How to choose the best breed of puppy or dog for you and your family
Choosing a puppy involves considering many things to ensure you find a breed that suits your current and possible future lifestyle, preferences, and needs.
While also considering the puppy’s natural instincts needs and personalities as these may not be compatible.
Otherwise this may cause conflict and distress to both you and your dog.
It is also important to consider their adult size, future grooming, health, and care requirements.
To help you choose a puppy breed to suit your family long term you should consider:
Lifestyle - Consider your daily routine, activity level, family dynamics and living situation. Some breeds are larger. energetic and require space, while others maybe smaller less active or do not need lots of space.
Breed Research - Learn about the different breeds you may be interested in, including their: adult size, energy level, temperament, grooming needs, and trainability. Understanding that every dog is an individual and can vary even within a breed or even the litter, but understanding general breed traits can help with your decision. If you are considering a cross bred dog such as a Cockapoo both parent’s breeds should be researched, with mixed breed with unknown parentage this does become more difficult, but you can start with any information you have from the mother.
Your Preferences – Decide as a family what qualities you're looking for in your dog. Do you prefer a small or large breed? long or short hair? very active or less active? Are you looking for a companion, a working dog, a family pet, or a sporting dog? It is also important to consider any family health issues such as allergies or mobility.
Compatibility – After considering the above think about how well the breed or breeds align with your family’s dynamics, lifestyle, and long-term goals. For example, if you're an active person who enjoys outdoor activities or wishes in the future to take part in sports or activities with you dog an energetic or working breed dog may be a good fit. If you are looking for a companion or pet family dog a calmer and more laid-back dog breed may be more suitable.
Breed Welfare - Some breeds are prone to certain health issues or require specific grooming or welfare care. It is important to research any breed-specific health problems and care requirements determine if you are willing and able to handle potential medical expenses or specific care requirements associated with those breeds.
Where to Find your Puppy – It is important once you have decided on a breed to research reputable breeders who prioritize the health and well-being of their dogs. A reputable breeder will have ensured that any recommended health checks have been completed on both parents before breeding and will be able to answer any questions you may have on the breed and their litters. They will also offer support for the lifetime of your dog. Be very wary of sellers who do not have proof that they have bred the puppy and the mother and siblings are not available to be seen and they are unable or will not answer questions about health testing or the breed history.
Interaction – if you do not know the characteristics of the breeds you are interested attend events such as “Discover Dogs” or breed-specific shows, or meetups to interact with the breed you're considering. Experienced owners, breeders, or trainers are often more than happy to talk to you to can provide insights into the breed's temperament, behaviour, and care requirements.
If you're open to adoption of a puppy or older dog, explore local shelters and rescue organizations to find mixed breeds or specific breeds available for adoption in most of these cases you may not have the information required to make
Getting a puppy or dog is a long-term commitment, and choosing the right breed for you, your family and the dog is crucial to ensure a happy and fulfilling relationship.
For general advice on choosing a puppy, a veterinarian, breed clubs or experienced owners may be happy to answer any questions
If you need help with deciding whether a specific puppy or dog that will best suit your family and your dog, seek support from a dog trainer or behaviourist who offers gentle, rewarding & pain free methods such as Speaking Puppy & Adolescent Dog who can provide personalised advice and assistance based on your family’s specific needs.
Click Here to contact Gill at Speaking Puppy & Adolescent Dog training programmes
gill@speakingpuppy.co.uk
07595 217299