Owning a dog is very rewarding for both you and your furry friend. But before snapping up the first adorable face you see, make sure you select the best dog breed for you and your lifestyle.
“To choose the best dog for your lifestyle,
it’s important to select the right
breed and age for the way you live.
If you do, you’ll find that your furry friend
will reward you with good behavior
and unconditional love.”
Do you live in an apartment or a home?
There are many wonderful breeds of dogs out there, with each one having pros and cons. If you live in an apartment and want a cute little face to greet you each night there are several that will do just the trick. The English bulldog is a hidden gem. Ridiculously lovable and low maintenance, this sleepy head prefers lounging to anything else. The Cavalier King Charles is a small beauty that enjoys life. It’s eager to please, requires brushing just once a week and is so quiet you’ll barely know this dogs around.
The Shih Tzu is another small breed big on love. While it requires a little more maintenance, daily brushings and monthly groomings, it’s a great pet for anyone who enjoys spending time at home. If you’re into poodles, the toy poodle is perfect for your apartment. It’s less than 12″ and will not shed all over your rugs, floors and furniture. You can check a dog breed guide to find out about other breeds and where they fit best.
Dogs that do well with plenty of room to move about
Several dog breeds just do better in homes like the German Shepard. They tend to be territorial, meaning it sees is home as a no trespass zone. This is okay when to have a fenced in back yard but when you live in an apartment and come across other animals and residents daily it can become problematic. There are other breeds that simply don’t understand the meaning of keeping quiet indoors, like the Cocker Spaniel and the Yorkie. In your home, it can actually help to alert you when someone’s nearby, but in an apartment where people are moving around hallways and above and below you, not so much.
Breeds like Labradors and Golden Retrievers love to run. They are at home in a fenced in back yard that’s all theirs for the investigating. Confining them to an apartment all day may have serious consequences for you. One day you may come home and find that your wonderful pet de-stuffed your couch as if it were a toy, simply because it became bored.
Are you away for long periods of time?
Dogs are like people in the sense that they like company. When you leave a pet alone for long periods of time they tend to get bored. When this happens they get into trouble. This applies to the Border Collie, Labrador retriever, German shepherd and Australian shepherd. These breeds are high in energy and tend to get curious while you’re away from home.
There are some breeds that do well on their own like the greyhound, chihuahua, french bulldog, basset hound and the beagle. These breeds tend to take life in stride and generally sleep most of the time you’re away at work or enjoying and evening out.
Your age and the perfect size pet
If you’re young and first starting out on your own or raising a family large dog breeds can be a lot of fun. They have energy, enjoy playing and children gain a new best friend. As you age these same large breeds that were once fun are now a lot of work. Smaller breeds that enjoy lap time without crushing you like the Cavalier King Charles, Pug, Maltese and Yorkshire terrier, are all charming breeds that are ideal for seniors. There are exceptions to this, service dogs are larger breeds and they are trained to help the elderly and disabled with various tasks.
Time for a puppy
If you live alone, work all day, and enjoy going out with friends a few nights a week, getting a puppy is probably not the best choice. Puppies are a lot of work and they require a lot of attention. However, if you have a family and one adult works from home, bringing a puppy into the home is a rewarding experience for every member. Children get to grow with their pet and train it to be obedient, walk on a leash and play catch.
Dogs are a great pet for singles, married couples, family and seniors. Just make sure you select the right breed and age for the lifestyle you live. If you do, you’ll find that your furry friend will reward you with good behavior and unconditional love.
Do you have a dog?
What kind of dog did you choose to suit your lifestyle?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
4.5
What a fantastic article! Great advice! Love it!
We took ages to pick the right dog for our family as we have two little boys so we needed a dog that we could trust around them. And one that wouldn’t need too much exercise as it was hard for me to get too much walking done when I had a 2 year old and 4 month old baby. In the end we decided on a Beagalier. Part Beagle, part Cavalier King Charles. She was 5 months old when we got her so that wasn’t ideal as I then had to toilet train and take her to puppy school while trying to juggle everything else. But she was the perfect fit as I trust her completely around my two boys and they love her.
We were a dogless home for 10 years and then I decided I wanted a friend. It took me two years to decide on a Great Pyrenees. This breed is supposedly best on a large farm, but they are low energy. He is loyal and protective without being aggressive. I am old and spend lots of time just doggie and me. He makes me safe and I love him to bits. He dirties my car, ruins my lawn and barks too much. In exchange he has to settle for playing in the yard to going for walks (he bolts on me), I am sure he gets tired from long days of guarding me, and still refuses to like any of the neighbours.
Bottom line he makes me feel safe and he is a very loved part of our family. I bet he is the only 120 lb dog who goes all over on vacations and stays in hotels. Great post and its fun talking about my pup.
We are a two dog family and I have to say getting them was the best decision we made they are the perfect addition to our home but I will admit the extra house work they make is considerable.