Choosing a Breed

I started this site because I know exactly what it feels like to choose the wrong dog and to have to give it away. It's absolutely heartbreaking, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I'd wanted a puppy for a long time, and after a lot of convincing, my ex. finally agreed. On a whim, the next day I went to pick out a chocolate Lab puppy from a local breeder.

All went well, and I picked an adorable, active puppy from the litter. Sam was a chocolate and yellow lab mix, and the most gorgeous dark golden color, with matching eyes.

I didn't know enough to ask to see the parents before I looked at the puppies, and fell in love. On the way out to my car, I was accosted by a pair of unruly, undisciplined, large, chocolate labs (both of my puppy's parents, it turns out).

The mom and dad were almost completely out of control, jumping up on me and my car, and barking with excitement. The dog's owners said "They're just excited to see someone", and I didn't think any more about it.

Whether you want an active dog, a doggie couch potato, or a dog that fits somewhere in between really depends on you.

Are you the type of person or family that spends a lot of time walking and hiking? If so, an active dog might be a great choice, rather than a dog couch potato. Popular breeds like Border Collies, Dalmatians, Jack Russells, and many Retrievers are well known to be high energy.

Other highly active dog breeds are:

Depending on the breed dog training can be easier or harder. That said, lists of breeds that are easy to train, and hard to train are just generalizations, although they can be a helpful guide.

Above all, dogs, like people, are individuals. You may find stubborn individual dogs in a breed that is supposedly includes easy to train dogs, and wonderful, easy to train dogs in a breed that is supposedly difficult to train. Training dog breeds is not an exact science, and easy to train dogs come from every breed.

For the most part, the list below describes a dog as easy to train based on the ability to learn basic obedience training with a minimum or stubbornness or aggressiveness. However, for all breeds, dog training can sometimes be a challenge - even breeds that are supposedly contain easy to train dogs. For every breed dog training can have challenges.

Small Dog Types
How small is a small dog? Small dogs weigh about 12 to 30 pounds. Small dog types are a terrific choice for someone in a smaller house or apartment, or who would have trouble physically caring for a larger dog. Small dog types may shed less and give off less allergens than larger dogs (simply because they have less hair and a smaller body).

Small dog breeds tend to live, on average, about 14 years. Some small dog types live much longer, and some Terrier breeds can easily live to be 20 years old.

Small dog types tend to have some health issues, but these are usually related to specific breed characteristics, rather than their smaller size. Dachshunds, for example, tend to have spinal problems that result from breeding for their long bodies, and Pugs often have breathing problems that come from breeding for their unusually short noses.

Large Dog Breeds
Large and giant dogs are among my favorites. Large dog breeds weigh approximately 60 to 90 pounds. You'll need plenty of room for a large dog, both inside your house, and in your back yard. Many large dog breeds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, and osteoarthritis. Large dog breeds also don't live as long as many smaller breeds, with an approximate life expectancy of around 12 years. Choosing a large dog breed can mean saying goodbye sooner than if you choose smaller or medium size dog breeds.

Their large size often makes large dog breeds susceptible to hip dysplasia and related conditions, like giant dogs. They can also be susceptible to heart conditions.

Many of the disorders of large dog breeds result from growth that is too fast. This can be controlled by feeding a special large dog breed formula designed to control the dog’s growth rate (which is determined for the most part by the dog’s intake of intake and calories).

Giant dog breeds like Great Danes require special giant dog crates. A giant dog crate is much larger and heavier than a crate for any other dog. Crates for giant dogs can weigh 70 pounds, not including the dog!

The good news is that a giant dog crate can come in collapsible designs that store flat in a few minutes and can be tucked away out of sight. The bad news is that these crates can be pretty expensive. Expect to spend an easy $200 or more for a good quality, collapsible giant dog crate.

Features to look for in a giant dog crate:

I have to confess: I love giant dogs. There's something so comforting about a big, goofy, gentle giant dog. And I'm talking huge: Giant dog breeds include dogs that weigh over 90 pounds, or more than 27 inches at the shoulder. If you want a giant dog breed, you’ll need plenty of room for the dog both inside and outside your home.

A giant dog crate, while expensive, my be especially helpful in keeping a 100-pound dog off your furniture while you're away from home.

Giant breed dogs generally have a shorter life expectancy than smaller dogs. You can expect a giant dog to live approximately seven to ten years, depending on the breed of giant dog. However, many giant dog breeds only live seven or eight years.

Health Issues

Is your dogs shedding a problem? Want to reduce the dog hair on your sofa and car seats? There may be a bit of hope, as there are quite a few non shedding dogs.

While the idea of non shedding dogs is appealing, most non shedding dog breeds are just breeds that tend to shed less than others. Many of these breeds have less of a undercoat, shorter fur, or fur that's less bulky and dense.

That said, some Terrier breeds, Schnauzers, and Poodles shed less than other breeds.

It's the type of coat, not the length of fur, that determines how much a dog will shed. Dogs shedding both an outer coat and inner coat tend to shed more (the outer coat is usually coarser and longer, and the inner coat is softer and shorter) as the dogs shedding both coats, rather than one.

The best dogs for children? Simple. Breeds that are not aggressive.

While dogs and children seem to go hand in hand, there are actually quite a few things to consider when getting a dog if you have little kids in the house. Not every dog is well suited to life with children, and not all children are suited to life with a dog.

Some of the best dogs for children are breeds like the Labrador Retriever. There are other breeds that aren't as good, surprisingly, like the Dalmatian. One of the most obvious considerations is that a the best dog breeds for children cannot be aggressive. The last thing you ever want would be to worry about is your dog biting your child or other children.

Low Maintenance

Choosing the right dog breed is pretty difficult. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of breeds. So, how do you even begin choosing dog breeds?

You probably have a general idea of the breeds that might work. Once you’ve got a good idea of the breeds you’re interested in, talk to several owners of the breeds you'd like to buy. This will help you greatly when choosing the right breed of dog.

Breeds vary enormously in personality, and it's crucial to consider if a breed's personality matches you and your family's needs. Different breeds were developed for different functions, and this can greatly influence their behaviors, so choosing dog breeds is a pretty difficult task.

For example, Border Collies were bred to be herding dogs, and are happiest when kept busy with walks, playing Frisbee, or herding sheep. They need something to do every day of the week, and every week of the year. You may be choosing the right breed of dog if you're happy exercising your dog every day.