Choosing The Right Dog For Your Family

Choosing a dog for your family is an extremely important step in adopting a dog. This process should not be taken lightly and much research is needed in order to make sure the best decision. Doing this step will do two things; one, make sure that the dog you choose is right for your family; two, your family is the right fit for that particular dog. Below are some things you should think about when picking out your next fur baby.

Size: Size is probably one of the most important characters to determine right off the bat. I really wanted a Rottweiler but my house isn't big enough for that breed so I knew I had to have a medium or small dog. If you have a smaller house, like I do, then x-large or large breed dogs are out of the question. You want to have enough room in the house that you don't feel overcrowded with your dog in it. Plus, it's hard on larger dogs to move around in smaller areas.

Age: Are you looking for a puppy or an adult dog? Remember, puppies are a LOT of work. You have to have the patience to work on potty training and keep a close eye on them for their first year. Most adult dogs, who have had previous homes, are much easier to potty train or learn the rules of the house. Unless they came from horrible backgrounds, adult dogs can adapt fairly easy to a new home and tend to fit into a routine faster. Most puppies can be naughty up until the age of 2. Until they hit their 2nd birthday be prepared to deal with reverted training, hyper-activity and lots of correction. Some breeds continue to be "puppy-like" much past two...this includes Labradors and Beagles to name a few. Also, if you are an avid runner and looking for a running partner, you will need to wait until after your dog is at least one because running is hard on their little joints. Senior dogs can make great companions as well. They are usually more mellow and happy to just have a place to hang out comfortably all day. Senior dogs can also come with more medical issues as well. If possible, get on a good pet insurance right away to cover any Vet costs that may come with an older dog.

Activity Level: Some dogs require more exercise than others. Making sure your dog gets proper exercise will not only help with their physical needs but also mentally. Dogs who have higher activity levels; such as sporting and herding breed dogs, need to have an owner who is physically active and willing to include their dog into their activities. Just because you have a large yard for your dog to romp around in means nothing if you are not out there making sure they are getting their energy out. If you tend to be less active than make sure to look at dogs that have lower energy levels. Don't think that you will get an active dog so that you can become more active. It may work for the first few weeks but a dog should not be your motivation to be more active in your life. Here are just a few of the breeds based on their activity levels. 

     High Energy Dogs:

         Most Terriers (Airedales, Pitbulls, Jack Russell, Rat and Fox)

         Beagle
         Boxers

         Collies
         Retrievers

         Setters

         Shepards

         Spaniels

         Weimaraner

     Low Energy Dogs:

         Basset Hounds

         Bernese Mountain Dogs

         Bulldogs

         Chow Chow

         Great Pyrenees

         Lhasa Apso

         Mastiffs

         Pekingese

         Saint Bernards

         Shar-Pei

         Shih Tzu

Trainability:  How dedicated are you to training your dog? Labs and Retrievers are known to be easier to train because of their eagerness to please. Other dogs are considered more stubborn and need a patient pack leader to be consistent with training in order to have a well-behaved dog. Most of the stubborn dogs can be found in the hound and terrier groups but some sporting dogs can also be hard to manage. If these dogs are not trained well and are left alone without companionship or exercise they can show destructive, nervous and even aggressive behavior. A few of these harder to train dogs are:
     Akitas   
     Bernese Mountain Dogs
     Dobermans
     Great Danes
     Huskies
     Pit Bulls
     Rottweilers
     Setters
     Weimaraners 

Maintenance: This is in reference to their fur. Obviously dogs with longer fur need more brushing and grooming then short haired dogs. Some dogs; like Poodles, Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsoes actually need to go to a groomer to get trimmed on a regular basis. Unless you are willing to learn this on your own and can find the extra time needed to do it, make sure to add this into your monthly expenses. Short hair dogs do need to be brushed and washed as well but not as much as one with the longer hair that can and will get matted if not cared for. 


Shedding/Allergies: A common misconception is long hair dogs shed and short hair dogs shed less. Shiz Tzus for example have very long hair but are considered non-shedding because they have hair (like humans) and not fur. Non-shedding dogs are also considered hypoallergenic because they don't produce as much dander and flaky dead skin, which is what triggers allergies. Maci actually sheds worse than a Lab/Samoyed (CleoPhatra) I had growing up as a kid. At least with Cleo's fur it was seasonal shedding and the big clumps were easy to vacuum up. Maci's hair is short and wiry and sticks in everything! Before I got my Dyson, the one specifically for animals, it would take me an hour to vacuum my couch and chair to try and get all her hair up. Remember, the more hair that you are able to get out with brushing is the less hair that will end up on your floors and furniture. There is always the Xoloitzuintli, or the Mexican Hairless dog, who truly only have a very small amount of hair on the top of their head and their tails. These dogs do require sunscreen and warmer climates though....unless you want to buy them a winter wardrobe to live in colder weather.


Kids/Family: When I use to work with a rescue organization and had to interview people that wanted to adopt a dog, one of my many questions was to ask if they had kids and if so, what their ages were. Young kids should ALWAYS be supervised around any dog....I don't care if it's a Maltese or a Doberman. Not all kids understand the temperament of  a dog, let's face it, many adults don't either. So there needs to be an adult around to make sure that the child is giving the dog space when they are showing signs of irritation. Many dog bites could be prevented if people would follow this rule. I also don't recommend getting a puppy if you have younger children, this usually means age 8 or younger. Again, puppies are a lot of work and so are kids. Why would you want to stress yourself out with a puppy when you are already busy with your child? Also, consider what your family life is like. Is your spouse on board with a dog in the house? Does everyone understand the responsibility of a dog and willing to help with raise it? 

Go to PetEducation.com to find a more detailed list

Cost: Animals in general are costly. Between their food, shots, Vetting and other daily needs things add up quickly. I can be sure that every year I will spend around $250 for each dog on shots and heartworm and fecal tests. That doesn't include their monthly heartworm and flea/tick treatment which can be over $100 for both dogs every 6 months.  If this sounds expensive, don't forget the occasional Vet visits for random infections or injures that seem to come up at the most inconvenient times. I highly recommend Pet Insurance...yes, another monthly expense...but one that can help save thousands on some Vet procedures. If you are adopting a puppy, get them on the Pet Insurance right away before they can have any "pre-existing" conditions. Also, remember that some breeds tend to have specific health issues. Many large breeds have hip dysplasia, which is not covered under any insurance that I've found. These medical conditions are part of having a dog and a dog shouldn't be put to sleep because they suddenly became to expensive. There are many programs out there to help people pay for their pet's health treatments, you just have to find them. If you are adopting a "Bully" breed dog, make sure to check with your insurance first to see if they will still insure you if you adopt this type of dog. 


These are a few of the items that you should consider when you are thinking about adopting a dog. There is a great site called, Dogtime.com,  that asks questions and gives you a list of dog breeds that would be a good fit for you based on your answers. Although you may have your heart set on a particular breed because of it's looks or other qualities, ask yourself if you will be the best owner for that breed of dog. It's better to have a good match instead of trying to make it work and then giving the dog up because you can't handle their traits.


I can't complete this blog without mentioning how important it is that you dedicate the next 10-15 years to your dog. Dogs are not disposable or replaceable. They will love you unconditionally and deserve your love and care in return. A dog is not a "filler" until the next best thing comes along. If you are willing to give up your dog when you get a new boyfriend or have a child, then do not get a dog in the first place. I understand things happen as far as income and situations but also know there are organizations that are willing to help out financially so that your dog can stay with you. 


It breaks my heart to see how many people drop their dog off at a shelter like they are trash. How can you do that to an animal that has dedicated it's life and loyalty to you? I don't know the exact number of dogs that are put to sleep daily but I know it's in the hundreds. Most shelters are too full to care for all the animals that are surrendered to them daily. So please be a responsible pet owner, spay/neuter your dogs and adopt, don't buy from a breeder. 

I saw this on Facebook and thought it was perfect!