Let's find the right dog breed for you!
So you’re thinking of adding a furry friend to your family? Well, that’s great news and we want to help! We’ve built this dog breed match tool that will help you understand which dog breed is best suited for your life. This breed selector tool is used by pet parents both experienced and first timers. All you have to do is answer a few questions and we’ll suggest 3 most relevant dog breeds that are compatible with your lifestyle. So what are you waiting for!
What Breed of Dog Should You Get?
After watching countless movies, seeing tons of friends with their furry pals, and endlessly begging your parents and family, you hear the words you’ve been waiting for, “Okay, let’s get a dog”. But after your initial excitement subsides, you must tackle the decision of which dog to get. We bet you’ve already got a few favorites in mind, whether it’s the bushy Golden Retrievers or the tiny Pugs. But there’s a lot of thinking to do before you finalize which breed of dog you’ll be bringing home.
Bringing a dog home to be a part of your family goes way beyond simply choosing a breed you find appealing. You need to look at your current lifestyle and consider how many adjustments and changes you’re willing to make. Some of the many factors to consider are whether you need a hypoallergenic dog (less likely to cause allergies), how big or small the dog can be, and how much attention it may need.
A quick way to narrow down on a few breeds that are suited for you and your life is to use our Dog Breed Selector. But before you do, read on about why these factors are important, and why answering these questions will ensure that you and your dog are happy.
Size
Tiny toy dogs are loved the world over for their miniature cuteness, but these breeds require a certain level of special care. Several breeds of smaller dogs can make up for their size with their large, loud personalities. They also can be sensitive to the cold, so make sure you can keep them warm if you face low temperatures where you live. Your house should ideally not have too many things lying around or many small, tight places - tiny dogs can easily crawl into small corners or get injured when stepped on or mishandled.
If you have your eyes set on a big dog, make sure you have the space for it. Dogs that are big need “wagging space” to avoid injuring their tails or damaging household objects when they get happy. Also consider the costs, since the bigger dogs can often be more expensive to look after.
See also: Dog Size Calculator
Coat
Short coat dogs spare you from the hassle of having to constantly comb your dog’s fur, but they shed heavily, sometimes twice a year. Long coat dogs require regular brushing or their fur can mat and become tangled, so make sure you have the time to dedicate. Certain breeds like German Shepherds have double coats, one long coat inside and a shorter outercoat. Poodles have curly hair, and such coats need haircuts and professional grooming around every 4 to 6 weeks.
Another important aspect to look into is hypoallergenic dogs for people who are allergic to fur. Hypoallergenic dogs don’t shed fur, or shed very little fur as compared to other dogs. This prevents the dander that sticks to their fur from getting released into the air, sparing you the headache of allergic reactions.
Personality
If you think dogs don’t have a personality just like humans do, you’re not ready for one just yet! Dogs can have a range of personalities, and while these differ from dog to dog, certain breeds have common personality traits. German Shepherds can be aloof and take some time to make friends but are extremely loyal once they warm up to you. They aren’t necessarily aggressive, unlike the smaller yet more feisty bull terriers.
Certain breeds are also very needy and crave being around their owners all the time. If you’re getting a Shih Tzu or a Bichon Frise, this is something you need to keep in mind. You have to be at home as much as possible or they can even develop severe separation anxiety. Additionally, if you have kids or are planning on them, make sure you get a breed that is known to be gentle and child-friendly like a Golden Retriever, Dachshund, or Beagle.
Activity Levels
All dogs require a certain level of exercise and daily activity, some much more than others. The amount of activity they need is often determined by their breed, but this can also vary depending on the individual dog. If your schedule only allows you enough time for one to two walks each day, look into getting a low energy dog like a bulldog or a basset hound. If you like going on jogs or runs every day, get a border collie or a labrador retriever, since they’ll be more than happy to accompany you.
Dogs that require a lot of exercise are often fond of running around and being active, and they can get restless if they aren’t given the space or freedom to do so. This restlessness can exhibit itself in the form of constant barking, destroying things in the house, digging holes in the yard, being unusually aggressive or acting out. Lack of exercise can further develop into health complications, so make sure your lifestyle allows for you to give your dog the attention it needs.
Trainability
All dogs will need a certain amount of training, and you’ll have to devote time and energy to making sure your dog responds to commands. But typically, some breeds are easier to train than others. These include Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, German Shepherds, and Collies. These breeds are more capable of forming associations between commands (the word “sit”), the related action and a consequence (getting a treat). This makes them much easier to train.
Other breeds like beagles, dalmatians and rottweilers are much harder to train. These dogs have the type of personalities that make them want to do their own thing, and some may not even care much about forming associations. It isn’t impossible to train these dogs, but it certainly requires a lot more time, effort and patience.
See also: Find Best Dog Trainers Near Me
Health
There’s a lot more that goes into a dog’s physical maintenance than just its coat, and health issues are a big part of that. Every dog breed has certain health conditions that prevail, and you should know about these before you decide on which one to choose. Labrador retrievers, for instance, are relatively healthy as long as they get enough exercise. They can be prone to obesity, which makes the exercise even more essential.
Several large breeds are at an increased risk of hip and elbow dysplasia (a problem with the joints), including labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and German shepherds. Pugs, bulldogs, and bloodhounds all have flappy skin, which if left uncleaned for too long can result in infections. Breeds with short noses like pugs and Shih Tzus are at increased risk of excessive tearing of the eyes due to shallow eye sockets or hair growing in the skin around the eyes. Kidney problems are present in certain breeds like German shepherds and English co*cker spaniels.
No dog is completely immune from health problems, and all dogs need to be well looked after to live as healthy a life as possible. Healthcare for dogs isn’t cheap, and neither is their maintenance, so make sure you have the budget to support your new family member.
Conclusion
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) or the World Canine Organization is the largest registry of dog breeds, and is internationally accepted. Currently, the FCI recognizes 353 different breeds of dogs, so you know just what a wide choice you have. But try to narrow down on a few breeds that will be happiest with you before you take the leap. Getting a dog is a big commitment, so make sure you can make it as happy as it will make you.
