Breed Selection: Choosing Your First Dog
If you’re just starting out on your pet owning journey then one of the biggest choices you will have to make is about which breed of dog you should choose. While there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to selecting a breed, there are certainly some types of dog which can be more difficult than others if you have no experience looking after a pet. Here we look at a few points to consider when selecting a dog.
Your lifestyle
When choosing a dog the first thing to bare in mind is your lifestyle, as for you and your new dog to have a good quality of life you need to be a good match for each other. Consider how much time you spend at home, outdoors and how active you are generally. If you spend a lot of time indoors and hardly leave the sofa then an excitable dog who loves the outdoors may quickly become frustrated and unhappy by your lifestyle.
Why do you want a dog?
Another point to consider when selecting a breed is why you want a dog in the first place. The most common reason for wanting a dog is companionship, but it might be for another reason too, such as wanting a playmate for your children, to make you feel more secure at home, to help you get more exercise or for something entirely different. Pondering this question might help you narrow down the type of dog that would be best suited to you. For instance, a large dog which is unaware of its own size might not always be the best choice of playmate for small children.
Your circumstances
There are plenty of other factors that can dictate your choice too. The size of your house might make a large dog unsuitable, particularly if you are stuck for space and have little or no garden. Equally, you may have a large home and a big garden which might be overwhelming for a smaller dog. If you share your home with others, then you will want to consider how well suited they are to dogs too – some people have allergies or may simply not be comfortable with certain breeds of dogs. Finally, you may also need to consider your finances. Many dogs end up in rescue shelters due to their owners no longer being able to afford to look after a dog. No one can predict the health of a dog, however it’s true that some breeds do suffer from health problems more than others, and this is something that you will need to consider before taking them home with you.
Final thoughts
There is a great deal to consider when thinking about which type of dog breed you want to go for, but you should take comfort in knowing that the extra work you do now will pay off in the future. Having a good think about your circumstances and your needs can help you find the perfect doggy match that will settle perfectly into your home.
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