First time dog owner? Not sure which breed yet?

How do you know which to pick?

First time dog owner? Not sure which breed yet?  The key is to find a breed that complements your lifestyle.  Like us, some dogs are happy to spend most of their time relaxing indoors, while others want to run half marathons every day.

So, think about your lifestyle, what do you love to do?  Your dog breed needs to kind of match your personality and lifestyle.

I have listed a few examples below to give you some ideas and trigger some thoughts for you…

Chilling…

Just because you like to chill in front of the TV on an evening, does not make you lazy; you’ve had a busy day at work, and need some downtime.

Plenty of dog breeds fit this lifestyle:

Dachshund (Sausage Dogs) – too much exercise can actually damage their spines, but you’re not totally off the hook of exercise, they will still need a morning walk!

Greyhound – Because they they are known as those dogs chasing hares at breakneck speed, this is surprising, but many people don’t know the breed well. Yes, they can run fast; but their preferred lifestyle is actually long, lazy days, with a couple of short runs in the park.

French Bulldog – Hyper for 20 minutes on a walk, and then they’ll be worn out. They lack endurance; making them perfect for anyone who lacks time for long walks every day.

Lapdog Breeds –  Of course there are those lapdog breeds that work perfect for couch potato , including Chihuahua, Pug, King Charles Spaniel, Pekingese, Shih Tzu and Yorkie.

Outdoor Lifestyles – busy and need a dog to keep up

If you are one of those people who does loads of walking or running and need a dog to keep up with you? There are plenty of high endurance breeds:

Dalmatian – Whatever you’re doing outdoors, they’ll be with you every step of the way.

Border Collie – Hyper from the minute they wake until the minute they go to bed.  They are a Duracell battery. They are known as a working dog.

If there’s no work on offer, they’ll find it for themselves.  That ball game isn’t just a game, it’s a job, and the Border Collie will make sure it’s done properly – all day long, if needs be!

Husky – This breed is not for the faint hearted.  They are not going to be content with anything but a busy lifestyle; developed to pull heavy sledges for hundreds of kilometres . These dogs need lots of exercise – as many miles a day as you can give them.  

Of course there are many other larger breeds to suit active lifestyles; German Shepherd, Pointer, Boxer and Labrador Retriever.

Some smaller dogs will be able to keep up with you no matter how long the journey home is; the Boston Terrier and Jack Russell, for example, 

Child’s Play – Best Dogs for Kids

We definitely don’t recommend to give children full responsibility for a pet dog.  But, there are plenty of breeds that are very child friendly.

Labrador retriever and Golden retriever – The perfect family dog; they are gentle and loving, and treat children with a mixture of respect and parental are.  They’re incredibly soft and good natured.

Irish/Red Setter – Playful, but gentle, children often form very tight bonds with this wonderfully handsome dog.  It is as if these have been developed to play with children! 

Old English Sheepdog – Often known as the ‘Dulux Dog’ they love nothing better than chilling with the kids; know as gentle giants.

Others include – Boxers and Beagles are good with the kids too – as long as they’re well trained from an early age!!

Are you allergic to dogs?

Don’t despair!

Your pet-induced sneezing and asthma doesn’t mean you can never be a dog owner.  The thing you’re allergic to is a protein found on animals’ skin, and/or shed hairs.

Although no breed is officially hypoallergenic, the commonest ones in families where allergies are a problem are:

• Poodle (both full size and Toy)
• Schnauzer
• Basenji
• Bichon Frise
• Samojed
• Shih Tzu

Not science…

Some people are definitely more “allergic” than others!

Many people who sneeze and wheeze at most dogs find that they are okay with Yorkies and Westies, even though these have longer hair than the average hound.

But, at the same time, the short-haired Boxer can cause strong allergic reactions in many sufferers.  There is no direct science behind it all.  So you may need those antihistamines; spend some time with the breed before making the decision to bring one into your home.

Final thoughts

Choosing your new pet should be fun and exciting, but it definitely requires research.  With so many breeds out there, with many different personalities and requirements you need to find the best match to you and your lifestyle.

This will help finding the perfect pet to bring into your home.

So things to think about:

• Why do you want a dog?
• Is it for you or a family dog?
• Does it need to be good with children?
• How big is your garden?
• How much exercise do you want to give the dog?
• Think of your food budget; big or small dog, means less or more food
• Are you or anyone in the family allergic?

I hope that has given you some food for thought.  

Lots of Love, as always

Join us next time for more top tips on your beautiful dogs and their healthy foods and treats

Dawn, Lilly and Tucker