Your Perfect Dog Breed Revealed

How to Choose the Best Dog Breed

Dogs are probably one of the sweetest creatures to ever grace the earth; they’re great companions and are just too adorable for words. If you’ve made the decision to own a dog, then congratulations! Your life would never be boring. 

Owning a dog and being responsible for its every need is challenging but also exciting. Nothing beats knowing that your pet loves you unconditionally and worships you.  If you’re reading this because you’ve never owned a dog and you want one, but you can’t decide on how to go about it. The following factors should be considered to help you make a decision.

Pick a Dog that Suits Your way of Life

Your lifestyle matters when it comes to becoming a pet parent. Are you someone with a busy social life or you have long working hours? Do you travel a lot? Is this the right time for a Dog? Can your lifestyle accommodate a pet? They require constant care and attention; do you have the time for walks and field training? If you do, then a dog breed with high energy is a good choice. 

If you don’t have the time or you’re not the athletic type, then you should avoid dog breeds that require a lot of exercise. Imagine owning a husky and not walking or exercising it often, it would take out its frustration on your furniture. The result would be disastrous! Remember that a cute little puppy grows into a strong-willed adult that would require a lot of time and energy from you.

Size does matter – what kind of dog is right for you?

The size of your dog matters. Whether you want to get a small or large dog breed is entirely up to how much room you have for their constant needs. A large boisterous dog can be a handful in a small space because it needs room for play and exercise. 

If a dog becomes bored due to lack of exercise, it can take out its frustration on your furniture or anything in its path. Even the smallest of dogs requires space – a safe area to relax and play. So, the size of the breed of your pup compared to your living space is something to be considered.

The Cost of Owning a Dog

Asides from the initial purchase cost, Dogs have a lot of needs just like your human baby. The constant trip to the vet for vaccination, grooming kits, feeding, and toys can be overwhelming for someone on a budget. Since they require a lot of attention, you also need to make provision for who would look after them when you can’t and the cost involved. You need to consider going for a dog breed that does not require so much care and isn’t prone to health problems.

Puppy or Adult?

This is one question that comes to mind when the decision to get a dog is made. Many people would go for a puppy because of the cuteness factor and the idea that they can turn a pup into the “perfect dog” without considering how difficult it might be to raise one. Dogs generally have basic needs but some may require special care than others. Training a puppy is a tasking job on its own.

 You have to be prepared for a lot of barking, whining, chewing, bowel accidents, and a soiled environment. A puppy irrespective of its breed needs to be exercised regularly and potty trained coupled with its feeding, vet appointments, and social skills training. Raising a puppy can be a handful!  If you don’t have the time or patience for this then, getting an adult dog would be a fine choice. They don’t require as much care and are already potty trained.

Create a Safe Environment

You need to puppy-proof your home as you would when protecting a baby. Puppies are mischievous, curious little devils, they love to explore and are guaranteed to get into trouble. You need to ensure that your puppy’s exploration areas are safe. Because of their curious nature, they can bite and chew on anything. 

Making sure that they aren’t any poisonous plants or hazardous materials lying about is of extreme importance. Putting aside anything that could potentially harm your puppy such as, blocking access to balconies, decks, porches; safeguarding electrical cords, locking up cleaning supplies, plastics or medical supplies, etc. is important to ensure your pup’s safety.

Where do I get a Dog?

There are a lot of options to consider when getting a dog, you might want to get one from a reputable breeder or from a local animal shelter close to your domicile. These animal shelters are home to a lot of unwanted and abandoned pets, including dogs and puppies. 

If you’re buying from a breeder, ensure that you see the parents and the other members of the litter – if a puppy isn’t active like the rest of the litter, then something must be wrong with it. Pay attention to the warning signs, if the breeder doesn’t let you see the parents, offers to meet you at a public place other than his home, can’t provide proof of vaccination or any healthcare certificate, then that breeder is unscrupulous.

You need to decide if you want a rescue dog or you want to buy from a breeder. Before buying, do your basic inspection on it. Never buy a puppy online, you can’t verify its health from the net. Ensure that your new pup gets a full vet inspection and behavior tests before you take it home.

Adopting or fostering?

If at this point you’re still uncertain about owning a dog, then you should try fostering one to determine your level of commitment. Fostering a dog basically means being a temporary parent until someone else wants to adopt it. If after fostering you decide that owning a dog is what you want then you can proceed to adopt one. 

Patience and Kindness

A puppy upon getting one is new to your environment and it needs a little time to adjust and get used to you. You need to be patient with it, just like you would a human baby. Fearful puppies can’t control their bowel movements, you’ll have to love them and assure them that they’re in a safe and loving environment. This is a good bonding process for you and your pup.

Deciding to get a dog is a big challenge; you need to decide if you have the commitment to own one and also the patience to train one. Get a breed that works best for your lifestyle rather than for its look.