In selecting a breed of dog for a family, there are several important considerations. Acquiring a dog on sudden impulse may not be the best match for a family or for a dog. Before beginning the process, it is important to think about your family and lifestyle and to assess your own needs when trying to decide which breed of dog will fit in best. If you have small children or plan to start a family in the near future, this may also impact the breed selection. Keep in mind that the puppy you bring home will be a member of your family for the next 10 to 15 years.
Although individual dogs within breeds can vary, there are many factors to consider that are often breed-specific. Things to think about are size, activity level, trainability, coat and grooming requirements, allergies that family members might have, common health concerns of the specific breed of dog, and your current level of knowledge in owning and training a dog. Do you live is a small city apartment that requires you to walk several flights of stairs each day, or do you live in a residential neighborhood with a lot of children or where fences are not allowed? If you live on a farm, you may need a dog to assist you with moving cattle or sheep, or perhaps you wish to hunt with your dog. Will the dog live primarily outside, inside, or both? These are all factors to be considered.
Many times, people see a picture of a dog that they think they would like to own, or they like a friend’s dog and want one just like it. However, it is very important to do your homework before you purchase or adopt a puppy or dog so that you are knowledgeable about the breed’s characteristics and can assess if that breed would really fit into your own family's lifestyle. A good place to start researching breeds of dogs is the American Kennel Club Web site at www.akc.org. They have written descriptions of each breed they recognize as well as links to the parent club of each breed. Parent club Web sites are excellent sources of information about the specific needs of the breed as well as health problems that may occur in that breed.
Once you have narrowed down your choices to a few breeds, the next step is to talk to breeders to learn more about the dogs. A good breeder will tell you about both the positive and negative characteristics of the breed and will want to make sure your family is a good fit. He or she will ask questions much like during an interview to help match your family to that breed of dog. It is also helpful to visit dog shows where you can meet several specimens of the breeds you are interested in and can talk to their owners. If you are considering a breed with a special coat, ask the breeder to demonstrate the grooming process for a pet. Be sure to ask about how much daily activity the dog will need and, if you have children, whether the breed is known for being good with children. Very small dogs may be too fragile for young children, and very large and energetic dogs may need a lot of training before they can be allowed to play with children. Seek information about dog obedience classes or clubs that you could join to socialize your new dog and help you learn how to train your dog to fit in well with your family.
