The Dog Breed That Fit You Best

Every breed has their pros and cons. As a potential puppy buyer/dog owner, you must be aware of the traits, both nice and bad, of the breed you are thinking about. Lots of pet owners own the breed they do because of an impulse buy. Sometimes this works out fine and other times dog owners find out, late, that this is not such a wonderful breed (for them) after all. Sadly, it is the innocent dog that suffers when it gets placed in a brand spanking new home, returned to the breeder or, worst of all, taken to the pound!

Each breed was developed with a positive purpose in mind. Each breed (or most anyway) have breed specific health and or temperament issues of which you ought to be aware. Some breeds have coats that need hours of grooming to keep the dog in nice shape. Some breeds shed over others. Some breeds are active and hyper while others are quiet and sedentary.

What about grooming? How much time are you willing to spend on this chore? What about shedding? Some canines don't shed at all and others shed  constantly. How much noise are you willing to put up with? What about trainability? Some breeds are notoriously difficult to housebreak and/or train while others practically discipline themselves. If your interest is obedience, seek out those breeds that excel in the field. If you are a hunter and have visions of fall days in the duck blind along with your trusty dog, you would not go out and buy a Chinese Crested. In case you hope to own a dog that will be around for 15 to 16 years, don't purchase a large breed.

Because different breeds have different characteristics, it is a nice suggestion to first define exactly what traits you require in a dog. Would you like a large dog, medium or small? What is the main purpose of having the dog, other than companionship? Would you like the dog to hunt with you? Would you like a dog that is a nice guard dog? How about kids? In case you have them, you require to be assured that the breed you pick is going to get along with the children. And in case you do have kids, what age are they? A dog breed that tends to be hyperactive and aggressive would not be a nice choice with small kids as the dog will likely do destroy if it jumps on the kid and play bites. However children in the ten years and up range would probably thoroughly enjoy an active outgoing playmate.