Choosing the Right Breed

Big dog or little dog? City dog or country dog? Smart dog or silly dog?

The staggering number of questions to consider before choosing what breed of dog to get can be daunting. Finding the breed that best suits your lifestyle can be easier than expected though with a little research and self-evaluation. Take the time to choose your breed wisely so your new puppy will grow into a dog that will truly be your best friend.

Budget

Time and financial budgets are the first things to consider before getting your heart set on a certain breed. Do you have the time to groom a shaggy Pekingese? Can you afford the monstrous appetite of a big dog like a Great Dane?

Different breeds have different time demands. An active breed, like Border Collies, will require more time for exercise than a laidback type of dog, like Basset Hounds. Certain hardheaded breeds, like Jack Russell Terriers, will need lots of training time from a strong-willed owner to achieve their true potential as a good dog. Hairy varieties of dogs, like Afghan Hounds, will have to be obliged with a hefty time budget for grooming. Pair yourself with a breed that fits your lifestyle; if you enjoy physical outdoor activities, an energetic breed may be for you or, if you’re a couch potato, an easy-going dog could be the best companion.

Financial budgets need to be adhered to so your little puppy doesn’t run away with your wallet as he grows into a big dog. For people with a bigger budget, getting your puppy from a breeder is the best option. Breeders can charge anywhere from $600 - $2000 for a purebred dog from champion bloodlines. Most reputable breeders know their dogs’ extended pedigree and test for known diseases and health problems that may arise. This can save thousands of dollars on future veterinarian bills and help ensure a long happy life with you new dog.

For prospective dog owners with tighter budgets, shelter dogs and mature age dogs can also make wonderful pets for considerably less money. Adopting a dog from the shelter can limit your expenses and give you the good feeling of rescuing a homeless pup. Many dogs in the shelter can be perfect pets but were perhaps turned over due to incompatibility with a previous owner who didn’t do his homework. Another option is to contact a breeder and ask if they have any puppies to sell that won’t be used a show dogs (this usually comes with a contract ensuring you will spay or neuter the dog) or if they have any mature dogs in need of a loving home. Breeders are often contacted by people who didn’t do their dog research and are looking for a home, other than the shelter, for their unwanted pets. Breeders may also have older dogs that have had their day in the show ring and are looking for suitable "retirement" homes.

Besides the purchase cost of your puppy, long-term expenses also need to be taken into account. Larger dogs often entail heavier budgets for big crates, big bowls, big collars and big leashes as well as big bills for medicine, the vet, food and boarding kennels. All new puppies, whether from a breeder or a shelter, should have all their shots and come with a microchip for identification purposes. Since dogs cannot be spayed or neutered until they reach a mature age, remember to factor in the cost of the operation when getting your puppy or consider getting an adult dog that has already undergone the procedure.

Narrowing the Field

After initial decisions have been made, such as whether to get a big or little dog, you’ve already cut down the breed choices drastically. The next step is to talk to breeders and veterinarians to become a pseudo-specialist in your breeds of interest. A great way to learn about a variety of breeds at once is to attend a dog show or pet expo. At public shows you can speak with breeders personally and get a chance to meet some of the grown up versions of your dream puppy. You will quickly learn the joys and downfalls of individual breeds by talking to someone who raises dogs as a profession. Keep in mind that dogs you will meet at pet shows are usually conditioned to be well-behaved in crowded public places, so don’t take the perfect poise of a show dog as the breed standard. Visiting the conformation and obedience rings at a dog show will also give you good clues into training and breed prominence. If you notice a lack of representation of your breed choice, it may be an indication that the breed is difficult to train or perhaps is a rare type with few breeders in the industry. Likewise, if you notice a strong presence of certain breeds, they may be especially intelligent dogs that are easier to train or a popular type of dog among breeders.

It can also be helpful to talk to the average dog owner. If you cross paths with someone walking a breed of dog you’re interested in, politely ask if you can pet the dog and see if the owner has any opinions on the breed. People love their puppies and are often keen to talk to someone as enthusiastic as they are about dogs.

Toy Breeds

Toy breeds may be small in body but they are mighty of heart. Many toy breeds are the smaller, livelier versions of large breeds so, be prepared for a big attitude from these pintsized pups. The average size for toy dogs is a height under 12 inches tall and weight less than 12 pounds.

Toy dogs are typically easy to care for and most require only moderate exercise. Some toy dog breeds, like the Yorkshire Terrier and Pomeranian, demand frequent grooming while others, like the Japanese Chin and Chihuahua, only need moderate grooming attention. For owners who want to avoid preening their dogs altogether, there are plenty of breed options that require little to no grooming such as the Toy Manchester Terrier and Italian Greyhound.

Although many toy breeds make great sprightly pets, as a general rule, they are not very good with young children. Toy breeds are often uncomfortable with small, fast-moving children while, in turn, many elderly people find the quick movements of toy breeds to be too much to handle. Again, this is only a broad statement as some toy breeds such as the Pug are excellent with children and make wonderful family pets.

Some of the breeds classified in the toy group include the Chihuahua, Miniature Pinscher, Brussels Griffon, Pekingese, English Toy Spaniel, Papillon, Affenpinscher, Pomeranian, Maltese and Silky Terrier.

Terriers

Terriers can be absolute terrors or the most faithful companions depending on how well they are trained.

The fiery temperament and intelligence of terriers makes dog training even more tough. Even the most seasoned dog owners will find terriers to be a worthy adversary with their strong sense of independence and quick-thinking minds. The effort will be highly rewarding, however, as terriers are highly intelligent and can learn a number of tricks and commands to make them clever, loyal pets.

Most terriers originated in the United Kingdom and were bred as hunters to rid rats, mice and foxes from farmers’ fields. They have a variety of shapes and can have long or short legs. Their coats come in soft, smooth and wire textures. Grooming for terriers is generally minimal with hard-coated terriers requiring occasional brushing with special tools to pull out loose hairs that don’t shed naturally.

Terriers make excellent family pets and have a boisterous, playful attitude. They are scrappy dogs and will not back down from a fight, even when faced with giant sized threats. Be aware that terriers have an inherited instinct for digging and chasing small furry animals.

Dogs that fit into the Terrier breed group include the Border Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Welsh Terrier, Fox Terrier, Bull Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Wheaten Terrier, Airedale Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Standard Manchester Terrier and West Highland White Terrier, among many others.

Working Dogs

The working dog classification can embody a range of breeds and subsequent personalities. From sporting dogs to herding dogs, their nature and original purpose varies, however, certain traits remain common to the group.

Ranging in size from medium to giant, working breeds generally make good family pets and enjoy plenty of exercise. They will best suit a home where they have a strong owner to look up to and learn from. They are keen to please and will learn quickly with adequate training time.

Herding dogs are agile in mind and body and need to be challenged to avoid boredom and bad behaviour. These dogs are active, courageous and determined. They often work well as obedience dogs as they build a strong bond with their owners. These breeds include the Border Collie, Australian Cattle Dog, German Shepherd, Shetland Sheepdog, Briard, Collie and Welsh Corgi.

Sporting and hunting dogs are loosely grouped with working breeds as they are bred to perform in a partnership with their owners. Most of these dogs are bred to hunt game birds. Water fowl hunters use their retriever breeds to fetch prey from swampy areas while field bird hunters use pointer and setter breeds to locate prey. These breeds include the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, King Charles Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, English Pointer, English Setter and Irish Setter.

Larger members of the working breed group were originally bred for their strength and assistance in labourious jobs. Although these breeds are generally very friendly, their sheer size demands diligent training to prevent them from jumping up on people and furniture. They can also tend to be clumsy and may not adapt well to living in close quarters with breakable items in reach. Larger sized working dogs can make great pets as well as household guardians. These breeds include the Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Dane, Saint Bernard, Newfoundland, Samoyed, Akita, Boxer, Alaskan Malamute, Doberman and Portuguese Water Dog.

Hounds

Hound dogs were bred for hunting and come in two basic types – scent hounds and sight hounds. Scent hounds were bred to follow their noses, while sight hounds were bred to scan the horizon for game. Both types come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colours.

Scent hounds are very friendly dogs as they were intended to work closely with nearby handlers in the field. They are great with people of all ages and demeanours. There are drawbacks though as scent hounds are often difficult to train due to distraction from their constantly sniffing noses. They also have the instinct to howl when excited and are prone to roaming in pursuit of the never-ending scent trails they detect. Breeds that fit into this category include the Beagle, Basset Hound, Dachshund and Bloodhound.

Sight hounds have elegant and graceful appearances with their long legs and slender bodies. They are generally easy-going dogs but can tend to be aloof as they were bred to work independently from the hunters. Sight hound breeds include the Greyhound, Borzoi, Wolfhound, Afghan Hound, Whippet, Rhodesian Ridgeback and Scottish Deerhound.

Trendy Breeds

After Frasier hit television screens around the world, popularity in Jack Russell Terriers spiked due to the quirkiness of "Eddie". Dalmatians were the breed to have after 101 Dalmatians premiered. Every fashion-conscious woman wanted a cute toy dog after seeing Paris Hilton’s pet Chihuahua "Tinkerbell".

The popular breed of the moment can change as quickly as the weather. A new film, television show or celebrity pet can spark widespread interest in particular breeds. This often ends in disaster as unassuming owners take on new puppies based on fictional characters rather than the nature of the breed. Even though those swarms of Dalmatian puppies look irresistible, they grow into big dogs that have specific needs. And although Eddie may be smart and charming, Jack Russell Terriers can be a handful if not trained properly. It’s not all bad though! Some trendy breeds may actually be the dog breed for you, so just make sure to do your research.

Finding a Puppy

So you’ve decided on the breed for you – now where do you get the puppy? Although you may be tempted to scoop up the doggie in the window at the pet store, it is strongly advised against. Pet stores often charge exorbitant prices for dogs of dubious purebred ancestry and don’t offer health guarantees or ongoing advice like reputable breeders. Many pet stores keep puppies in unclean conditions and obtain them from shady “puppy dealers”; frequently they are purchasing puppies that are the result of a puppy mill. The same warning goes for buying your new puppy from the cardboard box on the side of the road.

Depending on your budget, finding your puppy at a shelter or from a dog breeder are by far the favoured two options. Reputable breeders can often be found by referral from a veterinary office, local kennel clubs, groomers and boarding kennels.

Choosing your puppy is a special moment, so make it an enjoyable experience. The time spent on self-education in your puppy’s inherent traits will make the transition to your home easier for you and your puppy. You will feel a great sense of satisfaction knowing you have made the effort to find the best breed for you, so be sure to choose wisely.

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