Choosing The Best Dog For You

For many people, choosing a dog isn’t as simple as picking the cutest one. Most of us have conce s or living circumstances that need to mesh well with our new pooch. Here’s a quick guide to some of the best dogs for your needs. Families with Children For families with young kids, choosing the right dog is vitally important to maintain the balance in your home. Picking the wrong dog can cause more than headaches. So, if you have kids, take a look at the: Australian Shepherd, Beagle, Bearded Collie, Be ese Mountain Dog, Bichon Frise, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, English Bulldog, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Norfolk Terrier, Old English Sheepdog, Poodle, Pug, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Wheaten Terrier, and the Whippet. Avoid the toy breeds such as Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, and Yorkshire Terriers, as their small size makes them vulnerable to injury from a playful toddler. Also, avoid some of the strong guardian breeds such as Akitas, Chows, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers as they can be overly aggressive with kids. Apartment Dogs Living in an apartment? Don’t feel bound to buying a little dog. In fact, some small breeds such as the Jack Russel Terrier are far too energetic for apartment living. Likewise, one of America’s most popular dogs, the Labrador Retriever, needs a large yard and plenty of exercise to be healthy. With proper exercise, some large breeds can thrive in an apartment. Considered the best apartment dogs are: Affenpinscher, American Bullnese, American Hairless Terrier, Australian Terrier, Basset Hound, Bichon Frise, Biewer, Bolognese, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested (hairless), Corgi, Dachshund, English Toy Spaniel, French Bulldog, German Spitz, Havanese, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Miniature English Bulldog, Miniature Fox Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Papillon, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Pug, Scottish Terrier (Scottie), Shih-Tzu, Skye Terrier, Standard Schnauzer, Tibetan Spaniel, Toy Poodle, Victorian Bulldog, West Highland White Terrier, and the Yorkshire Terrier. Best Dogs for People with Allergies For people with allergies, owning a pet can seem like a dream. But there are several breeds that are considered allergy friendly dogs. Hypo-Allergenic breeds include: the American Hairless Terrier, Basenji, Bichon Frise, Bolognese, Border Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Chinese Crested (hairless), Giant Schnauzer, Hairless Khala, Havanese, Irish Water Spaniel, Maltese, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Portuguese Water Dog, Shih-Tzu, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Spanish Water Dog, Standard Poodle, Standard Schnauzer, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Poodle, West Highland White Terrier, Wirehaired Fox Terrier, and the Yorkshire Terrier. Since allergies vary from person to person, it is important that you visit with breeds you are considering before buying a new puppy. Not all of these dogs will be allergy friendly for you, so take the time to test out these pups before bringing one home. When choosing the best dog for you, don’t simply pick one off this list that fills your needs as far as being kid friendly or hypo-allergenic. These breeds have wildly different temperaments and exercise needs, so you should be aware of what you’re getting into before choosing a new dog for your family. Do a little research on the breeds that appeal to you. Especially keep in mind how often you will be able to exercise your dog versus how much exercise the breed needs. Then, choose three or four breeds to visit with and see how you get along. After discussing this with your family, you’ll be ready to choose a dog that works best for your family’s needs. A dog is a member of the family, so you should carefully consider the decision to bring home a new pup. The right dog can bring your family a tremendous amount of happiness and satisfaction, so put in the time to make the right decision.