Picking the best dog breed for your family

Picking a dog breed for your family is a big decision. A visit to the local animal shelter or humane society provides the very real evidence of many bad choices that have been made by other families.

All breeds are not a good fit for every family. If your family lives in an apartment, a Newfoundland or a Jack Russell Terrier may not be a good choice, for different reasons. The former is very large and the latter is very active. Pay a visit to the American Kennel club website and research any of the breeds that you are considering. It may be the best decision you will ever make.

Take the time to assess what your family wants from a pet, where you live, the amount of time you are willing to put into training your pet, and how well these dogs interact with children. One thing that adults need to keep in mind before getting a family pet is, no matter what the children promise before you get the dog, chances are the adult is going to end up being the primary caregiver. Be sure you are willing to commit the next 10-15 years to a pet before you bring it into your home.

Where you live

Some breeds of dogs are lethargic, others are highly active and need to be walked long distances, be allowed to run in the open and generally are very high energy. If you and your family live in a high rise in the city, this is not a good breed to choose. When active dogs don’t get enough exercise, they often cause major problems in the home with behavior that is hard to control.

Breeds that are family friends and do well in an apartment are Chihuahuas, Pugs, Basset Hounds, Bichon Frises, Boston Terriers, Bull Dogs, Boxers, German Shepherds, Collies, Golden and Labrador Retrievers, Boston Terriers and Cocker Spaniels. Keep in mind however that many of these breeds do like to have outdoor activity so walking the dog and visiting a dog park will need to become part of the family routine.

Family-friendly breeds that will do well with lots of space and are better choices for homeowners or renters are Shetland Sheepdogs, Schipperke, Corgi, and Irish Setters to name just a few.

Age of children

While some dogs may be fine with older children, they can be totally inappropriate for younger children. When choosing a breed, remember that toy breeds are quite fragile and the dogs can be hurt by small children. Also, large breeds may be very child-friendly but because of their size, may not be safe around toddlers and small children who they may accidentally knock over. All of the breeds listed above will do well with children of almost any age. Beagles are also very family friendly and poodles can do very well with older children.

Allergies

Many children and adults have allergies to dogs. Often what they are allergic to is the hair that the dogs shed. Finding a breed which does not shed can in some cases overcome this problem. Poodles and poodle hybrids fit into this category. This includes Labradoodles and Cockapoos both of which are also very family friendly.

Many families opt for a mixed breed dog and this can work out especially if you know the parents of the dog. Each dog is an individual just as people are and the fact that they are a family- friendly breed is not a guarantee that this particular dog will be good with children. I have a peekapoo and he is the gentlest dog with the grandkids and we have had him for almost 13 years through 10 grandchildren.

Many factors other than breeding go into the personality of a dog including how well they are socialized as a puppy. If you have the time to train and socialize a dog yourself, then getting a puppy can be a good idea. A great deal of patience is necessary, however, considering that puppies often like to chew and can be quite destructive if left to their own devices.

As you can see, choosing the perfect breed of dog for your family takes time, research and patience. The rewards are tremendous however and understanding the consequences of a bad choice can make every member of the family aware of just how important making a good decision is.