Choosing the Right Dog Breed for You and Your Family

When choosing your dog, you need to consider a few factors. This is going to be your new best friend, so you want to make the right choice.


Ask yourself the following questions:

·         Do you really want a dog?

·         What are the reasons you are getting one?

·         You may want a companion, a protector and a playmate for your children? Or do you want your dog as a competitor in obedience trials or the show ring.

Your reasons for wanting a dog will make a huge impact of the type of dog you choose, but whether you select a large, small, mongrel, pedigree, dignified or sporting dog, it will demand a lot in terms of time, attention and care.


Cute puppies grow up into energetic, hungry and wilful adults so before you take the plunge, make certain that you have room for a dog in your life.


Choosing the right dog for you and your lifestyle takes some time and effort to research properly. It is however well spent in order to avoid making ill thought out decisions and costly mistakes.


Here are some more things to consider before choosing the right dog:

Cost Can you afford a dog? Regular checkups, dog health insurance, Food bills, grooming, etc. all cost money.
Dog Size: Do you have a small apartment? Did you know that a big dog may be better than a small one? Do you need to keep anything out of the dog’s reach?
Age: So you think you want a puppy! Are you sure you know what's involved? Maybe an older dog might be right for you.
Maintenance: Taking care of a dog properly means more than just feeding, walking and throwing the occasional stick. It’s a daily commitment.
Temperament: Finding compatible dog personalities to suit your lifestyle.
Purebred Or Mixed Breed: The good, the bad and the ugly! Decide for yourself.
Training : All dogs need to be trained and socialized. Some breeds are easier to train than others.


One final consideration when choosing the right dog is whether anyone in your household is likely to suffer from an allergic reaction. It is important to note that while there are considered to be Hypo-Allergenic breeds, the actual allergic reaction induced by dogs is not normally due to dog hair, but rather the irritants or pollutants that a dog's hair attracts. As someone considering the effects of a dog on your allergy you may be pleasantly surprised at just how many dog breeds you might be tolerant of.


For some guidance as to where to start try this online quiz from Animal Planet.
http://animal.discovery.com/breedselector/dogselector.do


For further details about your breed before you buy, please look the breed up on the following website to learn everything about the dog from physical description, to typical personality.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/abc.htm


Best of Luck!