By Tom McGee
You’ve decided that having a dog is the right decision for you. Selecting a dog breed requires some thought on your part before you ever go to a shelter, breeder or pet store. You want to choose a dog breed that is going to offer the love and companionship that is best for you and your situation.
You need to think about choosing the right dog. Not every dog is the right dog for you. You are not right for every dog. If you have downsized and live in a place without a large yard, you most likely won’t want a high energy dog that needs a lot of activity and space.
Dogs are wonderful companions, offering love in a way few other animals or even people can provide. Remember, they are not little people. You want to find a dog that will be a good match in temperament, size and activity level.
Temperament. Temperament is important in two different areas; people and other dogs. Some dogs are devoted to their owner, but have difficulty with other people. Some breeds of dogs do not get along with other dogs. Think about your life for what kind of environment you will provide. Do you have a lot of company and family who will interact with the dog? Will you need the dog to interact with lots of other dogs or are you going to mostly keep to yourselves?
Activity level. Different breeds of dogs need different levels of activities. While every dog should be walked daily, some dogs will need even more activity. They will want to rough house, or chase a ball. They may need space to run and explore. Are you prepared to give an active dog the amount of consistent activity it will need?
Size. While many people think there is a relationship between the activity needs and size, this isn’t really true. When considering the size of a dog, first you need to look at both the indoor and outdoor space you have. A small apartment may not be best for a large dog. You also need to project into the future. It’s not unusual for a dog to live at least 10 years. Consider where you might be in a number of years and how that will affect your dog. Also, look at your budget. Bigger dogs eat more food. A big dog can eat a lot of food which might affect your finances if it’s limited.
What type of breed are you interested? Remember, some of the best dogs are mixed breed mutts. Selecting a dog breed is an important decision in what is going to be a long, loving relationship.