do you have kids? Are you elderly? Have you had dogs before? Are you a newbie? etc.)

Great question! The two main things to consider are your lifestyle and the dog’s breed.

Some people prefer to look at the general personalities of certain breeds and pick what dog they want based on the breed it is. This method is especially good for first-time dog owners who are a little intimidated by all the choices there are out there. Picking a breed is a good way to narrow down your search to fewer places, and also to get a pretty good estimate of what you’re in for when you go to visit places. For example, if you decided you wanted a Golden Retriever, you would know that all the dogs you meet are going to be a little hyper, but sweet and earger to please. Whereas if you just went to a shelter, you’d meet some hyper-but-sweet dogs, some calm-but-unfriendly dogs, etc etc. Picking a certain breed also gives new owners more confidence that their off-the-walls puppy will eventually calm down.

It’s also a lot easier to find information on a specific breed than on a mutt. This is especially helpful when you want to know about health issues that your dog could have, temperament problems, specific training styles that would work well with your dog, and much more. (There are entire websites out there dedicated to Golden Retrievers and how to care for them, for example).

However, if you’re not looking for a very specific personality, and especially if you have experience owning or living with a dog, I would definitely suggest getting your dog from a shelter instead! This helps save a dog, and also provides a home for a dog with a rough past who needs some love, and is not guaranteed a home (much less than most purebred dogs)

There are a few important aspects of your life to consider before getting a dog, whether purebred or from a shelter. I’ll list the most important ones.

1. Personality: Your personality should match up with the personality of the dog you get. This is kind of an all-encompassing statement that could apply to everything else on this list. These are the most important traits in my opinion:
1. Are you an introvert or an extrovert/How often there’s a lot of people around
2. Are you an indoor or an oudoor person?
3. Do you want/need lots of cuddles or are you better not getting physical affection from your dog
4. Are you easily stressed or very laid-back? If you’re easily stressed, will you take it out on your dog or will having a dog help you deal with it?
5. Are you strict or less regimented? (Some dogs require more intense/stubborn trainers)
2. Finances: Probably the least fun thing to consider, it’s still important to think about
1. Dogs cost a LOT of money. The dog itself will be maybe $200, but it’s the supplies to care for the dog that cost more
2. Food, grooming supplies, vet/medical things, and toys will all be things you’ll need to continually buy more of.
3. A crate (and I do reccommend you have one), bed, and bowls are all things that, for the most part, you should only have to buy one of
4. The most expensive point in owning a dog is the moment you get it and the moments before. Do some saving up before you start looking for dogs.
5. If you’re strapped for cash, but stable enough to get a dog, there are discount pet stores and hand-me-down websites to help you out with supplies
6. As for how this affects what kind of dog you can get, the usual pattern is that smaller dogs will cost less than larger dogs. Also, you’ll want to go for dogs that don’t have a lot of genetic problems and are not sick. In this context, mixes are almost always better, because they have lowered predispositions to the diseases that their parent breeds are prone to–in other words, they’re healthier because they’re more natural.
3. Living Arrangement: Bigger dogs need more space, and some dogs deal better with lots of people than others.
1. The bigger the dog, the more space they need. Even if you have a big dog that doesn’t require a lot of exercise, that dog still takes up a lot of space (Great Danes are not apartment dogs, even though they mostly stay on the couch). Consider not only where you live now, but also where you’re planning to live for most of the time you’ll have your dog.
2. More active dogs will also need more outdoor space. This will probably be a fenced-in yard or a yard that your dog cannot get out of. It’s good to give them room to run around outside without intense supervision. My dogs love our back yard, and if they could, they’d spend all day out there. It helps them relieve stress to be outside.
3. While dogs are generally friendly, there are specific breeds that do better with one or two owners/housemates rather than four or five. In addition, there are many breeds that are **not** suitable housemates for children, and even less that are suitable for babies. If you have children or babies, look for breeds that are gentle, mellow, tolerant, and obedient. Golden Retrievers are great with babies. So are Pitbulls. But it always depends on the individual dog how good they will be. Independent or fiercely loyal breeds will deal better with fewer owners/housemates. Akitas, Shiba Inus, and most of all Chows, need a house without a whole lot of people.
4. Individual dogs also have different tolerances to multiple people and other animals. Ask the person you are getting the dog from, and, if you have another dog or cat, bring them along to see how they react to one another.
4. Exercise: Think about how much you exercise a day, and also what kind of exercise you do
1. Exercising with your dog is great! It builds bonds and also makes your dog super happy. Consider what kind of exercise you do the most and think of what breed will fit best with that. If you do running, pick a sporty dog with a slim body (think Greyhounds). If you do swimming, pick a water-born dog (like a Lab or Golden Retriever). If your exercise is more inside, I’d stick with a smaller breed who can run around with you inside without feeling cramped.
2. Some dogs/breeds have a lot of energy, and will need a lot of exercise to keep them healthy and preoccupied (meaning they won’t be focusing on destroying your things). If you’re getting a puppy, remember that the dog won’t be as hyper as an adult.
3. There are a few breeds of dog that are prone to obesity. It’s very important that these breeds get an appropriate amount of exercise. These breeds include Labradors, Bulldogs (but they are also very easy to overwork…), and Golden Retrievers. This is less important in mixes/mutts, because the other breeds it’s mixed with can–sometimes–cancel out the genetic predisposition to getting fat that the other breed it’s mixed with has.
4. Don’t exercise a whole lot? Not a problem. All dogs need exercise, but there are lots of breeds that need maybe a 30-minute walk to be satisfied. This has less to do with breed and more to do with the physical makeup of the dog, and also the dog’s personality. In general, small dogs, dogs with short snouts, and dogs with extremely heavy fur should avoid super heavy exercise. Most of these breeds are small breeds. In fact, you definitely want to avoid super small dogs if you plan to do a lot of exercise with your dog. It’s very easy to overwork a little dog. As for personality, that goes on a case-by-case basis. Some dogs are very happy doing nothing all day, and won’t react negatively (rip things up) to not having a lot of exercise. You have to get to know your dog to judge for that.
5. Frequency of being home: This will not only help you determine what personality of dog to get, but also what age would be best to adopt.
1. To own any dog, you’ll need to dedicate at least enough time to socialize, walk/exercise, feed, let out (for bathroom), groom, and at least in the most basic ways train your dog. I would say the minimum time you need to be home each day to properly care for your dog is 6 hours. The more time the better.
2. That being said, some breeds/dogs are more independent, and will be perfectly okay being home alone longer than that. On the flip side, some breeds/dogs need much more attention, and you’ll need to be home more for those dogs. Independent dogs will do better on their own. Clingly, dependent dogs will need you to be home for more time.
3. In addition, the younger the dog, the more attention they need. A puppy needs waaay more supervision than an older adult. This is partially because puppies are more likely to get into things more than adults, but the main reason is that being a puppy is an extremely crucial point in that dog’s life. This is when you need to set all ground rules, boundaries, and foundations for all training you want to do with that dog. Traumatizing events will also be more impactful to a puppy than to an adult dog.
4. Think about not only how much time you spend at home now, but also how much extra time you’d be willing to spend at home to get a dog. How much time you can add depends on both your job and your own personal preference. The acception would be if your job lets you bring your dog to work. Then you don’t have to worry as much about not having time for your dog.

Picking a dog is all about matching the dog’s personality to yours and your needs/rules. It’s going to take a while to find the perfect companion, but it’ll be worth it in the end. When you finally find that dog that checks all of your boxes, it’s the beginning of a life-long, unbreakable friendship.

My biased opinion is the Doberman Pinscher. Unless you're planning to go hunting, sledding, herding, ratting, hauling, or any of the other tasks all the rest of the dog breeds were invented for, try a dobie. They're the only dog breed that was invented with its sole purpose as being a family companion. They are very strong, intelligent, intuitive, protective , playful, loyal, agile animals. Their short wirey hair with little or no undercoat falls straight to the floor and doesn't let much stick to it . They can be caked with mud and within minutes of continued walking , they're all clean again. They're very loving and love when its returned. I've had a few of them over the last 22 years. I thought the first one was a dud because he never barked at any visitors. That's attributed to their intuition. They are able to read people and situations based on the behaviors of all parties. The few times when I needed him to display his awesomeness, he didn't let me down. None of them have and I train them very little. Just the basics , come, sit, stay, lay, leave-it, shush, no (Ah' or Ah'-Ah') and ok. That's about it. Be consistent and they'll train themselves. They come in a few colors , black, red/brown, blue, white and fawn. I've only got experience with black and red/brown. There is a noticeable difference between black and red/brown. The black ones are sharper and easier to train . The red ones are a little slower on the uptake but make up for it in fearlessness and goofiness and overall character. They seem to be stronger too with better muscle tone. It's my intention to have at least 2 of them in my life at all times, ..which would be half as many as I currently have.

For pet purposes you should go for a dog that is not a working breed and go for the show lines. However there are breeds that don’t have a working - show line split, like the Rhodesian Ridgeback. If you are looking for a dog that is going to go to a home with purely pet purposes, I would think about some of these breeds:

• Newfoundland
• Labrador Retriever
• Golden Retriever
• French Bulldog
• Greyhound
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• A mutt

Even if your dog is “only” a pet, it still needs proper training and exercise. Getting a dog for pet purposes that is meant to be “low maintenance”, doesn’t mean you don’t need to work the dog.

And what breeds should you avoid? In regards to pet dogs? Any dog that is high prey drive, high energy working breed, that is meant to work. If you don’t have experience getting a protective dog without proper research can turn out tragic. So some breeds I wouldn’t recommend to a pet home are:

• American Pit Bull Terrier
• Presa Canario
• Belgian Shepherd
• Dogo Argentino
• Any livestock guardian breed
• Patterdale Terrier
• Rottweiler
• Tosa Inu
• Black Russian Terrier
• Boerboel

But if you offer them proper amount of exercise and training, have the time to be with the dog and maybe do sports with them you could totally work with these dogs. However it does need a certain type of an owner and research.

A greyhound!

Greyhounds are very affectionate, gentle, quiet and intelligent dogs. Despite their history as racers, they have relatively low exercise needs - many have called them a “45 mph couch potato.”

In my experience, they make great apartment dogs because they rarely (if ever) bark, don’t require much grooming and spend most of their time napping. Plus they are incredibly sweet and mild mannered.

I’m a lifelong cat person, but my husband is severely allergic, so we decided to adopt a retired racer last March. Sidney has been an absolute dream for me as a first-time dog parent. We take her for two 30-minute walks a day (morning, evening) and then she’ll spend the rest of her time happily snuggling with us, playing with her toys or sleeping.

She likes to go outside, but after about 2 miles of walking, she’s ready to relax.

When we’re inside, she loves to be comfortable:

And bonus: by adopting a greyhound, you’re saving the life of a wonderful companion.

Basic research can't tell you what breed of dog you should get but is invaluable for avoiding what you don't want. Most dog behaviors are true to their respective breed,remarkably so. You can use this innate behavior to your advantage. You can work around some of these behaviors instead of banging your head against a wall of what seems like stubbornness or some other human only attribute we infer on our pets. I learned the hard way through experiance about my own dogs of course. I found puppies at the pound who were essentially pure bred English pointers. After talking with staff who vouched for the breed I still looked up a general description which noted that these dogs like couches! They prefer to lay down on furniture and have there heads elevated. Sounds rather specific yes? Well it was spot on! I eventually gave up trying to train my dog to stay off the furniture and gave him a couch if his own. Sound indulgent? Not really if you want to spend inordinate amounts of time chastising your dog for being on your furniture. We settled on a compromise which he rarely breeches. Save yourself grief and effort by promoting his innate desire to please you which is also specified in breed overviews. Some breeds are not recommended for first time dog owners. Some breeds are better suited to one person instead of a family. Read and believe.

Before you even consider which breed you need to be sure you have room for a dog within your lifestyle. Some considerations:

1. Time apart, do you routinely spend more than 3–4 hours away from your home? If yes, are you able to take your dog with you during those periods.
2. Holidays, are you going to take the dog with you when you go on holiday? If not how will they be cared for?
3. Do you have a good sized outdoor area for a dog to run around, play, do their business etc?
4. Are you fine with picking up their faeces during walks etc?
5. Are you financially stable? Dog food, vet bills, flea treatments, supplements, treats, toys, health plans, insurance, the list is never ending. I spend about £200 (GBP) per month on these before any vet bills, part of that is insurance to hopefully cover most of those bills.
6. Do you understand about training? Dogs are wonderful companions but if not properly trained can cause problems. On occasion problems happen even with well trained dogs, as an example my border collie (Gwill) is still grieving for our Bichon (Charlie) who passed 2 years ago, there are a host of issues related to that and they’ve led to him having to be muzzled whilst on walks simply for his own protection, he hasn’t attacked anyone, person or dog, but he’s very vocal when people and dogs come near that he doesn’t know well. He’s simply protecting me as his food source and companion due to the loss he feels from losing Charlie.
7. How much time do you really have for your dog? Walks take time, 20+ mins for a short walk, this should be multiple times per day, a decent long walk can take hours, and the weather doesn’t change the fact that the dog needs to go out. Activities can take the place of a walk on occasion but not permanently. An active breed will need more than a less active breed, a miniature yorkshire terrier for example will need less walking than a border collie or springer spaniel. Dogs love to play and interact with their owners, set some time aside for that. I’m lucky enough to work from home so spend pretty much all day, every day with my dog.

Owning a dog is very rewarding, can be expensive and will be hard work at times, the flip side is that it’s also very rewarding. You need to be sure that you can fulfill all of the dogs needs before you get one. I wasn’t looking for a dog, I’d decided I wouldn’t get another after the loss of my Springer (Will) in 2012, Gwill had other ideas and adopted me when he was given to the farm I lived on at the time, that was December 2018.

Most folks who end up being at all ethical as breeders don’t go “I want to be a dog breeder, let me pick a breed, eeny-meeny-miney-mo, I guess I’ll breed Borzoi.”

Instead, the good ones almost always start out with owning and working/showing/loving a particular breed, and only later going “I would like to get into breeding with this breed that I love” or “I would like to produce members of this breed that are specifically what I am looking for in a dog.”

Sometimes, a secondary breed happens by happenstance or a change in circumstances (for some reason, folks with Belgian Shepherds seem to end up with Mudi or Schipperke at some point, and I’ve known several folks with Shelties who ended up in Tollers). But the impetus to become a breeder happens after the choice or falling-in-love-with the breed in my experience, not before.

Since I have had several dogs during my 60+ years, I am not all that inexperienced as a dog owner. But, three years ago I got a boxer puppy and he is, beyond any doubt, the best dog I have ever had. Now, since this is my first boxer, I do not know if Jack is typical of the breed or if his behavior is just him. But, here are the reasons I consider Jack the best dog I have ever had.

He is very obedient. He understands most of the things I say to him and responds accordingly. He even responds well to had gestures.

He is very playful. He loves to bring me one of his toys and have me throw it so he can run get it. Usually, he takes a little jump with his front paws right as he grabs the toy with his mouth.

He has short hair so, while he does shed a little, the hair doesn’t overrun the house. And we give him some omega-3 which seems to reduce the shedding a bit.

He is very friendly and just seems to love people. Of course, considering that he is about 70 pounds (32 kilos), very muscular and a bit rambunctious, not everyone knows he just wants to play. In other words, he can be a bit intimidating to some people. But that is actually a plus as well if you want a dog for protection.

He rarely barks. He barks when he truly wants something but he is not one of those dogs that just barks incessantly for no apparent reason.

You should know however that, since my wife and I both work from the house, Jack is rarely alone. And at times when we have left him alone for a few hours to visit friends or dine out, he has demonstrated his displeasure by digging in the garden or, a couple of times, dragging his bed out of his house. This does not happen every time but occasionally. So, I am not sure how a boxer would be in a situation where he was alone at the house for 10 hours or so every work day.

But, in my experience, boxers are a very good mid sized to large breed in that they respond very well to their owners commands, love to be with people and are just very entertaining to have around.

i have this cute little dog, if you are interested let me know, I"m looking for dog-lover who can keep my dog happy and love the way I do.

So, you need to realize that 500+ breeds and varieties existing in the world doesn’t meant that you have to sort through all of them. A huge number are so very rare in the world or in the US that you really can’t get one even if you really want one, or the wait time and effort won’t be worth it unless you really have exhausted all other options.

I want you to make two lists for me:

1. The list of “my ideal dog will…” (play fetch, go jogging, get along with the cat, etc)
2. The list of “I can commit to providing my dog with… “ (no more than a certain time regularly left alone, a certain amount of exercise, a certain amount of grooming, etc)

The breeds or individuals that fit both lists are the only ones that you should be considering.

Next, go to Petfinder or AdoptAPet and see if dogs near you meet those lists - I always recommend looking at shelters and rescues FIRST. You can do a lot of sorting by size, age, coat type, and more. Scroll and see what’s out there.

If there isn’t a dog there that fits the lists, then start looking for breeds with the intention of working with a reputable breeder.

I want to you look at your list of “my ideal dog will…” and sum it up in a job that dogs have historically done (this sounds like a herding dog, this sounds like a retriever) and begin your search in the popular/common breeds with that historical job. That means that you will be looking at German Shepherd Dogs and Border Colies, or Labradors and Golden Retrievers, or Westies and Fox Terriers, or Beagles and Basset Hounds, etc.

Once you’re looking at specific breeds you can make more nuanced lists, which will help you in your quest. If you know that you want “a Beagle temperament but a little bigger” then you can start looking at other hounds (the Harrier is rarer, but might fit the bill), if you know that you want “a Border Collie with less shedding” then you can sort through the herding group and realize that the Puli and Pumi and Mudi might be good options.

And so on until you’ve found a good match. From there, start with the National Breed Club for that breed for information on health testing, how to find a good breeder, and links to local breed clubs, reputable breeders, and breed rescue groups.

Good luck!