Choosing the Right Dog Breed - It's About Matching Two Lifestyles

When you are in the market for a dog, there are more considerations that must be taken than temperament. Choosing the right dog breed is important for many reasons, because it can give you an idea of what size pet you will be able to deal with, what type of temperament you are looking at, eating habits, and your ability to train them. Different dog breeds have different personality types and characteristics and although it is not fair to pick and choose based on these generalizations, deciding on the dog breed that you do want can certainly help to narrow down your selection a great deal.

If You Have Kids...

If you have small kids in the home, you may not want to go with any breed of dog that is going to grow up and be a miniature giant. Dogs are only puppies for a short time, and that is not the case with kids. Although they may be babies together for a while, dogs grow fast and will soon be able to overpower your little one, not to say that they will. Some of the gentlest dogs in the world are bigger than most people, but if you can't handle the size you just can't handle the size.

If You Need Protection...

If you are one of those people who live alone and are looking to get a dog for protection, it is important to go about choosing the right dog breed well. Some dogs are naturally more territorial and protective than other dogs are, and that can help you to narrow your selection. If you need security, a poodle or a golden retriever are not going to do well at all. Consider a Pit Bull, a Great Dane, a German Shepherd, or another larger dog breed. While these breeds are really only rumored to be ferocious, they are visually intimidating to many people and that is more than most people have as far as canine security is concerned.

If You Need Companionship...

If companionship is all you seek when choosing the right dog breed for you, the decision is a bit harder. This is because there are so many great breeds for you to choose from, so decide what type of sized pet you would like and work with that. That can help you to narrow down your selection so that you can start meeting little guys to join your family. Poodles, terriers, big dogs, little dogs, medium sized dogs-if you don't have any specific need for a pet other than companionship you have a bigger market for pets than you might have thought possible. Really, the only thing holding you back is your budget.

There are so many ways to go about choosing the right dog breed for your family. What you may find works best is this process of elimination. There are so many great dogs out there that need homes, so choosing the right dog breed that best clicks with your living arrangements should be the most important decision you make.

Matching Your Personality to the Right Dog Breed

Every person has a different and unique personality which that there is no single dog breed that will be a perfect fit for everybody. Of course, you would always want one that will be able to jive with your activities and moods and not one that will annoy you and become a burden.

Here are some basics when choosing the right breed to go with your personality and activities:

Breeds for the couch potato: The English Toy Spaniel, Boston Terrier, Shih-Tzu, Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Spaniel, Afghan Hound, Mastiff, Sussex Spaniel, or Bulldog.

Basically, these are dogs that do not have a lot of energy to expend throughout the day. Exercise is not their kind of thing and they do not mind lounging around in the house or sitting beside you while you enjoy your favorite movie. They are the perfect companions when all you want to do is chill and relax.

Breeds for the sporty personality: Golden, Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle and Papillon, or Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

These particular dogs are balls of energy and will playfully engage in intense activities such as jogging, playing catch and other things. If you want a less intimidating playmate though, the poodles can be a great alternative as they will always be ready for some fun under the sun and little game.

Breeds for those with children: Newfoundland, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Bulldog, Collie, Basset Hound, Standard Poodle, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Scottish Deerhound, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and Bouviers des Flandres.

These breeds are perfect for families with overly playful but unaware children. They are gentle enough to keep your children away from harm but large enough not to be trampled on or abused. Also, they are relatively playful breeds which make them good playmates especially for families with just one kid.

Breeds for security: Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Bullmastiff, Belgian Tervuren, German Shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Boxer, Mastiff, Belgian Malinois, Canaan Dog, and Standard Schnauzer.

Obviously, these are the intimidating and large kinds of dogs and they are perfect for scaring away mischievous people. They are alert and have particularly strong senses which give them the perfect tools for catching those sneaky criminals.

Breeds that can be used as training partners: Golden and Labrador Retrievers, English Setter, Brittany, Weimaraner, Vizsla, Flat-Coated Retriever, Australian Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Basenji, Akita, Dalmatian, Norwegian Elkhound, Kerry Blue Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, English Springer Spaniel, Welsh Springer Spaniel, and Irish Setter.

Again, these are all high energy breeds that will accompany you on strenuous or light training sessions.

Breeds for the beach: Labrador Retriever, Curly-Coated Retriever, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Otterhound, Irish Water Spaniel, Portuguese Water Dog, American Water Spaniel, and Newfoundland.

Dog breed such as the ones mentioned above are natural born swimmers so you will have no problems taking them to water bound areas. They are not afraid to get wet and will even play in the water with you.