How to Choose the Right Dog Breed for Your Family

With the current quest of the Obama family to adopt a puppy, many people are wondering what is taking them so long to decide on a dog breed and move forward. With literally hundreds of breeds of purebred dogs to choose from and the endless potential mixtures of those breeds, it can seem quite daunting to pick one. Follow these basic guidelines and you'll be on your way to choosing the perfect dog breed for your family in no time at all.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ability to research and take good notes.
• Ongoing feedback from your family.
• List of priorities.
• Realistic expectations.

1. 
   Parson (Jack) Russell Terrier

   Research the basic generalizations of the various dog groups. Dog registrations such as the AKC have organized recognized dog breeds into different groups of similar breeds; the hound group, terrier group, toy group, working group, sporting dog group, and non-sporting group.

2. 
   Bernese Mountain Dog

   Determine the size requirement you have for your future dog. Small, medium or large will suffice here. Weed out the dog breeds which do not fit your ideal. Now you should be working with a much more realistic number of dog breeds.

3. 
   Flat Coated Retriever

   With your families help, list what is important to you in a dog. Is there some specific activity you wish to participate in with your dog? Some breeds will be more appropriate than others for specific activities. A border collie may be perfect as a morning jogging partner but an english bulldog is not at all appropriate for this.

4. 
   English Redtick Coonhound (not found in AKC, check UKC)

   Research your 'short list' of potential dog breeds by visiting AKC.org, UKCdogs.com, the parent clubs for those specific breeds (search Google for "dog breed name parent club"). Join some discussion forums for those specific dog breeds. Yahoogroups.com is a great place to start.

5. 
   American Black & Tan Coonhound

   Ask veterinarians, dog trainers and breeders about specific breeds and if there would be specific breeds on your short list that they feel would be appropriate or not at all appropriate for your lifestyle. breeders.net is a great place to find breeders to converse with.

6. 
   Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

   Keep detailed notes of pros and cons as well as the source of your information. You may find as you go along that some information contradicts other information and you may need to determine based on your opinion, who is the most reliable source of dog breed information.

7. 
   Newfoundland Puppy

   Ask pertinent questions relating to important topics such as grooming, temperament, trainability, breed specific health issues and if there are any certifications breeders should be able to provide you with in your search.

8. 
   Redbone Coonhound

   Attending benched dog shows where they have a 'meet the breeds' style set up. At these benched shows, breeders and handlers are not allowed to leave the building until a certain time. While they are there, they are expected to talk to the public about their dog breeds. Many will allow you to also pet and interact with their dogs.

Tips & Warnings

• Search both AKC.org and UKCdogs.com when looking at groups and dog breeds as both registries have dog breeds they other may not yet recognize. Both registries are highly respected.
• Never make rush or impulse decisions when purchasing a dog breed. Remember, this is a commitment that can last a decade or more.
• Mutts are NOT healthier. Mutts can inherit genes from both parents, good and bad. This includes designer dog breeds.
• Be sure to ask before petting dogs at dog shows.

Resources

• Ironwood Coonhounds (author's Redbone and American Black & Tan Coonhounds)
• DaPoochie Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
• Grand Paws Newf Farm Newfoundlands

[carmensjones]

on 4/11/2009 How to Choose the Right Dog Breed for Your Family is very informative. 5

[SharonW]

on 3/16/2009 Who knew a Beagle crossed with an English Staffy would be the perfect dog for our family. We love him to bits.

[srgrimes]

on 3/13/2009 Funny I should see this article now. 2 weeks ago I chose the same subject out of the blue.I was reading smilesalot1's life story and ran across your 's somehow. Great work by both of you.I' am curious as to how much money and when it starts comming in! so I Wait

[WordWhizKid]

on 3/12/2009 Very thorough expert advice, thank you! And adorable photos! 5*s!

[goodselfme]

on 3/10/2009 This is such a really important post. People so often don't give these tips a second thought. Everyone can learn from your great article.