How to Decide What Dog Breed to Get

With the weather warming up, people look to add pets to their family. Whether it is for companionship or for their kids, careful consideration needs to be made when deciding what breed dog to get.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Desire and responsibility to own a dog

1. 
    

   First and foremost, you need to figure out where you want to get your dog from. Many people might not care about breed and want to judge by personality or are looking for a particular weight limit when deciding breed. The question you need to ask yourself is whether to buy or adopt a dog. Most dogs in pet stores are purchased from puppy mills, which means your dog more than likely will not be healthy, so don't hesitate to ask the pet store where they get their puppies from. Other people swear by breeders while others want to give a home to one of the million homeless dogs out there. If you decide to adopt, you can do so by going to a local pet shelter or calling up a rescue organization. A great place to find your next dog to adopt is www.petfinder.com.

2. 
    

   The second decision you need to make is what kind of dog to get. If you have kids, this is something to discuss with them. Traditional family dogs are Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and believe it or not, Rottweilers. While I am biased since I own all three of them, they are the traditional family dogs. They are loyal, protective, and good-natured. Another dog nearing the top of the charts is the Bernese Mountain Dog. If you have small kids at home, it is wise not to go with a Poodle and many other smaller dogs (Chihuahuas especially) as they are more prone to snap and attack younger children.

3. 
    

   Once you have selected your dog, do your research. What are all the supplies you need, special knowledge you might need, and above all else is it affordable? Owning a dog is a big responsibility. Do not get a dog for your young child and leave that child in charge- become a part of the responsibility with your child. Most pets purchased for a child who swears they will do everything the dog needs done, the parents do end up taking over responsibility when the child grows bored or moves away (or takes dog to a shelter) so make sure you are in this for the long haul. Research veterinarians now, as well as dog walkers and pet sitters so you have all your bases covered.

4. 
    

   Next thing to do is go get your dog and have a newly expanded family. Be patient with your new addition as whether you are getting a puppy or an already house-trained dog, there will be a learning curve. This is a new environment for your dog so there is more than likely going to be a couple accidents as your dog gets acclimated. Just keep some rug cleaner on hand (and pee pads if you're going that route with a puppy), and learn how to effectively train your dog. I'm sure there's lots of eHows on here about how to do that!

[kristara]

on 8/22/2009 Great tips on choosing a dog. Our first dog chose us lol 5*

[rockymtngrma]

on 6/22/2009 Doing your research prior to getting a new pet is critical. If your pet has the wrong personality for your family, it can be a real disaster. Anyone considering adding a pet to their family should read this!

[wltw]

on 4/13/2009 Really good information. I just got an email about Pets Ten Commandments - and it's such a reminder how pets depend on us so much. It's so important to decide correctly what dog to get first so you don't let your new pet friend down. http://home.att.net/~hideaway_today/t125/pet.htm

[ShannaFuentes]

on 4/9/2009 Great article on deciding what kind of dog to get! We want to get a dog for my son when he's 5 or so, and really want to make sure and get the right one!

[kaytay]

on 4/7/2009 excellent tips on choosing the right dog for your family