Let’s face it, not all dogs are created equally. Labrador Retrievers need a ton of exercise. Great Danes need a ton of room. English Mastiffs need a ton of rags (for all that drool!). Pomeranians need a ton of brushing. And what about that sweet mutt over there? Chances are, she will need a ton of time. So which one is right for you?
I want to start by saying that I believe that everyone should give shelter dogs a chance. Four of my five dogs were in some way, rescued. Regardless of whether you decide to buy from a breeder, adopt from a shelter, or take in a friend of a friend’s sister’s dog who she can no longer care for, you need to know your limitations and level of commitment before bringing home your new best friend.
The first thing you need to decide on is funtionality. If you live by yourself in a small apartment in the city, work full time, and don’t have the time or energy to make frequent trips (at least twice daily) to the dog park, a German Shepherd isn’t for you. If you take pride in your nice, clean, white, expensive couch, don’t even think about getting a Newfoundland. If you have a small child who isn’t as gentle as he could be with his toys, a Yorkshire Terrier will probably not be a good match. For the avid outdoors person, who enjoys hiking, biking, and jogging, that Bassett Hound who keeps tripping over her ears is probably going to leave you wanting. If you like peace and quiet, a Siberian Husky will drive you wild.
Next, consider size. The breed standard for a Chihuahua calls for a dog no bigger than six pounds. This dog could easily make a home out of any sized living quarters. Irish Wolfhounds, on the other hand, have a minimum AKC recognized height of 30 inches. Try fitting that dog into a studio apartment.
It’s not just the size of your home that you have to consider. A five thousand square foot home isn’t going to be enough room for a Great Dane if it is cluttered. Other things to consider are the amount of exercise your dog will receive, and the size of the area he will be allowed to run and play in. I used to live in a two bedroom apartment before I moved out into the country. Living with me were my two Miniature Pinschers, Gunny and Cammie, and my 110 pound Alaskan Malamute/Anatolian Shepherd mix. Winter (the Malamix) did just fine in that tiny apartment. It wasn’t because she is a low energy dog. In fact, she is quite the opposite. It was because I took Winter on frequent walks, no matter the weather outside (the worse the weather, the more fun she has!), and we would visit the dog park twice a day (early morning and dusk, when there was nobody there) to allow her to stretch her legs. She also enjoyed other hobbies, like hiking four times a week, and chasing horses at the barn I used to board at. While the size of your actual home is important, it’s the amount of exercise that really matters the most.
Throughout your search for the perfect companion, always remember your experience level. Working breeds, such as Rottweilers, Giant Schnauzers, Doberman Pinschers, and German Shepherds, have dominant personalities and require constant training and somebody with a good knowledge of canine behavior in order to thrive within a household. They will challenge their owners psychologically in order to gain the alpha position, and with an inexperienced owner, will frequently win that challenge. That causes strain to the human/canine relationship, and often results in both becoming unhappy and frustrated with each other, and in extreme cases, the owner giving away the dog. On the other end of the spectrum, dogs like Golden Retrievers, who will usually unquestionably respond to their owner’s every commands, may be great for beginner owners, but may bore the more experienced trainers looking for a way to challenge themselves and further their knowledge and training.
Here’s a brief composited list of dog breeds (and crosses!) that will do well in common situations. First I will list living situations, followed by exercise level, then average temperaments, and lastly, coat maintenance.
| Minimum Housing | Minimum Exercise Requirements | Skill Level of Owner | |
| Cattle Dog/Heeler | House with large yard | Always moving, needs job | Intermediate |
| Australian Shepherd | House with yard | Jogging buddy | Advanced beginner to intermediate |
| Bassett Hound | Apartment | Minimum | Beginner |
| Beagle | Apartment | Moderate | Beginner |
| Border Collie | House with Land | Always moving, needs job | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Boston Terrier | Apartment | Minimum to Moderate | Beginner |
| Boxer | House with large yard | Moderate to jogging buddy | Intermediate |
| English Bulldog | Apartment | Minimum | Advanced beginner to intermediate |
| Chihuahua | Apartment | Minimum to Moderate | Intermediate |
| Collie (Rough and smooth) | House with large yard | Jogging buddy, needs job | Advanced beginner to intermediate |
| Dachshund | Apartment | Moderate | Intermediate |
| Dalmation | House with yard | Jogging buddy | Intermediate |
| Doberman Pinscher | House with large yard | Jogging buddy, needs job | Advanced |
| Cocker Spaniel | Apartment | Moderate | Advanced beginner to intermediate |
| French Bulldog | Apartment | Minimum | Beginner |
| German Shepherd | House with large yard | Always moving, needs job | Advanced |
| Golden Retriever | House with yard | Jogging buddy | Beginner |
| Great Dane | House with large yard | Moderate to jogging buddy | Intermediate |
| Labrador Retriever | House with large yard | Jogging buddy, needs job | Advanced beginner to intermediate |
| Maltese | Apartment | Minimum to Moderate | Beginner |
| Mastiff | House with yard | Moderate | Intermediate (Advanced for Neopolitans) |
| Miniature Pinscher | Apartment | Moderate | Advanced beginner to intermediate |
| Pomeranian | Apartment | Moderate | Beginner |
| Poodle | Varies on sizes of dog | Moderate to jogging buddy | Advanced beginner to intermediate |
| Pug | Apartment | Minimum | Beginner |
| Rottweiler | House with yard | Moderate | Advanced |
| American Pitbull Terrier | House with yard | Jogging buddy | Advanced |
| Shih tzu | Apartment | Minimum to Moderate | Beginner |
| Siberian Husky | House with large yard | Jogging buddy, needs job | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Apartment | Minimum to Moderate | Intermediate |
| Grooming Requirements | Loud Mouth! | |
| Cattle Dog/Heeler | Minimum | Barks when bored |
| Australian Shepherd | Twice weekly brushing | Barks when bored |
| Bassett Hound | Minimum | Yes |
| Beagle | Minimum | Yes |
| Border Collie | Twice Weekly brushing | Barks when bored |
| Boston Terrier | Minimum | No |
| Boxer | Minimum | Guard Dog |
| English Bulldog | Minimum | Snores |
| Chihuahua | Minimum | Yes |
| Collie (Rough and smooth) | Rough- Daily brushing; Smooth- Minimum | Barks when bored |
| Dachshund | Varies on type, minimum to twice weekly | Yes |
| Dalmation | Minimum | No |
| Doberman Pinscher | Minimum | Guard Dog |
| Cocker Spaniel | Twice weekly brushing | No |
| French Bulldog | Minimum | No |
| German Shepherd | Weekly brushing | Guard Dog, Barks when bored |
| Golden Retriever | Twice weekly brushing | No |
| Great Dane | Minimum | Guard Dog |
| Labrador Retriever | Weekly brushing | Barks when bored |
| Maltese | Twice weekly brushing | No |
| Mastiff | Minimum | Guard Dog |
| Miniature Pinscher | Minimum | Guard Dog |
| Pomeranian | Daily Brushing | Yes |
| Poodle | Doesn't shed, hypoallergenic. Needs monthly professional grooming | Guard Dog |
| Pug | Minimum | Snores |
| Rottweiler | Minimum | Guard Dog |
| American Pitbull Terrier | Minimum | Guard Dog |
| Shih tzu | Twice weekly brushing | No |
| Siberian Husky | Twice weekly brushing | Yes |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Twice weekly brushing | No |
| Good with Kids | Good with other animals | Good with Strangers | |
| Cattle Dog/Heeler | Yes | Yes | No |
| Australian Shepherd | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bassett Hound | Yes | Cats okay, no small animals | Yes |
| Beagle | Yes | Cats okay, no small animals | Yes |
| Border Collie | Older kids, okay | Yes, but may chase | When socialized properly |
| Boston Terrier | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boxer | Yes | Yes | Sometimes |
| English Bulldog | Yes | Cats okay, no small animals | Sometimes |
| Chihuahua | No | Yes | No |
| Collie (Rough and smooth) | Yes | Yes, but may chase | Yes |
| Dachshund | Older kids, okay | Cats okay, no small animals | Sometimes |
| Dalmation | Older kids, okay | Cats okay, no small animals | Yes |
| Doberman Pinscher | Yes, with family | Yes | When socialized properly |
| Cocker Spaniel | Yes | Cats okay, no small animals | Yes |
| French Bulldog | Older kids, okay | Yes | Yes |
| German Shepherd | Yes, with family | Yes, but may chase | When socialized properly |
| Golden Retriever | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Great Dane | Older kids, okay | Yes | When socialized properly |
| Labrador Retriever | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Maltese | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mastiff | Yes (No for Neopolitans) | Yes | When socialized properly |
| Miniature Pinscher | Older kids, okay | Yes | When socialized properly |
| Pomeranian | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Poodle | Yes | Yes, but may chase | Yes |
| Pug | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rottweiler | Yes, with family | Yes | When socialized properly |
| American Pitbull Terrier | Yes | Yes | When socialized properly |
| Shih tzu | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Siberian Husky | No | No | When socialized properly |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Older kids, okay | Cats okay, no small animals | When socialized properly |
If I have failed to include your favorite dog breed, or one you’re looking into making a member of your family, you can feel free to leave a comment here and I will try to address it. If not, look up the breed standards on The American Kennel Club’s official website: www.akc.org
Now that hopefully I’ve covered the “what”, I’ll move onto the “where”. Where will you find your new dog? As I have previously stated, I am pro-rescue. You can find plenty of great family pets in shelters, just like I’ve found my Winter and my Luna. They have dogs of all sizes, temperaments, ages, and life experiences. I adopted Luna as an eleven week old puppy. She’s a doll, and loves everyone and everything she meets. Winter, on the other hand, took a lot of work to get her to where she is today, but I knew that when adopting her. She had come from a possible abuse situation and was very, very nervous. I couldn’t turn my back on her, though, considering that when the doors closed in that shelter the night I adopted her, if Winter didn’t have a home she would have been euthanized. Statistics show that approximately 56% of all dogs to enter a shelter are euthanized due to overcrowding, health problems, and being unwanted (that’s a heartbreaking amount that numbers more than 2 MILLION animals a year). Only about 25% of dogs that enter a shelter find a new forever home. (www.americanhumane.org) Since adopting Winter, even with all of her problems, I haven’t looked back. My life simply wouldn’t be the same without her.
If you have your heart set adopting (props to you!), there are a couple things you should be aware of. All dogs in a shelter have a past. They may have been strays once, or been abused. They may have lived with a family who loved them very much, but life got in the way. Whatever the situation is, your new adopted dog will need a little extra time and love to learn how to trust and love back again. Once they do, the love they give you is greater than any love you could imagine. It’s a far greater feeling when your once scared, lost dog turns over for a belly rub or licks your face. The rewards are endless.
Another thing to keep in mind if you choose to get a younger dog from a shelter, is size. Statistically, most dogs adopted in shelters are mutts. When dealing with a mixed breed puppy, you never quite know what to expect. A mutt puppy’s adult size is always an estimation. As is her temperament. You really can’t know how a puppy will behave as an adult if you don’t know what breeds she is.
If you choose to adopt, and you really want a specific breed and just can’t find it anywhere in a shelter, check out local breed rescues. The American Kennel Club’s website (www.akc.org) has a pretty good list of breed rescues by breed and location. Breed rescues will also have a lot more background information on your chosen dog, and will know what to expect when you bring him home. Considering most breed rescues are small, private organizations founded by passionate people, dogs adopted from them rarely see the inside of a kennel. These dogs generally live inside the home of the rescuer, or in a foster home with equally caring people. Foster dogs are also often temperament tested, housebroken, and go through a basic obedience course.
If you really HAVE to have a purebred puppy, always purchase from a reputable breeder. All too often, dogs are overbred, or bred from parents who really aren’t in the best of conditions. This causes both physical and psychological problems in their offspring. Make sure, when buying from a breeder, to check their background and references. A good breeder will have a list of people who are more than happy to answer your calls and tell you about how much they love their puppy that they got from said breeder. On top of that, you will be able to find out information on your breeder of choice from local training clubs, dog sports clubs, and word of mouth. Visit the breeder, and meet the mother and father (if he is on site) of the litter. Check out where the puppies stay. A good breeder will meet ALL (not some) of the following requirements:
Parents will be friendly, well kept, and live inside the breeder’s home
Puppies will be clean and live inside the home
The breeder won’t part with the puppies before they are eight weeks old and fully weaned.
The breeder will have spent countless hours interacting with the puppies, and have began socialization
The mother will not have had more than three (absolute maximum number) litters
Puppies will be up to date on any shots and deworming, and have all the recommended health screenings for their breed
The breeder will be knowledgeable on the breed, it’s temperament and health concerns, and training
The breeder will wholeheartedly agree to allow you to call her with any problems or concerns
Only buy from a breeder who’s dogs are registered, and who will register the puppies
Good breeders will always ask a lot of nosy questions of you. Don’t buy from a breeder who doesn’t. That generally means that they don’t care about the placement or welfare of their dogs.
Absolutely DO NOT buy a puppy from a pet store. These dogs are horrible examples of breeds. They will often try to pass off mixed breeds as expensive purebreds (like Puggles- a mix of a Pug and a Beagle, or Peekapoos- Pekingese poodle crosses, among others). Dogs purchased from pet stores often also have severe physical and emotional problems. I have a rescued Miniature Pinscher (Gunny) who was originally a petstore puppy three owners before she came to live with me. She will never be fully housebroken because she can’t control her bowel muscles. She’s had cancer. She suffers from seizures and hairloss. She’s cross eyed. She has horrible confirmation. Sadly, this is typical of a petstore puppy. On top of that, they are extremely overpriced. You can buy a well bred, registered, show quality, health guaranteed puppy from a breeder for generally half the price you will pay in a retail store.
Whatever option you choose, make sure you ask lots of questions and spend a lot of time with your new dog before bringing him home. A dog is a big responsibility, and a good owner will have him through the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, until death, do you part. Good luck!
In my next post, I will cover housebreaking.
