How To Pick The Right Dog For Your Family

Adopt or Shop Responsibly

The first questions to ask yourself are:

What would you like your dog to do for you?

What does the breed you're looking into enjoy doing?

Do you want a high intensity sport dog, a lazy couch potato, or maybe a casual jogging companion?

Not all dogs will check the boxes, so make sure you get a breed that will do the things that you want them to do genetically. A Cattle Dog or a Malinois bred for a job may not want to watch TV with you on the couch, and a Pug likely won't be able to run a marathon with you. Think of the activities the dog may enjoy and whether or not you would enjoy doing them too to fulfill their needs!

Once you've chosen a breed or a type of dog (maybe you favour herding breeds, or toy breeds) it's time to find a place to get your dog. This means it's time to find a responsible breeder or a reputable shelter. There are pros and cons to each choice and those have to be weighed to make the right choice for you and your family.

When purchasing a dog from an adoption center:

Sometimes it can be hard to guess a dog's breed which makes it difficult to predict what they will need on a daily basis regarding exercise, training, or care. A good animal shelter will help you work towards getting a dog that will fit your lifestyle, not just trying to find a random home for any and every dog. A responsible animal shelter will also be honest about the dog's history to their best knowledge, such as their previous home, reason for surrender, and any likes or dislikes that could cause issues at home such as not liking kids, cats, or other dogs.

When purchasing a dog from a reputable breeder:

You will want to look for someone who has taken the time to test the parent's health and temperament to ensure that the puppies they are bringing into the world will live a long, healthy, and safe life. These dogs are not paired at random or by convenience and are not bred for money. The breeder will typically ask lots of questions about you to pick the right home for their puppies, have a contract or health guarantee, and will stay in contact with the puppies' new owners so that they can help should a problem arise. The lack of any of these standards may be a red flag and should be questioned. A reputable breeder should not be breeding dogs to get rich, and should care about the dogs they breed, not allowing them to go into the rescue system should things not work out with their owner. The benefits of getting a dog from a breeder can also be the predictability of your future dog. If you are looking for a dog to fulfill a specific purpose (whether sport or couch potato), you can look at the parents and sometimes even grandparents to see if the temperament of your future puppy's relatives is something you want to own for 10-15 years.

Grooming

Some dogs like the Portuguese Waterdog or Miniature Schnauzer don't shed and are considered low-allergen, perfect if you have a family member that's allergic. A Saint Bernard or German Shepherd will cover your home with "canine confetti" and you will have to sweep up hair more often. Dogs like Poodles, Doodles, and Shih Tzus need regular trips to the groomer and daily brushing to prevent mats and knots which can cause discomfort.

Instincts and Genetics

Some dogs have trouble being around kids or other animals. With the exception of some, it's extremely common to see border collies herding and nipping at children's heels, hunting dogs pestering the family cat or stalking birds, and even some dogs such as the Great Pyrenees or Akita not being a fan of having other dogs or strangers in the home. These traits are all due to genetic predispositions and the instincts that come with them. The wide variety of dog breeds in the world originated from the need to fulfill a purpose for people in jobs. Some dogs will bark more because they were bred to be alert dogs and notify their owners that someone or something was on the property, others were trained to nip at cattle to push them in the direction the farmers needed them to go. These traits show up in weird ways when dog breeds aren't in the environment they were originally bred to be in. That's one of the most common roots of behavioural issues in the home, and can be avoided by choosing a breed that will be fulfilled in the right ways despite maybe not being on a farm or guarding a fence.

Health

Consider if the breed you're interested in has any special health needs or considerations. The Doberman Pinscher is prone to heart disease, and the French Bulldog doesn't fare well in hot climates where they need to breathe heavily. Things like these may not be common knowledge, so make sure you keep that in mind while doing your research.

Quick Tip

If you ever need advoice about choosing a breed, finding a reputable breeder, or have questions about the breed or behaviour of a dog in a shelter, contact a local reputable dog trainer! A good dog trainer's goal is to help you and your dog live a happy life together, and the first step is finding the right dog. Most trainers will have hands on experience with a lot of breeds and can tell you more from personal experience.